Hard-Rubber Comb...

[St. George]

For those of you whose Impression includes actually having hair - you'll want to comb it with a 'proper' - period-correct - hard-rubber comb.

Sure - you can buy one of those wooden combs that the various Civil War Sutlers sell.
They 'do' work - especially the ones with the narrowest teeth - but goods were being manufactured from hard rubber for some time and it's one of those items you'd be most likely to own after the Civil War's end.

Fortunately for you - you're in luck - because they're still being made.

About all 'you' have to do is to buff off the manufacturer's logo on the bow - but if it says "Unbreakable" - or "Goodyear" - leave it.
They were marked that way.

"Ace" Hard-Rubber combs are essentially unchanged from the original product, by the way.

So there you are - the 'right' comb - for a most reasonable price - and without having to mail away for it.

The "Fall and Winter 1894-95 Montgomery Wards Catalog" even shows combs made of Horn, Hard-Rubber and even Aluminum - thus giving you a choice.

Good Luck.

Scouts Out!

[Forty Rod]

Not sure about now, but up until a few years ago all Ace combs were hard rubber.  I still have a couple.

[Sod Buster]

For those of you whose Impression includes actually having hair - you'll want to comb it with a 'proper' - period-correct - hard-rubber comb.

Unfortunately I don't have much need for a comb any more

[Silver Creek Slim]

Neat. I have a couple of those that say unbreakable on 'em. 

Slim

[St. George]

Just remember that modern combs made of rubber and/or some 'flexible' plastic are also so marked.

Hard-Rubber is just that - 'hard' rubber - and beyond a degree or two - doesn't really 'flex'.
Plus - when warmed - there's a 'scent' to them.

'Ace' still makes them in that material.

There were even folding pocket combs available that would fold into either an embossed, hard-rubber handle or a metal one.

Scouts Out!

[Forty Rod]

I need one marked "Unloseable".

Actually, I still carry one I got in 'Nam in '68-'69.  I boil it about once a quarter to clean it.  Stll works fine.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

St. George, when did the wooden combs quit being used?  I got one from a CW Sutler (like you mentioned) since my personna is that of an ex-Cav trooper.  They didn't offer the hard rubber type.

They DID have the hard rubber ones they called "lice combs" which I'll probably pick up next time I'm at Fall Creek Sutlery.

[St. George]

They were being made during the Civil War and most Sutlers of that time carried them - but there were also wooden ones available.

By the Indian Wars, though - they've overtaken the wooden ones.

A 'Lice Comb' - unless you just need one to fill out a haversack - is relatively worthless as anything beyond a moustache comb.

They're two-sided, and feature teeth that are about 1/4" long - tightly-spaced.

They were built that way to strip out the eggs left by Lice.

With 'that' tidbit of lore in mind - due to their distinctive shape and known use - I doubt it'd be a good idea to be seen grooming that Dragoon's 'stache with one...

Scouts Out!

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Good hint, thanks!

Yeah, most of my stuff is just to fill out the haversack.  (Actually, I don't have a haversack, but I got a bag they called a Medical bag which is getting pretty full!)