A True Duster

[Badlands Walker]

Howdy All,

I am interested in getting myself a duster of the 1800's era & was wondering what is actually considered historically correct for that time period.  I have looked at several & heard many opinions, but am still confused as to which is correct.  Most of what I have learned & can find on the web... the white canvas type duster was the most common & historically correct.  Any input on this subject would be greatly appreciated!

[Slim Silver]

Might oughta contact Delmonico.  He seems to be pretty up on such.

[Badlands Walker]

Sounds like a plan pard... much obliged!

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[Big John Denny]

Concho Kid, they never stayed white for long. In fact buff (dusty colored) was probably a more common color.

[Delmonico]

They are a cotton, linen or linen/cotton long coat that is un oiled.  they are to keep your clothing free of dust when riding in a wagon, stage coach, horse back or in an open care.  The slightly off white seem to be the most common, but natural, brown, black ('memeber Black Bart and his black duster) and even perhapes a dull red were around.

The common "Duster" of most western shops is an oil skin and is really a rain coat or slicker.   Most of these today are mad "Down Under" these are not really trulely PC as sold, but one travels with me as hidden gear.  When it is 50 degrees out and raining and I'm trying to keep a fire and grub up anyone who don't like Ol' Cosie's Aussie slicker can eat cold Spam on wonder Bread.  Funny no one has ever pointed it out as not PC.   I didn't have it once in 2001 and suffer hypo-thermia because of it.  A PC problem that a non'PC car and heater kept just a serious problem instead of deadly.  I was in the 2nd stages of it when I figgered it out.  And yes breakfast was a bit late.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Concho:  If it has a zipper.....leave it in the store!

[Hemlock Mike]

Good info here -- I thought that a duster WAS an oiled "sliker".   
Born too late --

Mike

[Delmonico]

Duster is just another one of those abused words in our language.  The dusters main job is to keep dust off yer good clothing.

[Big John Denny]

Hence the name "Duster". Makes sense to me.

[Marshal'ette Halloway]

I have one and it has come in mighty handy when we were moving calves in the spring rains.
My horse would be soaked, my saddle would be soaked my duster and hat would be "wet"..
 but I was snug and dry on the inside of it.
Also, something else that you need to remember about dusters..
If they get muddy or you get any "cow poo" on them, hang them up outside, and take a hose to them, and wash them off,
let them air dry and they will be good as ever.
You can get them in short, long, lined with warm fur stuff , or unlined.
 

[Big John Denny]

Marshal'ette I believe you are talking about a slicker and not a true duster. A duster does not shed rain. A slicker does. It's the forerunner of the raincoat.

[Marshal'ette Halloway]

Oh.
 I guess that must be what mine is then.. it is oilcloth and brown. LOL

[Big John Denny]

That's OK Marshal'ette. We were secretly told by the Marshal to make allowances for you.

[Marshal Halloway]

Way  to hang with me Pard.

[Marshal'ette Halloway]

That's for both of you onry hound dogs.


From Marshal'ette... with the brown oilcloth long dry SLICKER!

[Big John Denny]

Marshal'ette, this is all my fault. I want you the give the Marshal a big ol kiss cause it wasn't his fault.

PS: Marshal, you can send that check to me at my posted address.

[Delmonico]

Ok, afore ya both get killed, part of the problem I think is the Aussies''s cause they don't always talk like us.  They call the oilskin slickers, dusters when they send them.  Before everyone from Down Under gang up on me, it ain't intended as an insult, it's just a fact.

A slicker in the Old West was either made out of rubberized cloth, often a sick yaller (mustard) and were made by Tower and fish Companies.  Hence a slicker can also be a fish, or sometimes a hen skin.

Also they were made by coating with boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits.  This make a stiffer oil skin than the Aussie dusters/slickers.   What the aussies use I am not sure of, even when I read the can of slicker oil, but it is wonderful stuff because they don't get as stiff as the old linseed oil slickers. 

If any one is at the GAF Muster I have an linseed oil treated canvas case that I keep my Sharps in if any one really wants to see how stiff it is.

[Delmonico]

I fergot maam, I have been married twice once for 15 years and the second for 9,  I have enough sense not to get in as deep as these two have.

[Derby Younger]

A duster by any other name is not a duster. A duster rain coat is called a slicker. O a fish coat. I don't think they are making those anymore. But I got mine, woo-hoo.

[Marshal'ette Halloway]

I fergot maam, I have been married twice once for 15 years and the second for 9,  I have enough sense not to get in as deep as these two have.

Uh-huh~~
 They are past being knee deep in it. It is waaayyyy beyond wearing hip boots.
They are goin' down s**t creek in a hurry and both have lost their paddles.
And if you look real close...  their eyes are starting to turn "brown"...

THAT'S how deep they are.