"French infantry transition from the bicorne to the shako." Topic

A question or three for all the French uniform experts out there.

Given that the shako was designated as the official headwear for the French line infantry in 1804, when did it actually start being worn?

I know that the white uniformed units were wearing it by early 1807, but did any of the blue uniformed units wear it at this time as well?

Were any units possibly wearing it during the Prussian campaign of 1806?

The shako was designated in 1804, the Grande Armee did not set off for the Austerlitz campaign until the second half of 1805, and was then in cantonments from January to October 1806, so surely it is possible that some units were issued with shakos. Does anyone know?

Well, anything is possible, given variations in supply. It is generally accepted that the changeover essentially began in 1807, when the army ceased to actively be on campaign and that by 1809, the transition was complete.

According the Napy's Finest: Davout and his III Corps there were some light infantry battalions with Chasseurs in shako in 1806. I've read (somewhere) that the order to convert the army was issued in 1806 but most people around here say nothing actually happened until 1808 or so and was largely done by 1809.

Cheers,

The Bandit

The rule of thumb that I use is:

1805-1806 all in bicornes. Leger in shakos.

1807 a mix of bicorne and shako with the latter predominating.

1808 onwards all shako, especially anyone deployed to Spain.

The reality was, of course, much less well defined.

Some light infantry had the shako way earlier that 1806. It is possible some had them in egypt though unlikely. Certainly some did in the wars of the 2nd coalition wars.

plenty of bicornes still being worn in 1815

Bicornes were worn by a lot of units as a sort of forage-cap equivalent, notably the Old Guard – plus, the National Guard still wore the bicorne up to 1815

For my regular squadies, I have them all in shakoes as I mostly game 1806 + and am too lazy to paint up more troops

I'm with Fredrick, that + cost gets me.

Cheer,

The Bandit

This question comes up again and again, as rule of thumb, for line infantry hats till the end of the campaign of 1807 – from then on shakos – shakos are definatly wrong for 1805 and 1806 – light infantry is another topic.