Who are the main buyers of black bears? Just curious as to where they go and purposes used.
Do they still use them for British guard regalia?
United Kingdom:
The following units and their bands have the bearskin cap as part of their full dress:
Grenadier Guards
Coldstream Guards
Scots Guards
Irish Guards
Welsh Guards
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Honourable Artillery Company
The standard bearskin for the British foot guards is 11 inches (280 millimetres) tall at the front, 16 inches (410 millimetres) to the rear, weighs 1.5 pounds (0.68 kilograms), and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear. However, an officer's bearskin is made from the fur of the Canadian brown bear, as the female brown bear has thicker, fuller fur; officers' caps are dyed black. An entire skin is used for each head-dress. The British Army purchase the caps from a British hatmaker which sources its pelts at an international auction. The hatmakers purchase between 50 and 100 black bear skins each year at a cost of about £650 each. If properly maintained, the caps last for decades.
USA:
Presently one military unit in the United States uses a bearskin cap as a part of their ceremonial uniform, the Second Company Governor's Foot Guard of the Connecticut State Guard. Also most drum majors of military bands are authorized to wear a bearskin cap.
Uruguay
The Uruguayan Army's Company of Sappers of 1837 uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform as the guard of honour company of the Uruguayan Supreme Court.
Denmark:
Royal Life Guard
Australia:
Royal Australian Regiment
Pipes and Drums 3d Battalion
Belgium:
Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn and Belgian Royal Escorts
Spain:
1st Company of 1st Kings Immemorial Infantry Regiment
Netherlands:
Grenadiers and Rifle Guard Regiments
Canada:
The Royal 22e Régiment
The Governor General's Foot Guards
The Canadian Grenadier Guards
The Royal Regiment of Canada
Les Fusiliers du St-Laurent
Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
The Princess Louise Fusiliers
Les Fusiliers de Sherbrooke
Obviously only worn during ceremonial roles and the hats last forever when they are taken care of, have looked at some that where from the 1930 and still in use. The liner had been replaced a couple times, is all.