3RD INFANTRY OFFICER’S MCDOWELL CAP

3RD INFANTRY OFFICER’S MCDOWELL CAP

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$4,250.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1273-82

A very good looking Union infantry officer’s cap in about excellent condition with strong blue color, tight seams, only three small moth nips, its original embroidered bullion 3rd Infantry Regiment officer’s insignia on the lower front, and excellent interior with full lining and sweatband in place.

As with all officer’s uniforms this was a privately purchased piece, acquired from a tailor or military goods dealer. In pattern, it is the popular “McDowell” style forage cap- fairly tall, with the top front edge of the crown about 5-1/2” tall, measured from the top surface of the visor, and the rear seam measuring about 6” from the rear lower edge to the crown. As is usual for the pattern, there is no band around the base of the cap, and the visor is crescent-shaped and down-turned, about 2” deep at center, made of black tarred or painted leather, with a lightly impressed edge line. All of this would allow for a fashionable, slightly floppy top, with the crescent visor emphasizing a dynamic, forward slant. The chinstrap is thin glossy black leather with a sliding friction buckle that would act as a stop against one of the loops on the ends of the two sections anchored on each side by a small general service eagle button.

We see no moth damage on the top or on upper body, just six or seven pencil point tan spots that are not holes, but tiny spots where something took out the color, and could be easily masked. We see two or three more of those spots around the bottom edge. The only moth damage we see are two small, also pencil point size, nips near the lower edge on the wearer’s right, about 1-1/2” from the side button, and a pencil eraser size spot about 1” to the rear of the same button.

The interior is excellent as well, fully lined in black polished cotton, the underside of the crown quilted and the sides plain. The black color shows some slight rubbing in the sides, back and underside of the top from wear by the officer, but this does not affect the fabric itself, which has no holes, tears, fraying or runs. The sweatband is complete, securely in place, a medium brown color with reddish tones, good finish, about 1-1/4” tall, with no tears, chips or missing pieces, and the stitching secure along the bottom and top edges.

The infantry insignia is about 1” tall and 2” wide, gold bullion embroidered, with some sequins for accent around the lower edge of the bell, base of the bell and on the mouthpiece. The embroidery is done on a black velvet patch trimmed to the contour of the bugle and its cords and is sewn in place on the cap. The number is silvered, stamped false embroidered brass, 7/16” tall, fixed in the center of the horn’s loop. The color of the insignia is very good, showing just natural, pleasing age toning to the gilt and slight graying to the silver on the “3” with a little unobtrusive light green verdigris from the underlying brass coming through on some edges. The number, of course, could designate both a regular army or volunteer regiment. The visor is firmly attached. It has some small thin pieces of paper or tissue and some reddish fibers adhering to its underside from long storage resting on something.

This is an honest officer’s cap with a great look and in strong condition. It would dress up any officer’s display, and enhance any headgear collection, though if you were to have only one officer’s cap, this might well be it.  [sr][ph:L]

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