EXTREMELY FINE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FRENCH MADE SHAKO

EXTREMELY FINE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR FRENCH MADE SHAKO

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$695.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 490-7592

In the summer of 1861, the U.S. government ordered 10,000 complete army uniforms from the French firm of Godillot. These were to be awarded to regiments on the basis of drill competitions. The completed order was shipped in November of that year. Regiments known to have received them include the 18th Massachusetts, 62nd and 83rd Pennsylvania. Their dress uniform included these Model 1860 French infantry shakos fitted with elaborate front plates featuring an American eagle with a red & blue painted shield perched over a light infantry hunting horn in a rosette (when this rosette is found painted blue this is a post-war embellishment). Above this large, stamped brass plate sits a tin round tri-color cockade.

The shako is black leather, with external bands applied at the base, around the crown, and in two V-shapes at either side with a metal ventilation hole between. The bound visor has a green underside with an impressed “G” the size. The body of the hat is excellent, with nice finish. The visor is firmly attached. The 3 inch+ tall sweatband is present inside hat as are all tabs and chinstrap with iron buckle. A couple of tarred canvas patches have been applied on reverse areas on weak, not torn, sections of the chinstrap. The chinstrap is functional. Stamped inside the hat is "5 1/2". There is a 2 1/2-inch-tall wool pompom of green and orange, but this is Indian War vintage; in the Civil War they usually had plumes of red feathers.

Period photos show U.S. troops wearing the shakos and the shako plates have been excavated in wartime camps. They are known to have been issued to the Army of the Potomac early in the war. These were not militia pieces. This is the best one this compiler has seen in 60 years! [pe] [ph:L]

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