Hats<The Real McCoy's TIGER TEN-GALLON HAT / ADVISOR KHAKI

A style made famous by American cowboys and the film star and military veteran Tim McCoy, the term Ten Gallon Hat was first coined in 1925 and has since been used to describe this jungle hat crafted by local tailors across southeast Asia. This cowboy-style gained traction amongst members of the US Military who were serving underneath the hot sun, either in the jungles of Vietnam or on the flight decks of Thailand. Soldiers often personalised the hat with squad patches, emblems, and sometimes notches counting off the number of missions the owner had taken part in.

Advisors and USAF personnel serving in the Vietnam War who were stationed in towns and cities, notably those known as 'Saigon Cowboys,' were often seen wearing Ten-Gallon Hats paired with other custom-made military fatigues. Its distinctive features, including a snap button brim and adjustable chin strap, first arrived in Vietnam during the First Indochina War, where it was part of the uniform worn by the French Foreign Legion. Under the moniker of MLE 1949, or 'Le Chapeau de Brousse', the hat provided much-needed sun protection in Vietnamese and Algerian theatres of operation.

The origins of Tiger Stripe camouflage itself can also be traced back to the French military, where it is known as Tenue Du Leopard. The pattern is often credited to the Vietnamese, due to the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps making subtle changes to the lizard camouflage and using it to reflect the thick jungle conditions and intense tropical heat of Vietnam by incorporating bold black stripes over shades of green and brown.

The Tiger Stripe pattern gained significant recognition during the Vietnam War when it was unofficially embraced by the U.S. Armed Forces. Many young servicemen opted for the Tiger Stripe over the official issue ERDL pattern. USMAAG advisors were even authorised to wear the combat uniform of their Vietnamese units, leading to the production of many uniforms by local tailors. This diversity in production explains the myriad variations seen in the pattern.

Among the various tiger stripe iterations, the Advisor Tiger Stripe emerged as a mid-war pattern in Vietnam, prevalent from 1968 until the conflict's conclusion. Widely utilised by LRRP/Ranger Units, SF, SOG, CIDG, and ARVN units, they earned the moniker "Gold Tigers" due to their characteristic fading into golden tones and purple blacks. This particular pattern stands as a testament to the adaptability and practicality of military attire in responding to the unique challenges posed by different theatres of operation.

In recreating this iconic camouflage pattern, we have hand-printed and dyed it onto a dense cotton twill fabric, achieving an authentic weight and overall atmosphere. Era-accurate details include snap button fastenings which can be used to wear the brim either up or down.