Early Hats

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Here are some early hats. All of these are pre 1880, except one. All of these are from the Peacemakers, by
R.L. Wilson
Bill

Tintype from custers personal effects, four of his scouts; from left, Bill Comstock, Ed Gurrier, Thomas Adkins, and California Joe Milner, circa pre 1876

Buffalo Skinners, circa 1876,

Custer, naturally pre 1876.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Here's some more;
Wyoming Cowboys, circa 1884. Nate Champion is second from right, standing.

Bill Cody, second from left, Ned Buntline (with Shirley Temple wig), left. Buntline toured with Cody from 1871-1873.

A young Cody, circa pre 1871.

Cody as a scout.

Young Cody again, seated left.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Some more;
Missouri ruffians with anti slaverry activist, Dr. John Doy, the morning after his rescue, circa 1859.

Some Townies..Dodge City, circa, 1875.

Some more townies, with Federal Troops, circa 1868. Interesting caption.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Well Fargo, circa 1867.

[Irish Dave]

Hey, that first pic looks just like a guy that used to work for me years ago. His name was Wayne. Doubt it's the same guy, though. He didn't wear any hat at all. Oh well.

[Ol Gabe]

Thanks for sharing the pics, OCB!
Wormwood's double cartridge belt is intriguing as is the one shown on the other thread which has garnered many fine discussions in the past. Perhaps this type of cartridge belt was more prevalent than earlier thought due to the lack of extant photos? Of course the user may have simply had the local saddle shop stitch up what he wanted, at least it sounds logical.
Anyone else think the same?
Best regards and good researching!
'Ol Gabe

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

The top hat is Pappy Hayes's hat (except his is black), The bottom one is my son William's hat. Exactly the same make and model as Pappy's, after we took the tea kettle and clothes steamer to it.

Bill
Pappy Hayes's Bailey.....

Will's Bailey, after reconstruction..........

[Delmonico]

Those wool felt Bailey's are one of the best wool felt to reshape.  Ya did a good job on the binding Bill, not an easy task.

[Delmonico]

I've been looking at that clearer version of the buffalo hunter picture since I got the "Peacemakers" for Christmas, it's in almost every book about buffalo hunters.  I have decided that they are not really hide hunters, they are skinning it all wrong.  They seem to have cut the hide up the side.   White hide hunters split it up the belly, the Indians split it down the back most times I've heard.

I think they are about to get them some hump for supper and some nice pieces of hindquarter for making some jerky for the trail later.

I like the way they turned the head so it is facing the camera, can't tell if it's smiling though.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

I've got a Bailey just like the top picture. Pretty nice hat, I think...........

[Fox Creek Kid]

California Joe died in 1876. That gives us a CONCRETE date. The pork pie hat was the predominant hat sold in the 1860's - 1870's according to most experts. The one thing that jumps out immediately is that VERY FEW CAS shooters have an authentic hat.    Ottawa Bill, I've seen that photo before BUT Bill Comstock was killed by the Cheyenne in August 1868. Sharp Grover (of Beecher Island fame) was with him when he died. Edmund Guerrier was a Cheyenne half breed and not a very reliable scout, as his wife was Cheyenne. Bill, I don't think this photo is from 1868, but seems to be mid 1870ish. It must be another Comstock or misidentification. Provenance? 

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Bill, I don't think this photo is from 1868, but seems to be mid 1870ish. It must be another Comstock or misidentification. Provenance?  Wink

Kid,
Go back and look at the photo, it says circa pre 1876. We know that this tintype was found in Custer's personal effects, so we can be fairly sure that it was taken sometime before he got knocked off at the little big horn.

I like the way they turned the head so it is facing the camera, can't tell if it's smiling though. Wink

Del,
I think this is the mechanical bull they used in Dances With Wolves

Did you all take a look at Buffalo Bill's hat in the photo below the one where he is standing with the Elk Rack? (by the way, take a look at the pistols hanging from the tines on that rack).The hat looks rather small and sits really hgh on his head. It looks like he just got through beating the dust out of his carpet with it.

Bill

[Delmonico]

Maybe he used it on the carpet in Grand Duke Alex's carpet in his tent on that hunt.

Oh Boy, I'm in trouble again, Terry will se this.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

I brought this hat over from the stampede string post, it's one of my favorites. There was a write up in this months True West that pretty much authenticates that this photo was made in 1868, and that these boys were in fact Texas Rangers. If you get that magazine you will find the article in "letters to the editor" section. There is a close up of the hat on the stampede string forum, if you want to get a closer look.

Bill

[ColonelFlashman]

California Joe died in 1876. That gives us a CONCRETE date. The pork pie hat was the predominant hat sold in the 1860's - 1870's according to most experts. The one thing that jumps out immediately is that VERY FEW CAS shooters have an authentic hat.    Ottawa Bill, I've seen that photo before BUT Bill Comstock was killed by the Cheyenne in August 1868. Sharp Grover (of Beecher Island fame) was with him when he died. Edmund Guerrier was a Cheyenne half breed and not a very reliable scout, as his wife was Cheyenne. Bill, I don't think this photo is from 1868, but seems to be mid 1870ish. It must be another Comstock or misidentification. Provenance? 

Will you Bloody well aren't talkin' about my Wideawake, because the crease in mine is called an Arizona Peak or Oreano (spl?), the Photo of that crease placed in a family members Lid was in a Family Album & my Great Uncle let me view this Album that he kept & it was taken in the Mid 1870's. It's the 1 I'm wearing in my Avitar & in my Profile page here.

[Big Hext]

I guess these pictures prove that most cowhands wore their hats pushed up on their foreheads with the brim mashed up as well...
Musta been quite a chore keeping them on during a strong wind..

[Books OToole]

Although the 'Montana Peak' becomes popular/common in the 1880s & 1890s, they did exist earlier.

On page 15 of Picture Gallery Pioneers by Ralph W. Andrews, there is a photograph of the members of the 40th Parallel survey(1867-69).  The man standing second from the left is wearing a 'Montana peak' hat.  There are 28 men in the photo and great variety of hats.

Books

[deucedaddyj]

Great pics OCB! Things like that help me get good ideas for the kind of hats I should be looking for.

[French Jack]

Del, they was skinning that buffler to eat.  They split it down the back and are peeling it down to keep the meat clean.  Just taking the hump, some ribs, probably the tongue and boudins.  Note that they were smart enough to shoot a nice fat cow, not a stringy old tough bull.  Yum, Yum.      

[Delmonico]

I figgered that, but it's funny it is often listed as hide hunters.  That's why I always study a picture before I even read the caption.  Never know what ya might find, like grandpa sewn up in a canvas bag cause he don't want to homestead in Kansas.