Properly Angling a Forage Cap?

[James N.]

James: Thank you! I've been re-enacting for a long time but I'm new to the forum...

Bryan: Unfortunately, I'm as far west as west gets. Portland, Oregon. We do copycat the Eastern armies however; technically in re-enactments I'm a Pennsylvanian Irish volunteer. I would absolutely LOVE to see the full Gettysburg re-enactment. It's on my bucket list. We only get a few hundred re-enactors out here; tens of thousands I cannot even imagine.

This is hardly current (1988) but may further whet your appetite:

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/wit...ettysburg-135th-july-1998.100263/#post-881710

 

[Legion Para]

Always good to buy a hat stretcher too as it will keep the hat from shrinking between campaigns. Greg Starbuck makes dandy caps too and is very open to questions so I wouldn't count him out.

More than anything be warned. Once you get an authentic hat and realize the benefits you may become a bit of a collector like many of us!

You have been given excellent advice from some very experienced gentlemen. With that said, no two caps are created equal. I have two USSS caps made by one of the high end vendors mentioned above. Both caps are the exact same size, made at the exact same time, made from the exact same matetials and made by the exact same man. One cap fits me perfectly with just the right angle and the other cap is slightly off.

Greg Starbuck will go out of his way for you. Greg has custom made several caps for me which are exact copies of documented originals.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Not meaning to be funny, but it might not be the hat; it might be your head. I've never been able to get any historical hat to look really right on my head and I've come to the conclusion that it's me.

 

[Legion Para]

Not meaning to be funny, but it might not be the hat; it might be your head. I've never been able to get any historical hat to look really right on my head and I've come to the conclusion that it's me.

That's always a possibility 7thWisconsin.

 

[yankee hoorah]

A lot of this might have more to do with the manufacture of your cap than anything else. There is an enormous difference between vendors. Some are really good others are... not.

My forage cap is from a high end vendor, but I don't recall who anymore, and I find it less comfortable than my "Hardee." An option might be upgrading to a dress hat aka Hardee or a slouch. I prefer the Hardee as it keeps the sun off my ears and the neck better than a cap and depending upon your impression may be more appropriate anyway. If you're doing a western impression the forage cap isn't all that appropriate as they were far less common. But AoP or AoC it is appropriate but still not unheard of for soldiers to wear their dress hat or a civilian slouch instead of a cap.

As for the brass I would not worry about it... IMO less is considerably more.

View attachment 86233

Love your SA. Who made it?

 

[yankee hoorah]

As most of the members have pointed out its definately materials and construction. If you dont have a lot of money, but want a decent cap Russell Osmianski makes caps for $80. They look great with amazing materials. The only issue ive been told, but have done no research on it myself is that the way he stitches his brims to his caps is wrong. Its still a good cap and for $80 you can't beat that. Find his company on FB. Its called caps and kepis.

Im wearing it in the attached image. Sorry about the tilt. They sometimes tilt upon transferring them to this site.

 

[johan_steele]

Love your SA. Who made it?

My sack coat was made by Matt Caldwell via Wambaugh & White, the shirt underneath... I'm not sure if that is the one my wife made or a sutler row to replace a torn shirt. The spectacles are original 1860's vintage probably originally a salesman sample and that cap... I don't think it's a Sekela & I know it isn't a Dirty Billy. For the life of me I can't recall the maker. The beard with all the gray was courtesy of mother nature, she has no sense of humor. The well fed appearance is courtesy of marrying a woman that can cook.

 

[Beltplate53]

This is my cap from Sekela. I have a big Mellon and require a big cap. I have to warn you. First comes a nice cap, then to go with the nice cap you need a nice sack coat like a hand sewn SA which of course should have a pair of hand sewn SA trousers. Now my brogans can use an upgrade...... well you get the picture....

 

[James N.]

Im wearing it in the attached image. Sorry about the tilt. They sometimes tilt upon transferring them to this site...

How's this?

 

[Reb]

As most of the members have pointed out its definately materials and construction. If you dont have a lot of money, but want a decent cap Russell Osmianski makes caps for $80. They look great with amazing materials. The only issue ive been told, but have done no research on it myself is that the way he stitches his brims to his caps is wrong. Its still a good cap and for $80 you can't beat that. Find his company on FB. Its called caps and kepis.

Im wearing it in the attached image. Sorry about the tilt. They sometimes tilt upon transferring them to this site.
View attachment 87053

Well it is surely refreshing to see a young man portraying a soldier who isn't overweight and too old to fight.

 

[yankee hoorah]

Well it is surely refreshing to see a young man portraying a soldier who isn't overweight and too old to fight.

Thank you

 

[yankee hoorah]

View attachment 88315
How's this?

Awesome! Thanks a ton.
How did you un tilt it?

 

[jay gale]

wow, the things I learn here......amazing.

I think I lucked out with mine, bought at a sutler's store in Gettysburg about 8 years ago. That's it in the self portrait I use as my avatar. It's a little snug and I wish I knew about buying one a size up from what you wear, but oh well....I know now. It does stay on my head though.

 

[Reb]

Thank you

No, young man, thank you !

 

[James N.]

Awesome! Thanks a ton.
How did you un tilt it?

Simple (once I figured out how!) - save the picture to my computer; edit it by rotate 90 degrees right; save that; then re-post it back to the forum. (Unfortunately I can't edit it within your OP.)