Yes we can call it a "campaign hat" or a "smokey the bear hat" or a "Canadian Mountie hat" or "park ranger hat" or what have you, but the technical term for the style with four equal round dents in the top is "Montana peak".
Google images "montana peak" and you'll see a large number of cowboy and military hats covering over a 100-year span show up.
What I find interesting is how widespread this style is, from the USA to Canada to New Zealand. It makes me wonder about where the thing originated and how it could spread all over the globe like that.
What I can imply from its appearance in 19th century US catalogues is that it was a very popular cowboy hat in the late 19th century American west. But when was it adopted by the RCMP? When was it adopted by the US Army? What about the New Zealand Army?
Last edited by OC Richard; 15th June 12 at 04:22 AM.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
Bookmarks