Scout Garb

[Pawnee Bill]

I just put togeather these pics for somebody on the wire and thaught the NCOWS folks might like to see them also.
Cheers
Pawnee Bill

Here are some typical examples of commercial Buckskin clothing appropriate for a contract scout ca 1870
From San Francisco Butterfield & Butterfield Auctioneers 1988, BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST SHOW / AMERICAN INDIAN BEADWORK
Beaded Pants





Beaded Vest

Buckskin Jacket


Beaded Frock


Quilled Jacket

Buckskin Jacket trimmed with beaver Fur

[Irish Dave]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing the post.

[Pawnee Bill]

More of the same
Pawnee Bill


Detail of pants


Jacket

Detail of above

another Jacket

yet another jacket

back of above

[Pawnee Bill]

Contemporary photos of  contract scouts
Cheers
Pawnee Bill

Civilian scout on left


Bill Drennan, Indian Scout and
companion of Kit Carson, ca 1880



The outfit Buffalo Bill wore at the battle of War Bonnet Creek
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12740/12740-h/images/01.jpg



Buffalo Bill 1874



Wild Bill early 70's


Texas Jack ca 1880

[Silver Creek Slim]

Thanks fer the photos, Pawnee Bill.

Slim

[Ol Gabe]

Yep, I can see it now...
Dateline, Council Bluffs, Iowa: Pawnee Bill headlines the annual NCOWS Convention this February with his Seminar on 'Scout Garb in the Old West.' The West Coast reenactor will wow the audience with anecdotes and visual treats detailing the workmanship and creativity put into the clothing worn by the Scouts of the Old West while on the trail of neer-do-wells and other calamitous individuals. Forging through heat, sleet, snow, deluges and drought, the clothing worn by the Scouts was fit for the trail and made for the purpose intended. No doubt the Convention attendees and guests will be impressed by his entertaining palaver, for his namesake was once one of the best Showman on the national Stage & Show Circuit, not the least of which was his best friend Buffalo Bill, ah, but thats another story...

Well, P.B., your pics and research are very interesting and I think that you would make a great presenter for the next Convention, might you be interested? If so, let the kind folks at NCOWS HQ know.
Best regards and good storytelling!
'Ol Gabe   

[Pawnee Bill]

Well, P.B., your pics and research are very interesting and I think that you would make a great presenter for the next Convention, might you be interested? If so, let the kind folks at NCOWS HQ know.
Best regards and good storytelling!
'Ol Gabe   

Well Gabe I don't get that far east to often. But an article wouldn't be to much of a stretch.
I have an appointment this fall to handle the stuff in the West Point Museum thay have lots of stuff fron the indian wars and it is all very well provienced. When I'm finished with that project a paper will be inorder.

[Will Ketchum]

Bill, that would be a very interesting article for "The Shootist".  Or perhaps a series of articles.

Will Ketchum

[Pony Edwards]

Great Photo's... thank you.  I really hope you do an article for "The Shootist" sometime soon. It would be refreshing to see examples of what REALLY existed, instead of Hollywood's make believe.  Thanks Again.

[Pawnee Bill]

Coat of Colonel Albert Henry Pfeiffer, Sr. private collection
In 1865 Pfeiffer was appointed an Indian Agent in New Mexico. In 1866 he received his appointment to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel by Brevet, to rank as such from the 13th of March 1865; "for gallant and meritorious service against the Indians of Arizona." This was signed by President Lincoln and by Secretary of War, Stanton.






Cheers
Pawnee Bill

[Pawnee Bill]

John - beaded strips in particular were often done on canvas at this time. The floral Metis style as most of the ones shown are were done using the applique/two thread stitch were usually done directly on the piece - here's a Cree/Metis coat showing the outside and the stitching on the inside - note the buckskin coat is lined with linen and the beadwork goes through both the leather outer cover and the lining:




Just as an aside judging by the color of the beads and style of the flowers this jacket is post 1900.
Cheers
Pawnee Bill

[Pawnee Bill]

Nolan
Thanks for the great contribution to this thread.
Do you know where the Cody coat is located ? I have never seen it in the fleash.
I was also excited to see the Photo of " Little Bat" had never seen it before
He plays promently in
" On the Boarder with Crook"
also
Found this photo very interesting
http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/scouts/tobin-2.jpg
Coat definitly New Mexican Leggings look Cree Metis or possibly Crow and Mocs are Souix this guy got around other possiblites are they may be provided props.
Thank you
Pawnee Bill

[Pawnee Bill]

PCu13d-Buckskin jacket worn by Henry Harrington private collection
, 7th US Cavalry, killed at the Little Big Horn 1876.
This jacket was not recover from the battle field as his body was not identifyed for several years latter but was in his possesions else where.
Pawnee Bill

[Pawnee Bill]

 A fine excample of northern beaded jacket
sourse unknown but styilisticly Crow or Cree Metis 1880's
Pawnee Bill

[Pawnee Bill]

According to the knowledgable gent who owns them (private collection) they are 1890's, but I can't verify it for sure.
I did mis-label them in the first post - it's actually two different remnants - the upper beadwork is an old vest and the lower is the jacket.

BTW - there is Bill Cody beaded suit on display here in Durango, Co - if I can get a chance and an OK I'll get a picture.........and supposedly Tom Tobin's coat as shown above is buried in the archives at the local historical society - I've yet to get verification on that one.........

That would be great!
BTW the Tobin Coat was Illustrated in Hansons book.
Cheers
Pawnee Bill

[Camille Eonich]

Great thread!  I love this kind of stuff.

[Pawnee Bill]

 From Private collection pullover shirt with small Bib
Santee Metis ca 1870's
Pawnee Bill

[Pawnee Bill]

Souix Metis Coat
This one is ca 1860 although you still see frocks in the 70's and 80's
Cheers
Pawnee Bill

[Will Ketchum]

Very interesting!  Just what is a" Metis Coat"? 

Will Ketchum

[Pawnee Bill]

Very interesting!  Just what is a" Metis Coat"? 

Will Ketchum

Will
Metis is the French word for Mixed Blood basicly the same as the Spanish word Mestiso.
There are still lage communities of Metis all along the northern boarder the largest and best known being the Red River Metis the Cree Metis as well as a goodly number of Eastern Sioux Metis.
The Metis of Canada call themselves the " New People"
The coat here was the property of Alexander Ramsey Terr. Govenor of Minn. and signator to the treaty of 1851 it is proported to have been a gift from the Chief of the Sioux Metis at the treaty signing.

Cheers
Pawnee Bill