C1803-1812 British General Service Stove Pipe/Shako Plate. BA 385. C1803-1812 British General Service Stove Pipe/Shako Plate. BA 385. Miscellaneous

A shako is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. The British pattern "stovepipe" shako is a tall, cylindrical type of headwear. The stovepipe was used by the infantry of the British Army from around 1799. From 1800 on, the shako became a common military headdress worn by the majority of regiments in the armies of Europe and the Americas. Replacing in most instances the light bicorn, the shako was initially considered an improvement, and its use was continued until the end of the Peninsular War, 1814. This is a British ‘General Service’ example, Solid brass, 156 mm in length and 104 mm wide with fixing holes intact. See ‘The British infantry shako, in: Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. 15, No. 60 (Winter, 1936), pages 188-208 by Alex. R. Cattley. The price includes UK delivery. BA 385.