Quote Originally Posted by puffer View Post
See below picture for examples. (TOP feft to Right, then bottom left to right)

IMHO a "Militery Baret", is not the same as an actual Balmoral.

1 A military beret is smaller = 9 1/2" diam. & is in it's current isue "blocked" for the "flash" The one I am wearing is my 1960 SF ( and is unblocked)

2. A "standard " Balmoral = 10 1/2" diam.

3. A current Brit. issue Tam O Shanter (TOS) = 11" diam.

4. A WWII & prior Brit issue TOS = 12" diam.

5. A "period" TOS = 14" diam

Hope this helps
PUFFER

Thanks for the thorough explanation. Based on your pictures, and the one of ForesterModern sporting a balmoral similar to what I have seen (yours being more 'rustic' pieced rather than blocked felt); I would say that the TOS whether felt or pieced appears to have a different shape, with a defined band area then flaring out to the broad diameter. The beret and the balmoral appear to share the same shape (no well defined band) and differ only in diameter and furnishings.

This brings up another question. It would seem to me, that to keep the same proportion, the diameter of the hat would have to increase with the diameter of the head. But your information would seem to disagree.