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CAS TOPICS => The Longbranch => Topic started by: Kent Shootwell on May 10, 2019, 12:03:48 PM

Title: A good hat
Post by: Kent Shootwell on May 10, 2019, 12:03:48 PM
Shopping around for a new cowboy hat turned into quite the education for me. After looking over a few western shops and finding the choices to be short of my goal I went into Greeley Hat Works. Knowing full well their hats are out of my budget but it's interesting to see what the good stuff looks like. The staff was very welcoming even after I explained my budget ( about half of their entry level hats). We talked about styles and felt grades. The depth of knowledge they have is staggering! A big surprise to me is the Xs aren't much to judge the quality of a hat by. There's no standard amongst hatters and a my Buffalo Stenson isn't even worth cleaning up. Buffalo hair in this hat makes it less then it could be. It the old day pure beaver felt came in three grades one, two or three X with three X being the finest. Later the X came to mean other things and some used the Xs to represent the percent of beaver in the felt. So a five X may mean 50% of some grade of beaver. Again no standard as to what grade of beaver hair. They handed me a blank hat and explained of what it's made of and other details. Next was a better blank and up the rack to a pure beaver one. Each time pointing out the important points. Strange to me the pure beaver is lightest of them all and just as tight and hard as any. Next we talked sweat bands. I had thought goat leather was good but they don't use it at all. Well I will continue this if there's interest out there.
Title: Re: A good hat
Post by: Capt Quirk on May 10, 2019, 01:44:30 PM
I am curious, and in need of a new hat. 20 something years ago, I bought a genuine imitation Indiana Jones Fedora. About a year ago, one of my mutts ate it. It was pretty rough, specially since it was worn more frequently during the last 10 years we've been living in the woods. Not long after it was eaten, I found a nice black Fedora. It suffered the same fate. Dang these mutts!

By the way, I have several dogs, free to adopt...
Title: Re: A good hat
Post by: 1961MJS on May 10, 2019, 03:47:33 PM
Hi

Check out Buckaroo Hatters in Covington Tennessee (30-40 miles North of Memphis).  I'd suggest dropping by his place sometime.  He's open weekends.  I have a few of his hats.  www.buckaroohatter.com, and check him on facebook.

Later
Title: Re: A good hat
Post by: Capt Quirk on May 10, 2019, 05:57:10 PM
Your link didn't work, it should be buckaroohatters, with an s.
Title: Re: A good hat
Post by: russ1943 on May 10, 2019, 08:34:50 PM
I got my hat education back in 1993 from O'Ferrell Hat Company,  Durango, Co. Custom made hats. I think the cheapest was 10X $350.00 Free measurements. I saw one with price tag of $175.00, the kind lady explained that was the hat band.  There was another place I think in Cortez, Co can't remember the name, but I met the guy who owned the shop and his wife at the top end restaurant of the town celebrating his wife's birthday or their anniversary , and he made custom hats and took us back to his store which sold other things, beside hats, had the same equipment as O'Ferrall, he claimed he made the hats for Unforgiven, had a letter from Gene Hackman, and photo of Hackman in his store. The guy was early thirties, he said he could do the hat I wanted $200.00, in 10X I should have closed the deal, I just met the guy, and his beautiful wife, that night and it was 11pm when we were in his store, both he and his wife were celebrating, but all O'Ferrall said was ture. I have the business cards of both somewhere
Title: Re: A good hat
Post by: Kent Shootwell on May 11, 2019, 03:58:03 PM
While talking hats I told the fellow how nasty my hat smelled when it got wet, I thought it was because of where it has been what with my sweat and the smoke from camp fires and guns. He smiled and took the well worn hat from his head and steamed the brim a bit and had me smell it. It is not strong or unpleasant! I put my hat to the test and it smells like a stray dog got wet. "It's what the hat is made from." he says. No one in the shop wanted to take a closer sniff nor did they need to. Well I bought a hat. It's shaped the way I want it and has a good sweat band. They even put my hat band on it for me. I can't say enough good things about this shop. A link to their shop and the type of hat I'll be buried in!
http://greeleyhatworks.com/hats/beaver20-cid-14
Title: Re: A good hat
Post by: Capt Quirk on May 11, 2019, 05:11:49 PM
Buckaroo wants $500 for a replacement Indy hat. I'm thinking that ain't happening :(