M1889 Campaign Hats
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Quartermaster General’s Office
Specifications for Fur Campaign Hats.
Mixture.—To be composed of fur in the following proportions and kinds, for twenty-four (24) dozen hats: Fifteen (15) pounds Y. C. Ex. Ex. coney; thirty (30) pounds Y. C. No. 1 coney; sixteen (16) pounds W. C. No. 1 coney; twelve (12) pounds W. C. mottled coney; five (5) pounds W. C. hare’s bellies; ten pounds blown nutria; ten (10) pounds American rabbit.
Weight.—Hat bodies to be weighed, four and three-fourths (4 ¾ ounces heavy.
Shape.—Block to be five and three-fourths (5 ¾ inches deep to center of tip.
Brim.—To be two and three-fourths (2 ¾ inches wide in front and rear, and three (3) inches at sides; and to have three rows of stitching on edge.
Color.—To be drab, shade of standard sample.
Trimmings.—To be trimmed with eight-ligne union band, same quality and style as on hat, to be sewed on by hand. Sweat to be an imported lined leather, two and one-forth (2 ¼ inches wide, sewed to the reed by zigzag stitch. Each side of hat to have an opening for ventilation consisting of small punched holes of size, and arranged in design, as on standard sample hat; the center of design to be about three and one-quarter (3 ¼ inches from brim.
The hats to be doe-finished, as per sample.
To be packed three hats in each band-box.
Adopted February 8 1889, in lieu of specifications of December 14, 1883, which are hereby canceled.
S. B. HOLABIRD,
Quartermaster General, U. S. A.
As stated above - the 'snowflake' ventilation holes were in the original M1889 Campaign Hat.
They'd stay like that - with minor variations - until 1911, when the enamelled eyelet was installed, and the 'Montana Peak' became the official shape of the Campaign Hat.
They're punched-through holes in the shape of a snowflake - allowing the hat to breathe for the wearer.
Color-wise, the M1889 and M1911 Campaign Hats were closer to a 'Doeskin' color, when new - darkening over the period of issue to a very Dark Brown, after WWII.
Vaya,
Scouts Out!