Caubeen suppliers?

[JerseyLawyer]

Penny's of Thunder Bay http://www.pennys.ca/hats.php also carries them. Has anyone ordered from this vendor?

Sorry for the double post here - I've ordered a few things from them, and my experiences have generally been good, though I will say that they are probably no better than fair-to-middling in quality on some items.

[The Thing]

Just thought I'd post a link for a Caubeen supplier in Northern Ireland.
I had wanted a Caubeen for a long time and was looking everywhere for an Irish made one and found a fantastic lady who hand makes them in County Down. I got one in rifle green with black tails, it is amazing, just beautiful, also got a Saint Patricks blue hackle and a Harp of Hibernia, but without any crown because it would be taken for a RIR Caubeen if it had one.
It was only £25 pounds U.K. pluse £2 pounds P&P, 100% handmade in soft new wool and lined in the inside made to my measurements.

They are located on ebay under Mossie croft highland accessories and the lady's name is Laurie.

[O'Callaghan]

I have a British Army surplus caubeen. Unfortunately, it's a bit small. I can ram it on my head, but it's annoying. It seems the squaddies get them over large from the stores and then shrink them, so if you get a used one they are always smaller than the marked size, and that's the problem. A NATO size 57 should fit me no problem, but it's too tight! Just a warning to others.

As for balmorals being Irish headwear, no. The Canadian Army wear 'caubeens' with a tourie on top, but it's stretching the meaning of the word caubeen too far.

ETA: Pipe bands wear them with hackles. The different colour hackles did represent different British regiments, but for obvious reasons none of them wore an Irish Tricolour hackle, and I have seen those about. I would even wear a green one, because the green has other meanings also not exactly related to the British Army. Just don't for heaven's sake wear a regimental badge!

[ForresterModern]

I have a rifle green custom made caubeen bought off ebay from a vendor named ramscraig. no toorie or tails or cockade, but a good fit and nice build. I do not wear a hackle.

[JolyStNicholas]

I have been looking on my own for a nice caubeen, and all this information is a hugh help to me. I thank one and all who has helped with this. The wool green is my choice.

[macwilkin]

I have a British Army surplus caubeen. Unfortunately, it's a bit small. I can ram it on my head, but it's annoying. It seems the squaddies get them over large from the stores and then shrink them, so if you get a used one they are always smaller than the marked size, and that's the problem. A NATO size 57 should fit me no problem, but it's too tight! Just a warning to others.

As for balmorals being Irish headwear, no. The Canadian Army wear 'caubeens' with a tourie on top, but it's stretching the meaning of the word caubeen too far.

ETA: Pipe bands wear them with hackles. The different colour hackles did represent different British regiments, but for obvious reasons none of them wore an Irish Tricolour hackle, and I have seen those about. I would even wear a green one, because the green has other meanings also not exactly related to the British Army. Just don't for heaven's sake wear a regimental badge!

Just a point of clarification, but all of the present-day photos I have seen of Canadian Army issue caubeeens show ones with no toories:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1077/...75ae37.jpg?v=0

http://www.infocomcanada.com/valleye...piescadets.jpg (the young lady in the center is a cadet piper.)

There are some WWII-era photos of the Irish Regiment of Canada in the Osprey Elite title Irish Regiments of the World by Murphy and Embleton, but I don't have my copy handy at the moment. I did find this photo online:

http://oakvilleatwar.opl.on.ca/img/thumb/SW0144t.jpg

Note that the caubeen does have a toorie, and is worn in the style of the London Irish Regiment, with the cap badge over the right eye.

As far as hackles go, the only ones I have ever seen being worn by Irish regiments in the British Army are green. I'm not sure as to the veiled reference to "other meanings". Of course, the Scottish regiments (and now battalions of the RSS) wore different coloured hackles...

Apologies for being pedantic.

Todd

[slohairt]

The Irish Regiment of Canada (based out of Sudbury) wear caubeens. The Highland regiments of the Canadian army wear tam o' shanters.

[dfmacliam]

I have three caubeen from three different vendors.. JByous, that one is black with a red headband.. Glengarry Canadian Army Caubeen in green with green tails.., and finally I have one from Mossiecroft in green... off ebay... i like this one best, when I first got it, I wasn't sure.. but now Ishaped it a bit... I really like it... I would recremmend any and all of these vendors... JByous worked with me and suggested the colors to resemble a Marine Corps Dress Blue uniform..so I have a custom item.

[ForresterModern]

I have three caubeen from three different vendors.. JByous, that one is black with a red headband.. Glengarry Canadian Army Caubeen in green with green tails.., and finally I have one from Mossiecroft in green... off ebay... i like this one best, when I first got it, I wasn't sure.. but now Ishaped it a bit... I really like it... I would recremmend any and all of these vendors... JByous worked with me and suggested the colors to resemble a Marine Corps Dress Blue uniform..so I have a custom item.

For those who ebay the vendor I mentioned named ramscraig also goes by the store name mossiecroft, and so they are one and the same.

[dfmacliam]

I knew I seen that name before... but Mossie Croft stuck in my mind... I would definately buy from them again.. matter of fact... I better go browse their store again...LOL