The Marine’s Somewhat Elusive Khaki 1929 Pattern Cap

[Dirk]

For some reason these khaki summer caps are harder to find than the pre-war Marines blue, white, or green service caps. These are the ones with sewn grommet vents, vice the metal vents, and thin “railroad track” chin straps. The hat is designed to allow to owner change cover tops: to blue or white.  Surprisingly they are not as robust as other Marine covers of the era, granted they are summer weight, but seem fragile when you handle them. The khaki bell crown and the khaki 37 pattern caps are much easier to find from my experience.

[themick]

Very nice hat, Dirk.  You are right about this interwar khaki headgear being difficult to find.  The cover of the prewar hats would be interchangeable with khaki and white covers.  The blue and green covers were not interchangeable, which means that a Marine was actually issued three different visored caps.  If you think of parting with it, please keep me in mind.  Also, are there any markings on the inside of the sweatband?

 

 

Steve 

[Manky bandage]

Nice find, even the slightly later khaki covers seem to be just as fragile. Very easily bent out of shape, they are very susceptible to all manor of grime and oxidisation 

 

 

[Blackhat]

Great cover, and yes the summer wight covers are more than scare. I have been chasing one for my 1922 winter cover. Marines were issued 2 visor caps one winter green and one dress blues, so 2 compete caps, until the introduction of the frame type  in 1937. Regs stated that Winer green was to be paired with the summer weight khaki cover and white cover with Dre’s blues visor. I suspect that your blues visor is in fact an early 1937 frame type with an early example cover.

[Dirk]

The chin strap is the earlier rail road track style so not the 37 pattern strap…..there is a name which is hard to read on the sweat band that should further help narrow it down year wise.

[CinamonToastCrunch]

Best candidate is Joseph John Jakstavich looks like he served 1922 - 1926 in the US Marines.

[Dirk]

Thanks!!! I need to also crack the name on the sweat band as this cap was reissued at some point. I think I see K. M. A ?????SE

[Blackhat]

2 hours ago, Dirk said:

The chin strap is the earlier rail road track style so not the 37 pattern strap…..there is a name which is hard to read on the sweat band that should further help narrow it down year wise.

I understand that Dirk, I guess my point is that if it was indeed a pre ‘37 pattern/model cover, when viewing the inside the lining should be blue and not showing  the khaki cover as up to ‘37 they were issued as complete hat with a khaki and white cover. Just my thoughts mate, I am in no way trying to discredit in anyway. The cover however is a winner 👍

[Dirk]

Blackhat your points are valid….now I am trying to I’d the second name on the hat.

[CinamonToastCrunch]

I am going to need to see all the letters flat to make out a name.

[Blackhat]

2 hours ago, Dirk said:

Blackhat your points are valid….now I am trying to I’d the second name on the hat.

Damned if I can make it out either…

[Blackhat]

18 minutes ago, Blackhat said:

Damned if I can make it out either…

K M AMBROSE

[Blackhat]

Dirk I have just had a look at both names  on Ancestry in the Muster rolls. May I say this is an excellent find and once you see the timeline it is possible these two Marines crossed paths at some point. Great history there congratulations mate. This example may be private purchase ?! Either way it is a standout!

[Dirk]

Black hat I Think you got him….Kennth M Ambrose! Thank you! Looks like he had some China Time with Butler’s 3rd in Tientsin….i will have to see where these two Marines crossed paths…during this period I know when a Marine was getting out he may have sold his uniforms to other Marines at the same station or it could have been returned to supply and reissued…..either way going to be a fun research project

[Dirk]

So it looks like these two men crossed paths at Quantico c. 1925. Joseph Jakstavich would get out in Dec 26 and Ambrose who go off to China in the Spring of 27 after having left Quantico for Portsmouth NH. So there is our linage for the cap…..this one would have travelled to Tientsin China with General Butlers brigade. 

[Blackhat]

It’s a great cap Dirk 👍 with outstanding provenance. From a ‘regulations’ standpoint do you think it is likely a private purchase frame ? If possible I would like to see some pics of the interior construction. Great find !

[Dirk]

 

16 hours ago, Blackhat said:

It’s a great cap Dirk 👍 with outstanding provenance. From a ‘regulations’ standpoint do you think it is likely a private purchase frame ? If possible I would like to see some pics of the interior construction. Great find !

Thanks! it looks like a third name: guessing this breaks out to Harold D. Robert’s who over lapped these two Marines at Quantico and later served as a mail guard…could be beneath his name is s contract stamp, but it had faded into the leather sweat band.

[Alec]

This is a Horstmann 1929 contract cover that is dress blues frame. 

[Dirk]

Beautiful cap Alec! Different maker then mine…..brown peak vice black…..your khaki I think has a black peak too! 

[Blackhat]

Dirk and Alec, thank you both for the pics, greatly appreciated…it leaves me wondering at what point was the ‘frame’ visor  introduced into the system. Dirk’s example suggests mid 1920s.