Wide brim hats vs. tam, Glengarry, Balmoral, etc.

**OC Richard** · 15th June 12, 04:21 AM

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?

**creagdhubh** · 15th June 12, 04:34 AM

The U.S. Marines are famous for wearing these style of hats, Richard. I have seen many photos (more so than any other U.S. Armed Forces Branch) and old recruiting posters showing Marines wearing the "Montana peak" style of hat not only whilst in garrison, but also in combat.

We hold the "Campaign cover," us Marines affectionately call it, in very high regard. This is why the use/wearing of it in today's modern Marine Corps, is restricted to Drill Instructors, Primary Marksmanship Instructors, and Rifle/Pistol Range Warrant Officers/Commissioned Officers - with the addition of a scarlet and gold braid. No other Marine, besides the aforementioned group, is entitled to wear this style of cover.

USMC Drill Instructors

Cheers,

**Jock Scot** · 15th June 12, 05:01 AM

Well it seems that the kilted Scots have been leading the way with wide brimmed hats since at least 1920.

Lord Baden Powell presenting awards to Scottish Scouts.

**dea3369** · 15th June 12, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

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?

Add my question: How did those "dents" come to be?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that the various shapes of hats today owe their start to the way the wearer donned and doffed his headgear. The curled brim of cowboy hats are there likely because cowpokes from long ago grabbed their hat there. Indiana Jones-type fedoras were handled such that they got those two dents in front. So, did the Montana peak hats get their dents because its wearers did not want to ruin the flat rim? So, the only place to grab it was the top? Thus four dents where the fingers go? Just curious.

**Jock Scot** · 15th June 12, 05:13 AM

I do know the dent in the crown of the Aussie military slouch hat arrives with what they call "The Military Bash". A very deliberate act, very early on in the hat's life.

**Peter Crowe** · 15th June 12, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Well it seems that the kilted Scots have been leading the way with wide brimmed hats since at least 1920.

Lord Baden Powell presenting awards to Scottish Scouts.

This Boy Scout uniform was worn in Scotland until at least 1964 (my father wore it from 1951-56), but was 'modernised' to fit the times.

**macwilkin** · 15th June 12, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

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?

In the case of the US Army, some of the first instances of the "Montana Peak" style being worn comes from the Philippine War of 1899-1902; photos of the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry in the field depict members of "Funston's Fighting 20th" wearing their M1886 Campaign hats with the popular civilian style. Regulars during the last days of the Indian Campaigns and the Spanish-American War tended to wear theirs with a "fore and aft" crease, although you would see the individual with a Montana Peak now and then. Given that a majority of the volunteer regiments in the Islands tended to be from Western states, my theory has always been that it was the independent-minded volunteers in the Philippines that introduced the style to the US Army.

The RCMP and NZ forces seemed to have adopted them between the Boer War and the First Word War, and in the case of the Canadians, a number of Canadian mounted regiments such as Lord Strathcona's Horse, the Canadian version of the Rough Riders, were wearing them in South Africa. The famous Legion of Frontiersmen also adopted this headgear.

A simple google search on New Zealand "Lemon Squeezer" turns up this article:

http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/kiwis-at...-squeezer-hat/

The iconic kiwi ‘lemon squeezer’ hat was introduced by one of New Zealand’s outstanding soldiers of the Gallipoli Campaign, William George Malone. Originally for his Taranaki Rifles Regiment, the hat was designed to mirror the outline of Mount Taranaki and also to allow ‘run off’ in the rain. The hat went on to be adopted first by Malone’s Wellington Regiment and later by the rest of the New Zealand Infantry Division on 1st January 1916.

T.

**creagdhubh** · 15th June 12, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

In the case of the US Army, some of the first instances of the "Montana Peak" style being worn comes from the Philippine War of 1899-1902; photos of the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry in the field depict members of "Funston's Fighting 20th" wearing their M1886 Campaign hats with the popular civilian style. Regulars during the last days of the Indian Campaigns and the Spanish-American War tended to wear theirs with a "fore and aft" crease, although you would see the individual with a Montana Peak now and then. Given that a majority of the volunteer regiments in the Islands tended to be from Western states, my theory has always been that it was the independent-minded volunteers in the Philippines that introduced the style to the US Army.

The RCMP and NZ forces seemed to have adopted them between the Boer War and the First Word War, and in the case of the Canadians, a number of Canadian mounted regiments such as Lord Strathcona's Horse, the Canadian version of the Rough Riders, were wearing them in South Africa. The famous Legion of Frontiersmen also adopted this headgear.

A simple google search on New Zealand "Lemon Squeezer" turns up this article:

http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/kiwis-at...-squeezer-hat/

The iconic kiwi ‘lemon squeezer’ hat was introduced by one of New Zealand’s outstanding soldiers of the Gallipoli Campaign, William George Malone. Originally for his Taranaki Rifles Regiment, the hat was designed to mirror the outline of Mount Taranaki and also to allow ‘run off’ in the rain. The hat went on to be adopted first by Malone’s Wellington Regiment and later by the rest of the New Zealand Infantry Division on 1st January 1916.

T.

"Now that's what I'm talkin' about!!!"

Hahaha, I couldn't resist!

Wonderful, historical information indeed, Todd!

Cheers,