>>>>What is it, the shiny hat?

Yes, that what is the unmistakeable indicator for me. Keep in mind that I don't have a vast wealth of experience to call on (yet!), but every CJ that I've got just impresses me upon first glance with that characteristic. Even with some wear they still shine better that a H&C from other makers.

>>>>(Some say that is not always so with C&J.)

Could be! I'm enjoying the education process of chipping and willing to consider that C&J may have some different looking hats out there.

How about you Robert, do you think the Christy & Jones hat & canes are hard to identify? With Gene's info that the records were probably shredded, some instances are going to call for plain old eyeball ID of CJs.