Scarf slides

Will Sellit · June 28, 2007, 10:03:02 AM

I was wondering if there is a good reference on the time frame that scarf slides were used and the type used. I saw a picture once that was dated early 1890's that showed a group of cowboys and one had a scarf slide that looked like maybe it was made of leather.
I am mostly interested in the silver concho style and if they were used in the early 1870's possibly in the southwest.
I like the looks of them but cannot find any reference if they were actually used.
I appreciate any help on this.

Delmonico · June 28, 2007, 10:35:29 AM

Will, that is one I have been trying to find out for years, but have not came up with much till the B Westerns. Can you post the picture you are talking about and any information on it?

Books OToole · June 28, 2007, 10:42:19 AM

For my "Originals" documentation I used:

The American Frontier, by Davis, page 202, Cowboy standing on right (date ?)

&

Time-Life Old West Series, The Scouts, page 156, Al Sieber (1880s)

Plus:

Painting titled "Long Jakes" by Charles Deas done in 1844. (A copy of this painting apears on the cover of the Time-Life Old West Series, The Trail Blazers.)

They are also metioned in the 1880s Cowboy Sketchbook by Riesen (?)

Books

Delmonico · June 28, 2007, 10:49:27 AM

Thanks Books, I've been keeping my eyes out but haven't dug very deep into just because I don't care for them on me.

Will Sellit · June 28, 2007, 11:38:23 AM

I found the picture i was refering to however I have no idea why I thought that it was made out of leather.
It is the larger picture on page 216 of the book The Peacemakers by R.L. Wilson. It is the cowboy in the upper right of the picture and it actually looks more like a metal ring to me now.
The caption says it is dated early 1890's in Big Sandy, Montana. I would doubt that it would be much before that time as the one cowboy in the bottom left has cuffs on and the one on his right arm looks like they have snaps. I was thinking they did not use the snaps on cuffs until the 1890's.
Books, thanks for those references.

Delmonico · June 28, 2007, 12:57:03 PM

Here is the picture.

litl rooster · June 28, 2007, 06:49:01 PM

smoking Lucky's from the "green" pack to boot. I think them scarve slides been around since that 1880 period, I'm sure most them fellas made thier own or it was given to them from a friend that made them. Many of them things were done in the line shacks to occupy time, Like hitching hide into reins etc. Likely not ritten down in dailey activty log...since many of them like myself cain't read nor rite. Seen some ornate carved elk and deer antler slides also. Looks like them fellas had their best dress on was ready for a Saturday nite..

added: Big Sandy ain't much still, that had to be every cowpoke in the area 'cept for Charlie Russell

Delmonico · June 28, 2007, 07:03:51 PM

Like many small items things like this are hard to track down since most folks didn't document every durn little thing, they had no reason to.

Wymore Wrangler · June 28, 2007, 08:36:45 PM

the only things cowboys were trying to impress was that pretty little girl at the dance hall on Saturday night....

Marshal Will Wingam · June 28, 2007, 11:01:25 PM

Quote from: Wymore Wrangler on June 28, 2007, 08:36:45 PM
the only things cowboys were trying to impress was that pretty little girl at the dance hall on Saturday night....

You mean we don't do that anymore?

Delmonico · June 29, 2007, 04:07:25 PM

Here is the crop you wanted litl rooster.

litl rooster · June 29, 2007, 04:41:36 PM

What I thought was a some sort of metal chevron was a buckle on his shoulder holster or "Belly Rig" I'm impressed with his spur style, Ten point rowels and a fine drop shank. For the age of the photo there is still some good detail.

Quote from: Marshal Will Wingam on June 28, 2007, 11:01:25 PM
You mean we don't do that anymore?

O just cain't remember why

Ouch .............I just remembered

Dr. Bob · June 29, 2007, 10:55:52 PM

Marshal Will,

Well, I do, usually 2 or 3 times a week!

Argentine Tango on Wed. & Sunday and swing or AT on other nights as available!! Wear CAS clothes sometimes [Dr. clothes mostly] and vintage [20's to 70's] the rest of the time. Wore my CAS clothes to the antique mall this evening to add stock to my booth! They are used to me in all types of clothes! When I wear a tie with my outfit, I wear a stick pin! Today's is a copy of a $2 gold piece. Got to look stylish!

Marshal Will Wingam · June 30, 2007, 12:31:01 AM

Quote from: Dr. Bob on June 29, 2007, 10:55:52 PMWell, I do, usually 2 or 3 times a week! Argentine Tango on Wed. & Sunday and swing or AT on other nights as available!! Wear CAS clothes sometimes [Dr. clothes mostly] and vintage [20's to 70's] the rest of the time. Wore my CAS clothes to the antique mall this evening to add stock to my booth! They are used to me in all types of clothes! When I wear a tie with my outfit, I wear a stick pin! Today's is a copy of a $2 gold piece. Got to look stylish!

Good man. Glad to hear the tradition is still going strong.

litl rooster · July 01, 2007, 05:36:44 AM

"Girls go crazy over a Sharp dressed Man"

James Hunt · July 04, 2007, 01:07:51 PM

If your impression is of an early cowboy - late 1860's thru 1879 - I'd be pretty cautious about wearing a scarf slide of any sort. I have never seen a documented (known date) image of one from that period, nor any written primary source material about such decoration. The photo you describe is well known and interesting but it should be used with caution, anytime someone says "early 1890's" it means they are guessing also. If they are only off by a few years then it could be 20th century. Good pickup on the snaps on the leather cuff if that is what they are. The consensus is that such are 20th century - but I know of no definitive work on that subject. I have an old pair from Alberta, Canada with snaps that have a patent date of 1903.

At any rate note that only one of those fellas is wearing something that looks like it may be a ring or slide of some sort. Given all the 19th century cowboy images that lack such accouterments, their use must be viewed as uncommon at the very best. When in doubt go with the common.

Also you have to wonder of their practicality. These fella's made their living on a horse. I gotta wonder where a scarf slide would be after attempting to sit a cold backed horse on a brisk Wyoming morning. Tell you what, buy me a nice silver one and I'll give her a try on my green broke five year old.

Delmonico · July 04, 2007, 01:13:08 PM

One also should consider the scarf slide more dress I would think, one would have to find a place to put the slide if one accually needed to use it as a neck scarf or dust mask. Just another thing to loose, but a knot can always be remade.

Russ McCrae · December 18, 2012, 08:32:51 PM

I've used the rawhide "Monkey Nut" slides you see in Texas. You gotta really get in a bind for it to slide off the scarf.

GunClick Rick · January 19, 2013, 09:15:49 PM

I bet gals might have made some for thier boues from thier hair,i know they made hair watch chains and morning bracelets from hair,hair art was real big then.The one thing i need for my watch fob collection is a hair fob.They can get a little pricey in antique stores.

wyldwylliam · January 27, 2013, 05:43:01 PM

No expert on nuthin' but I have seen various pictures of the old days of Indin's mostly southern plains and southwest types wearing scarf slides. I'm also supposin' that if drovers and ranch hands of the '70's-90's wore a scarf slide for going to town, it was probably just a silver of gold finger ring. I also agree that it would have been unlikely as an everyday working item.