New member with some questions.

[saddletramp]

I was looking for a place i can find info and i came across this place, so i recon i'll give it a try.

Why did the mexicans wear bandanas under their hats in the desert in the sumer.  hell its 115 degrees out there, and why did'nt the american cowboy take up the practise like they did others
.  I'v noticed bikers wear them too. so whats the advantage.

I have some more but ill let you chew on this one a while first and then if your game ill keep going.

p.s.  this is no joke i know about the cowboy life just certain little things like this get in my brain.

[Delmonico]

I wear one under my hat often, use silk it fits better and soaks up more than cotton.

I think they did wear them quit often, just didn't get their picure taken that way.  Many things never show up in pictures cause they were posed and most often one getting their picture taken was paying for it. 

Do you know of any pictures of Mexican bandito's that date before the time of Pancho Villa and the border troubles?

By then faster film allowed less posed pictures.

[St. George]

The bandanna was apparently a Mountain Man affectation and in some of the artist's renderings of life around Taos - you'll see the odd one depicted.
Makes sense, when you remember how important Taos was to the Fur Trade.

As to usage during the time frame of what we call the "Old West" - I've never seen anything that would make me believe that anyone - Cowboy or Vaquero  - wore something like that on a regular basis - either photographically, in artist's drawings or in reference.

However - the old "Desperado Flag" - the red sash worn at the waist - was a throwback to earlier times.
It signified that dangerous deeds were to be done and that the man wearing it was indeed someone to be reckoned with.

Perhaps the bandanna worn at the head was something similar - a throwback to the "real" Old West and its values, and the wearer was acknowledging that he too, was a throwback and held the same old-time values dear.

The comment about them not being pictured is accurate - photos of the time were posed, since it took awhile for them to be taken and when a man was having his done - he'd want to look his best.

As to the bikers - since many wear earrings - maybe they want to be pirates...

Scouts Out!

[Delmonico]

Some accounts of June 25 1876 say Reno tossed away his straw hat that had some of the brains and other assorted head matter of Bloody Knife the Ree scout splattered on it.  He is sais to have tied a black neckerchief to his head.  Also Bloody Knife is supposed to have had a black one with blue stars on his head at the time a bullet tried to ocupy the same space in the same time as his head.

[saddletramp]

sorry I aint been around, my .com is giveing me problems.   Since cutting my hair my hats dont fit right, but I dont want to get over heated.  I dont recall where I came by my info, its been years. 

Why dos hollywood always shoe mexicans wearing a bandana under their hat.  Also they never show americans wearing a staw.  I dont know about you but I spent 3 years in the deep south west and I wouldnt get caught in a felt hat in mid july.  any way gotta go pizza here.

[St. George]

Hollywood takes artistic liberties with pretty much every depiction - ethnics perhaps most often.

I wouldn't be using any sort of motion picture or television show as my primary resource for an accurate portrayal of what was worn in the Old West.

One reason why you probably don't "see" a straw hat being worn in films - though John Wayne wore one in "The Searchers", in a few scenes, I think - is that photographically, they don't depict as well as a wool felt hat would.
They flop and don't have as "dramatic" a look for the hero.

On the other hand, with the straw U-Roll-It hats - they can get a really good "redneck" or "marginal" look on their actors and the rattier the hat - the better.

But that's not what this forum's about.

Scouts Out!

[Delmonico]

Almost every one at The Little Big Horn was wearing straw hats, most troopers bought them from the sutler at the Yellowstone camp for 50 cents.  These most likely would have a flat crown of about 4 inches and a 3 1/2-4 inch flat crown.  Sunbody makes these in a braided palm leaf. (historically correct and better than straw)  Most look at them and say "It looks like an Amish hat." Well it looks like what some of those folks are wearing is Boston this week also.  Looks like the college boy with the uckalale in "McClintock"  also.  A very popular hat in the time.

Cuter did wear a big felt.  He most likely had the brim pulled up in front (ala sidekick, kinda like Larry Storch wore his hat in F Troop)  not the image we have come to think about for Custer.
He even had a hook and eye to keep it up!  Try shooting a single shot long range rifle with tang sight some time with out the brim pulled up.

Yes Hollywood gives us the wrong image.

[saddletramp]

I recon thats part of my point.  I am a adved movie watcher and the fact is i like realisum.  And its hard to find in hollywood.  If you look at hats from that period in photos or companies that do remakes, their nothing like what you see in 'open range' though I love Cosners hat, or hardly any movie.  I love Sam Elliot, and Tom Selleck.  They make good cowboys and the image they give is..wow but....

I dont know, maybe I should just take what I can find that works for me and take the rest as it is, intertanment.   Ball cap, t-shirt, and cheep blue jeans.  Hell after all I dont think many cowboys run around with tatoos down to their wrist.  Besides whats that saying.  You can always tell a truck driver when you see one.  He's the one in the cowboy hat. 
Profestional driver-10 years
cowboy-biker at heart-35 years.

sorry fer waist'n yer time.

[St. George]

If you're a moviegoer - and like Westerns - then you're in luck.

Thanks to guys like Tom Selleck and Kevin Costner, you're able to see some pretty accurate portrayals of dress, customs and overall "look".
They spend the money on research and on good equipment and as a result you get a quality Western that looks as it should, plus actors who can carry the persona.

"Tombstone" used a lot of El Paso Saddlery leather, and Tom Selleck's guns - for the most part - are originals.
He has them refurbished if needed and keeps 'em when shooting's done.

In the "American Rifleman" some time back, there was a story titles "Real Guns For Reel Heroes", and you'll see some outstanding stuff if you can find the issue.

As to tattoos and such - remember - the Cowboy was protecting his arms from pretty much everything from sunburn to brush scrapes - he wore his shirtsleeves down.
Under that - he usually wore longhandles...
Over that - he wore a vest.
You had to be tough to live to be an old man, back then...

If you're looking for some good photography of the time frame - head to your local Library and look over the Time-Life series  the "Old West" - start with the one titled "The Cowboys".

There's good, authentic  stuff in them and there are a lot of decently clear, original photos to look over.

In my upcoming "Notes", I'll be talking about how to build your outfit and not go broke.
You might find it interesting.

If you've got any particular questions - ask away.

Good Luck.

Scouts Out!