Quote Originally Posted by pdcorlis
A caubeen has an obvious sewn seam connecting the top and sides - an authentic balmoral is formed from one solid piece of wool.
Looking at Brit military balmorals, I saw quite a few with edge seems and toories and tails. Some have a VISIBLE seem between the top of the checks and the top portion, with seem lines on either side of the cockade! I now believe, as in the above post, that in times of peace and slow troop stocking, the one-piece balmorals were standard, but in quick-supply times (and cheap periods), suppliers used the quicker cut-and-sew style with all the other balmoral bits and pieces. Caubeens, however, seem to be virtually all cut-and-sew construction. I find it curious that some repro manufacturers have caubeens with a shorter headband than a balmoral of equal construction, while others do the EXACT OPPOSITE!

If there are any with access to REAL caubeens and could measure them, I'd LOVE to head what the measurements ACTUALLY are and if the bottom circle part is flat or coned (the latter of which would add height to the upturned portion. Caubeens are the ones I had the hardest time finding good pics of, primarily because my library is of Scottish stuff, not modern Irish.

If any of the great military historians on this thing could further enlighten me to add/modify/correct my above post, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! I have only spent a couple dozen hours scattered over a couple months researching this topic (and NONE before), while some of you have spent YEARS studying this thing. Your additions (including, "YOU ARE COMPLETELY WRONG!!!!") would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to be accurate and am not locked on my hypothesis above.