History Break: The Muir Cap
The Muir cap (also called in some areas a “Master’s Cap” or “Sir’s Cap”) is one of the most iconic symbols of Leather, along with chaps, boots, and vests. Marlon Brando, in the 1950′s film “The Wild Ones”, sported this with his white teeshirt and leather jacket; today it’s worn by some in the leather community as a symbol of strength, mastery, community position, and dominance. Here are a few facts & traditions associated with it…
-It’s called a Muir cap because the design was initially sold by the Muir Cap Company – and still is today, in leather as well as other fabrics.
-Don’t touch the mylar brim with your fingers – the oils will leave fingerprints on the brim. Instead, pick it up by the side edges. And don’t touch anyone’s cap without their permission (ditto for their other leathers, such as their vest and chaps; leather is extremely personal and should be treated as such).
-In many parts of the community, the Muir cap is given to someone for reaching a milestone in their leather walk – though different communities and families have different methods of doing so. Some have ceremonies, some do it privately; some receive it from their club, others from their submissive or dominant, still others from their fellow community members. In any of these cases, the cap (or cover, as it’s often called) is symbolic of a persons’ place in the community or family.
-Some people believe that adding insignia or chain to their cap is a sign of a “higher” status, but there is nothing to bear that out beyond local or individual traditions.
-Remember your hat etiquette – it’s traditional for hats to be removed and held over the heart during the national anthem; technically, women are exempted from this rule but often follow it to correct outmoded gendered traditions.
-Generally, Muir caps are part of more formal leather attire; they are rarely worn with jeans and tees anymore (though it does happen).
8 Responses to 'History Break: The Muir Cap'
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Thank you for writing this, It’s nice to know a place I trust that I can point people to when they ask for online resources about such subjects.
Vesper
19 Nov 10 at 5:52 pm
I think we need more leather, or at least I think I need more leather. Not just the material but the culture, the respect, the protocol. I love this hat.
Jinx
19 Nov 10 at 6:11 pm
Jinx – I got drawn to the leather community because of the respect, the sense of personal honor & responsibility, and the culture of always learning that I saw in my (future) leather brothers. It’s something that I feel like set my foundation where it is today, regardless of what part of the community (or where outside of it) that I walk in. The Leather community is out there, and in many ways it’s more accessible now than it’s ever been…I encourage you to visit some groups and get to know some folks who do it differently!
Sarah Sloane
19 Nov 10 at 6:16 pm
Where can I find a hat like that? Exactly like that one. It’s beautiful. One that’s cheaper is ok too. I’ve been looking and a lot are around $200
Serge
28 Apr 11 at 11:43 am
Serge, check out online sources if there is not a leather shop near you. Search for Muir Cap or Biker Cap. I have seen them for less than $100 here in the US!
Sarah Sloane
30 Apr 11 at 8:49 am
(Excerpted from mine and Hobbit’s workshop, “Beyond the Hanky Code”)
Here’s the source of the cover ceremony and why there’s significance attached to replacing the leather band (chinstrap) with silver chain and adding an eagle to the brim.
In the Navy, enlisted sailors wear the “dixie cup” until they become Chief Petty Officers. When a sailor is selected to be promoted to Chief, there is a tradition where they are required to get their “charge book” signed off by every Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief in their division or ship (all the other local tops have to agree that they are worthy), then an initiation ceremony is held culminating in a ceremony where their “Anchors” are pinned on and they are presented with their “Combination Cap” which replaces their “dixie cup.”
In the US military, the enlisted dress uniform cover has a plain, leather band above the brim and the officers cover has has a gold band above the brim, field grade get some gold decorations and the general grade get even more – these gold decorations often called “scrambled eggs.”
This is why you will see some covers with leather bands and some covers with silver chain – emulating the military’s gold braid for officers.
DaddyW
31 May 11 at 12:36 am
Wendell, thank you so much for this! I really wish I could sit in on your workshop, now…I hear precious few people sharing info about the why’s and wherefore’s!
Sarah Sloane
31 May 11 at 6:24 am
Actually, the hat worn by Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” was not a leather Muir cap; it was a motorcycle cap made from cotton or some other fabric with a plastic peak. It looks a little bit like a Muir cap though, but not made out of leather..
David
31 Jan 12 at 11:56 pm