Uniforms Private purchase Forage Cap

[Copperdragon333]

Hi all! I picked up this auction piece a while ago and would really love some input from the more experienced collectors on this site! I've learned a lot from this forum since joining, but still need help with identifying a genuine CW cap. I know this piece is genuinely old and not a fake (I think), but unsure if it's a CW or post war cap. The auctioneer said it came from a private collection of thirty years and believed it to be Civil War. Here's what I see. The blue cloth is a finer quality and is slightly faded with several small moth nips. The larger of the holes revel buckram around the bottom edge and a wood reed in the welt around the top. The flat disc on top is a material covered pasteboard and is roughly 5.5" in diameter. This is a NY forage cap with correct state buttons. They are stamped "Extra Quality" on the backside with two small flower like imprints between the words. They are punched through the chinstrap and attached to the cap with thread. The chinstrap is extremely thin, brittle leather with no brass slide. The black leather visor is quite aged on top and faded green underneath. The stitching along the back of the cap looks to be original thread, as does all the other stitching. The sweatband is also thin and quite stiff, very dark (almost looks reddish) leather and stained from use but I cannot see any crosshatching. The liner is padded on the sides and quite worn, tattered and faded to a light brown black, and the top has a diamond quilted pattern. The cap measures almost 5" in front from visor to top and almost 6" in the back. It looks like all the stitching is original, but I'm not positive. No makers marks or signatures are on the inside. I've looked at all the moth nips and small holes with a jewelers loop and they look like true moth bites. I love the look of this cap and really hope it's the real deal, but regardless of its age it's a great addition to my small collection. All input is welcome!

 

[Copperdragon333]

More pics

 

[Copperdragon333]

And some more pictures!

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice looking hat. This is defiantly a @Package4 question. Thanks for posting.

 

[Copperdragon333]

Thanks for all the likes! I'm hoping it's the real deal, but even if it's a post war I still really like it: quality made and lots of character.

 

[Copperdragon333]

What I find interesting is the pasteboard top has some areas showing some sort of thin material covering it, but another area where the moths must have eaten and the raw pasteboard is showing.

 

[Package4]

What I find interesting is the pasteboard top has some areas showing some sort of thin material covering it, but another area where the moths must have eaten and the raw pasteboard is showing.View attachment 533524View attachment 533525

Certainly an original, most likely, an officer's private purchase forage cap. Could be that the pasteboard disk was separating and in order to save it, a small area was secured, by the gauze like material. Pasteboard, for those unfamiliar, was created by numerous layers of paper glued together, until the desired thickness was created.

Nice piece, with little wear.

 

[HatEnjoyer]

What a great piece! I'd love to have something like that in my military headgear collection, but alas, I can't afford such an item... yet!

 

[Copperdragon333]

I didn't think I was going to win the auction, and I was shocked that I did! I didn't pay what I thought an original CW forage cap would go for so I assumed it was a post war cap.

 

[CyleKostello]

I didn't think I was going to win the auction, and I was shocked that I did! I didn't pay what I thought an original CW forage cap would go for so I assumed it was a post war cap.

Great hat and congrats on getting a deal on it!

 

[Copperdragon333]

Thanks! What would be a good way to display it without exposing it to more moth damage?

 

[Sheltowee]

Thanks! What would be a good way to display it without exposing it to more moth damage?

Maybe?

https://www.amazon.com/Display-Baseball-Football-Snapback-Helmet-Baseball/dp/B0BJQ3SHSG/?tag=civilwartalkc-20

 

[Salterr]

Thanks! What would be a good way to display it without exposing it to more moth damage?

@Sheltowee has a great option and to add you might also want to stuff the hat with acid free paper to keep it propped up in its natural shape. Try not to suspend it from some sort of rack or stand where the top of the hat supports the dangling weight of the cap because the weight of itself will loosen stitching

 

[Copperdragon333]

Acid free paper; great suggestion, thanks!

 

[Package4]

Thanks! What would be a good way to display it without exposing it to more moth damage?

There is a great display company where you do not have to assemble, just supply a base. I have purchased 30 of these for some of my caps and purchased various pieces of wood (cherry, walnut and oak) routed them, sanded and varnished for display.

I'll go down to the basement and get the name of the company and forward. These are very substantial and not cheap.

 

[Copperdragon333]

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Copperdragon333]

I have some antique wood in my basement that I could probably use as well

 

[Copperdragon333]

I've heard of the 1858 model forage cap, but I don't think mine is in that category. As a private purchase, would this style fall in the later war years, or were the various companies supplying private purchase caps have been offering this style throughout the war?

 

[Salterr]

@Copperdragon333 The previous 1851 and 1854 style of hat would have a color welt and the next style of headgear after the 1858 model is 1872

 

[Copperdragon333]

So technically it would be considered an 1852 model even though it was a private purchase and not a military issue?