Acorns on a hat

[GunClick Rick]

I have a Josie Wales hat i done up but i need a set of acorns,if anybody has a old dirty set i'll buy them from ya
Now the question,what was the meaning of the acorns,did different colors show rank or were they purely decorative?Wher did the idea come from for acorns and why acorns?

[ColonelFlashman]

Campaign Cords or Campaign Hat Cords are decorations generally worn around a variety of types of serviceman's hats to indicate station, unit, rank or history of service. They are generally used in the military or Police services, and mostly in the United States.
Hat cords, were initially used on campaign hats by the military. They were initially used by the US military in the 19th century. Some were of a single colour, others were of a blend of colours, and the patterns of the multi coloured cords could vary. While mainly ornamental and not serving any practical purpose, they could indicate information about the wearer [1]
Campaign cords are generally made up of three components; the cord itself, the keeper and the acorns. The cord may wrap around the hat twice, while the keeper keeps the cord together, and allows for it to be adjusted for a different size hat. [2] The acorns are at the end of the cord and are mainly decoration, though obviously serve to stop the cord coming slipping out of the keeper.
Historically, they have been worn by the US military from the mid 19th century in the Indian campaigns, WW1, WW2 to a lesser degree in the pacific theatre, and by Air Cavalry in Vietnam. They are also worn by a number of US police highway patrol and Sheriffs.
Pre World War One campaign cords tended to be of more elaborate construction, with two or three strands making up the one cord, each of a different colour. Post World War One designs tend to be simpler in appearance and just have the one strand.
The colour of the cords could be indicative of the branch of the unit the wearer was with, and also denote rank. In 1941 campaign cords worn by US troops in the pacific had the enlisted men wearing a variety of colours depending on their functions, while officers mixed black and gold cords.[3] Some units found them of no use and discarded them from their uniform [4]
Campaign cords are worn on service hats worn by US Sheriffs and mainly historically worn on campaign hats by the US military, while the police wear them with either traditional Sheriff style, cattleman's or trooper, style hats, either made of straw or felt. They are worn by a number of highway patrol police officers including those of Arizona, Utah, South Carolina, Ohio, Kansas, Washington State and Maine.

I have a Josie Wales hat i done up but i need a set of acorns,if anybody has a old dirty set i'll buy them from ya
Now the question,what was the meaning of the acorns,did different colors show rank or were they purely decorative?Wher did the idea come from for acorns and why acorns?

[GunClick Rick]

Now that was some good info Thank you for that...makes alot of sence to me now,clears things up right nice.
And i'll know why i;m putting acorns on my Josie hat

[Major 2]

yep !   From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[GunClick Rick]

I reckon i figgered that..

[ColonelFlashman]

Now what's not there is the Fact that Only Officers wore the Acorns & Brushes were worn by Other Ranks & NCO's.

Now that was some good info Thank you for that...makes alot of sence to me now,clears things up right nice.
And i'll know why i;m putting acorns on my Josie hat

[St. George]

Exactly.

The S&S Firearms catalog has good pictures of both, and I believe Dixie shows them, as well.

Scouts Out!

[RickB]

Why would you need acorns on your hat, there will already be a nut wearing it?   

[GunClick Rick]

BAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAA  

RickB~ 1
GCR~ 0

[1961MJS]

Hi

According to an old CW reenactor, those acorns were made to keep the rider awake.  Well, they sure annoy the heck out of me when I'm walking too.  I took mine off, but I'll have them put on the John Wayne hat.

later

[Drydock]

They do have some purpose historicaly, in that I have a 1930s US army campaign hat.  On each side of the hat, on the inside edge of the brim, are eyelets.  The period chinstrap ends go thru these eyelets, loop around the cords, then back down to a button rivet on each end of the strap.  Thus the cords anchor the chin strap, with the chinstrap retaining the cords.  At least in this instance . . .

I believe the MO Highway Patrol may still use the same arrangement.

[GunClick Rick]

I'll just sew mine down with no-seeum thread

[1961MJS]

Hi Rick

I think they'll be quieter if I loop them back under the double cord too.

later

[Delmonico]

The modern Cav units put a knot in their cords sometimes, one knot for each overseas deployment.  The Annual NNG Cav Ball is tonight and I've been working on quite a few of their hats lately.

[GunClick Rick]

I'd like to go to that..