Description

We have made a small number of kepis for years now but never in quantity sufficient to place online as we did not see the need to do so based on the diversity and availability of good examples out there. Due to the fact that the makers of good quality kepis at decent prices had shrunk in recent years, we endeavored to redirect part of our wheel hat production toward the production of such a private purchase cap for our “Officer’s Call Section”. The demand for our wheel hats is so great that we had been simply unable to devote the energy we had originally wished to place on it and only offered a few pieces here and there, which we were gratified to see were received with great positive response. With the training of a new artisan apprentice we were excited that the goal was becoming more within reach.  (we will still be introducing our Officer’s and private purchase kepis to our customers soon) The first run is a private purchase pattern kepi, the features and construction methods copied from several originals we have either had in our collection or had the opportunity to examine over our many years of research. The body is made of vulcanized rubber cotton drill and machine sewn. Affixed to the front is our wired stamped brass Fraternal/Political eagle as seen nearly universally on the Kepi and Shako in identified photos and on a rare couple of documented originals. The cap is fully lined in the brown cotton typical of the period, used commonly in coats and vests as well. The visor is the rounded corner leather veneer covered style with a machine stitched leather veneer edging. The visor is attached, as in several originals examined, with an exposed somewhat coarse crossing whip stitch visible on the underside. The stitching on top is covered with narrow piece of veneer glued over it to protect it from the bottom edge of the chin strap and give the cap a more “finished” look, a neat feature we copied from one of the originals we looked at. Each cap has a functional sliding leather chin strap, sans brass buckle, but in the regulation style. It is secured with small General Issue eagle wired cap buttons. The sweat bands on this initial run are of pebble grain thin leather and machine sewn in. (also a feature we observed on at least one original period kepi) We will also be offering a version with hand sewn sweat bands in smooth brown leather. Each kepi bears a size label on the sweat band and cap label of the documented Gutta Percha Manufacturing Company of New York. Offered only in quarter sizes at this time, very limited run.