Wrapped in Tradition: The Story of a Cowboy's Wild Rag

Howdy y’all, I’m Chip Schweiger, the cowboy accountant, and welcome to another edition of Way Out West with The Cowboy Accountant. 

The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls who are feeding a nation. 

Imagine the early morning chill of the open plains, where the wind cuts sharp and the dust swirls around the hooves of your horse. 

You're out on the range, miles from the nearest town, and the only thing between you and the elements is a piece of silk cloth wrapped around your neck—a wild rag. 

But this isn’t just any piece of cloth; it's a symbol of the rugged, resourceful spirit of the cowboy. 

So today on the show, we’re unravelling the rich history and unexpected uses of the wild rag, a cowboy's trusted companion through sun, wind, and rain. 

From its humble beginnings to its place in modern Western style, we’ll explore why this simple scarf has earned its place in the heart of cowboy culture. 

So saddle up and join us as we delve into the world of wild rags, where tradition meets practicality with a dash of punchiness.

After the episode check out the show notes at CowboyAccountant.com/podcast

[MUSIC]

Hi there, and welcome back. 

If you’ve ever watched a western movie, no doubt you will recognize a cowboy by their ten gallon hat, the jingle-jangle of their spurs, and a dusty bandana tied around their neck.

And, in those very same movies, the bandit bank-robbers usually had a bandana pulled up to cover their face and mask their identity. 

While this unique piece of fabric goes by many names — bandana, kerchief, mascada (scarf, in Spanish), or buckaroo scarf — I call mine, a “wild rag.” 

They were and still are one of the most valuable tools of a cowboy. And, even though they go by a lot of different names, one thing is certain. No real cowboy in the old west would work without his wild rag. 

A wild rag is a scarf worn around the neck by cowboys and others involved in western heritage. They are worn by both cowboys and cowgirls, for both work and for play. But fast forward to today’s times and you won’t just see a cowboy wearing one. Wild rags have gone from neckwear to headwear to belts and, even, as ponytail holders for the ladies in just the last few years.

Now John Wayne’s characters usually wore a wild rag in his many western movies. Wayne, himself, even had an impressive personal collection of bandanas.

But wild rags actually date back as far as the mid 1800’s, when cowboys were known to use old flour sacks cut into squares when fabric such as a cotton was either too expensive are hard to come by while living on the range. 

The very first cowboy wild rags were worn for warmth in cold temperatures, and for protection from sun, wind, and dirt anytime. In many regions wild rags are still a standard part of cowboy dress whether it be for work or social occasions. 

They come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and fabrics, with silk and polyester being some of the most popular fabric choices joining cotton and even linen. I believe, though, the best wild rags are made of silk. 

There’s a practical reason cowboys prefer silk — it’s the most absorbent of all natural fibers, giving it excellent wicking properties.  It’s also warmer than wool in the winter, and softens well with age. 

Common patterns are paisley, jacquards, solids, and printed cattle brands, but in true cowboy ingenuity, most any patterned fabric can be made into a wild rag. 

Today, most wild rags are in sizes from 30 to 40 inches square or more. Yes, there are wild rags made smaller, but a cowboy would probably never have use for one that small. 

When I think about a wild rag, my first thought is of cowboys on cattle drives in the old west. I think of the dust and the dirt, and I realize the good guys often wore their bandanas pulled up over their faces, just like the bandits in the movies. Hiding one’s face, or keeping out trail dust aren’t the only ways a buckaroo scarf can be used, though. 

Of all the items a cowboy might own, wear, or keep close at hand, nothing serves more purposes than this unique piece of square cloth. So, here’s a few common uses for a wild rag: 

It provides Protection from extreme elements, can be used to Strain drinking water, and can be used as a potholder by a campfire, including when grabbing that hot pot of Arbuckle coffee.

You can also use one as an arm sling, tourniquet or bandage, or for Wiping dirt and sweat from the face.

And cowboys have even been known to use their wild rags as temporary saddle rigging, To clean a firearm and other equipment, to Carry food, and even to cover the eyes of a spooked horse for doctoring.

And, if you’re like me and live where mosquitoes, no-see-umms, and other pesky blood-suckers frequent, try taking a cotton bandana, spray it liberally with your favorite bug juice, and tie it around your neck in a simple overhand knot to keep your neck bug-free! 

In cold climes, the primary purpose of a wild rag is to keep cold air away from the neck, so the scarf is often double-wrapped around the neck and tucked into the collar to keep the ends from flapping in the wind. 

On warmer days, a buckaroo may leave the ends out to make them easily accessible. Heading to a barn dance? You can tie your wild rag lower. 

Want to see the local rodeo when it comes to town? A wild rag is a great choice to punch things up. Tuck it in, leave it out — the choice is yours! 

But, whatever you do, there’s only one rule: wear your wild rag with confidence. 

I have a growing collection of wild rags, and I wear mine a lot. While my friends of the cowboy class are generous with their compliments and admiration, the uninitiated sometimes give me funny looks accompanied by an attempt at wit. My typical response of, “Well, partner, if it’s good enough for John Wayne, it’s good enough for me!” usually gets a wry smile, if nothing else. 

Now speaking of knots, Wild rags are knotted in as many different ways as one can imagine, and true to cowboy culture, purpose is more important than convention. In the process, individual style is born. 

Now, the restrictions of time and space, won’t allow me to go into all the ways to knot a wild rag, but there’s a few suggestions of on-line sources where you can have fun learning more about the cowboy art of tying a wild rag and I’ll put these in the show notes.

 And For those who don’t want to knot their scarf, a “scarf slide” is a popular and stylish option. It might be a sterling silver concho, a slide built from sweet iron with your cattle brand on it, or a slide of braided rawhide. Your choices here are also endless. 

Increasingly, I’m seeing wild rags attached to boots, used as belts, and even being worn on the wrist as a bracelet by fashion-forward cowgirls. 

The traditional cowboy wild rag has even been adopted by those who have a never roamed the open range or thrown a leg over a well-worn saddle on the back of a trusted horse. 

And ladies, Wild rags can make a plain dress look more formal for evening wear, be worn as a head covering rather than a hat, or be worn with a blazer and jeans for those in the city browsing a museum. Basically, any time you want to add a bit of western style and cowboy panache, I believe you’ll find the wild rag to be the right choice. 

Bandana. Neck Rag. Wild Rag. Kerchief. Buckaroo Scarf.  Call it whatever you want. But, if you’re planning to head out wway our west, or if you simply want to add a bit of style to your western attire when in the city, you might want to pick up a few of these handy squares of silk. 

Have fun with them. Show the world your personality. Just remember to wear ’em confidently as you celebrate the heritage of the American West.

Well, that about wraps up another edition of Way Out West with the Cowboy Accountant, but before we’ve got we’ve got one more thing.

[BULL SOUND]

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the Bull means it’s time for the cowboy glossary term of the week. 

And this week’s term comes from a new subscriber and supporter of the podcast Jake Burson. Jake is also a Texas Ranger as is his brother, and The Burson brothers are believed to be the first pair of brothers to simultaneously serve as Texas Rangers since the Texas Department of Public Safety was formed in 1935. Ranger, I’m grateful for your support, sir. 

And the cowboy terms Ranger Burson mentioned is “Tapaderos”

So tapaderos, or taps as they’re sometimes called, are leather coverings that are attached to the front of a stirrup on a Western saddle. 

It extends over the toe of the rider's boot, providing protection from brush, thorns, and other trail hazards. Tapaderos also help prevent the rider's foot from slipping through the stirrup.

These coverings are often decorative, adding a distinctive, punchy flair to a saddle, and they’re commonly seen in traditional ranch work, especially in thick brushy areas, and at some rodeo events.

So, now you know what it means when you hear someone say “tapaderos”. 

And, thanks again Jake for asking about them. 

You know our western way of life is constantly being challenged from lots of directions. One of the ways we keep the legend, lore and history of the American west alive is through supporters of the show like Jake. 

And, you can help too, either using the link in the show description or at cowboy accountant.com/podcast. There’s a button there too. 

If you are able to support us, I’d love to have you and I’ll extend you that same opportunity to suggest a cowboy glossary term of the week for a future episode.

[OUTRO MUSIC]

And with that y’all, that’s all for this week’s show. And I truly, truly appreciate you riding with me. 

If you’ve enjoyed today’s discussion, please consider subscribing to this podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. It’s easy to do my just clicking that subscribe button or that follow button.

And, be sure to check out our website at CowboyAccountant.com, where you can find the show notes, an archive of our past episodes and other cool resources for fans of the American West.

That’s CowboyAccountant.com

Until next time, mis amigos, we’ll see ya down the road.