# Billy Jack hat question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918 "2009-01-19T01:39:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/1 "2009-01-19T01:39:58Z")
So I’m watching yet another western where the indian is wearing a [Billy Jack hat](http://www.caliqo.com/ebay/hats_masks_gloves/billyjack006.jpg) (War Wagon) and I’m wondering if this is a movie convention or was this hat ever in style? If so, where? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/2 "2009-01-19T02:10:11Z")
I believe hats are generally delivered to the hat shop with an ‘unbashed’ crown. I don’t have a cite, but ISTR seeing period photographs in books showing at least one indian wearing an unbashed hat. I can’t speculate on the flat brim though. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/3 "2009-01-19T02:20:41Z")
Pin the brim up on one side, and you have the "Jeff Davis"hat, which was part of the dress uniform of the army around the Civil War period. (Before he was President of the Confederacy, Jefferson was Secretary of War in the U.S. government. The hat was adopted during his tenure there.) Use a gray hat instead of a black hat, put four dimples in the crown, and you have the “campaign hat”, worn by the army and marines from the turn of the century to World War One. Also worn by drill instructors and forest rangers to this day. (See Smokey the Bear.) ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/4 "2009-01-19T02:36:52Z")
[Hipshshot Percussion](http://www.oldmontana.com/images/rickstanhipshot.jpg), gunslinger buddy of Rick O’Shay, wore a similar hat, but he was a comic strip character. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/5 "2009-01-19T04:03:18Z")
This page has some photos of army Indian scouts wearing a khaki version of the style in the 1890s. It’s basically a plainer version of the army Campaign Hat. [http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/huachuca/HI1-23.htm](http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/huachuca/HI1-23.htm) I would speculate that veterans brought the style home with them after they mustered out. Then again, it’s not really all that different from a standard Stetson. ---
**Author:** ![hadziin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85f322/32.png) [@hadziin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hadziin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/6 "2010-08-07T06:27:22Z")
This is what is known as a REZ (Reservation) Hat it has been worn by plains and southwestern nations since they put us on the REZ. Broaden your mind by visiting a local Pow Wow just remember NO PICTURES WITHOUT PERMISSION!!! failing to follow this simple rule can result in an unpleasant experience. :mad: ps : If there isn’t a Rez close by try the nearest university they usually have a Native American Student chapter that puts on a yearly event. PPs: You find hats like these being worn on my home Rez in New Mexico ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/7 "2010-08-07T20:07:49Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > (See Smokey the Bear.) It’s Smokey Bear. No “the” in the name. He wears a 1910 Campaign Hat. BTW, Smokey’s birthday is August 9. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/billy-jack-hat-question/481918/8 "2010-08-08T16:50:10Z")
Hoss Cartwright also wore a hat with an unshaped crown, but he rolled the brim some.