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How Can I Identify an Old Military Uniform?

If time is a movie then antique uniforms are stills; they capture fragments of the world as it was in the dark days of wars gone by. Look in your attic or closet, you might have a piece of history in Grandpa's old uniform .

Identifying uniforms from different wars and times requires attention to details such as color, cut and fabric type. Sometimes the accessories or head gear can provide clues as to when the uniform was worn.

Things You'll Need

Guidebook for military collectibles
Magnifying glass
Books on military history
Digital camera

Instructions

- 1
  
  The material and stitching are clues to when the uniform was made.
  
  Step back and observe the overall appearance of the uniform. Compare the colors and cut of the uniform to images from the military history books to determine the time period for the uniform.
  
  Colonial era uniforms were tapered and tight in jacket and pants, while uniforms from the Civil War era forward were more loosely cut.
- 2
  Examine the cloth under a magnifying glass to determine the weave and whether or not it was machine stitched. Handwoven cloth and hand-sewn clothing will have a more irregular appearance and the stitches won't be uniform.
- 3
  
  Patches and tabs can indicate rank or branch of service.
  
  Examine the buttons on the uniform and any insignia that may still be attached to the sleeves, collar or shoulders of the jacket. The brass buttons will often carry symbols identifying the branch of service and national origin of the uniform. In some cases a complete set of brass buttons on a uniform are worth more than the uniform itself.
- 4
  Look at the colors of the uniform. Many times you can determine exactly what part of a campaign a soldier fought in by the combination of colors on the uniform. According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Continental Army uniforms were navy blue with different-colored, front lapels indicating which region of the colonies the soldier came from.
- 5
  
  Use photographs of the uniform to get more information.
  
  Get some professional help by taking some photographs of the uniform with a digital camera. Take pictures from all sides and include close up images of buttons, belt buckles and any insignia. Email the images to your local university history department or a military historical society and ask for any references they might help identify the uniform.
- 6
  Question the owner of the uniform carefully to learn any family history or lore concerning the uniform. Letters or other documents can establish provenance and greatly increase the value of the collectible.

Antiques