Akubra R.M.Williams "RM" Hat/ Akubra Fed iv

[HatDoc]

I just bought an Akubra R.M.Williams "RM" Hat. I had first read about it in the following thread where JTL posted his re-bashed version: HERE

The original bash looks like this:

I did a "cold" re-bash on the crown and wet the back of the brim to change the downward turn to an upward curve. Here's how it looks now (normally not to be worn with scrubs, but that's what I have on.) [huh]

(Yes.....that's an IV pole in the photos.)

Someone in the other thread was wondering whether or not this was simply a Campdraft in Mid-Brown. If not, it's very close. The brim is a full 3" and the Campdraft is listed as 73mm (2.88"). But depending on the way I'm measuring my RMW, it may very well be 2.88" instead of 3". I just remeasured with a metric tape and it reads 74-75 mm. So.....I suppose it really is a Campdraft with a RMW bash and sweatband.

The way I have it bashed, it's just under 5" at the front.

A very nice hat....Imperial felt.....and much softer than my Imperial Snowy River.

I ordered it directly from Australia at the Nungar Trading Company (The Bushmans Outfitters). I ordered it just before Christmas and received it 2 days ago. I had a little email communication problem with the company at first, but later found out that my spam blocker had filtered out their messages. Steve was very helpful and friendly. I can highly recommend ordering from Nungar. You might want to communicate directly with Steve (Stephen Neiberding): nungar@dragnet.com.au (which is the email address that he responded from.

Thanks to JTL for alerting me to this wonderful hat. Now......can't wait til my new Fed IV arrives !!!!! :eusa_clap

Doc

 

[RBH]

Doc

I like the looks of that one!
Very nice re-crease! I like the 'back swoop' of the brim.

 

[gtdean48]

Like it a LOT, Doc. When my mid-brown Campdraft gets here, I'll post photos so we can see how similiar. Nice crease job!

 

[jimmy the lid]

That lid looks great on you, HatDoc -- it suits you very well. Nice to see another "R.M." surface here on the Lounge. It's a lid that can definitely hold up to the elements, but, as you point out, the felt has a nice softness to it, as well. The "R.M." is also covered in this thread in some detail.

Good on ya, HatDoc. :eusa_clap

Cheers,
JtL

 

[Goose.]

You make that hat look good! Well, the hat is a beauty, but it certainly looks like "you".
As stated earlier, that back swoop is too cool for school.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[danofarlington]

I just bought an Akubra R.M.Williams "RM" Hat. I had first read about it in the following thread where JTL posted his re-bashed version: HERE

Someone in the other thread was wondering whether or not this was simply a Campdraft in Mid-Brown. If not, it's very close. The brim is a full 3" and the Campdraft is listed as 73mm (2.88"). But depending on the way I'm measuring my RMW, it may very well be 2.88" instead of 3". I just remeasured with a metric tape and it reads 74-75 mm. So.....I suppose it really is a Campdraft with a RMW bash and sweatband.

The way I have it bashed, it's just under 5" at the front.

I haven't heard much talk on TFL about the R.M. Williams hat. I wonder how it would compare in dimensions and in felt quality to the Heritage Campdraft, of the buying campaign. This bump revives a 2009 thread. More specifically, should I be aiming for a Heritage Campdraft, or an R.M. Williams hat? Or are they identical?

 

[Rodkins]

I have one and I love it. The felt is much more impressive than my campdraft felt.

 

[Neophyte]

The R.M. Williams is Imperial felt. Essentially, the OP described it as exactly the same as a Mid-Brown Campdraft. Thus, the Heritage Campdraft will be the better choice, being constructed of a higher quality felt.
Good luck!

 

[fmw]

Looks great, Doc. Having gone through two major surgeries last year I get a little nervous around IV poles.

 

[Benzadmiral]

That does it. I've gotta get me a mid-brown Campdraft. John Helmer doesn't seem to have the Campdraft on his website any more, at least I can't find it, so I guess I'll have to do the 3-month wait thing from one of the other vendors.

 

[Rodkins]

The R.M. Williams is Imperial felt. Essentially, the OP described it as exactly the same as a Mid-Brown Campdraft. Thus, the Heritage Campdraft will be the better choice, being constructed of a higher quality felt.
Good luck!

Maybe it's just the run or something, but there is a HUGE difference between the felt on my RM Williams and my campdraft, coober pedy, boss, and cattleman. The only Akubra felt I have that comes close to the RM Williams is the sundowner.

 

[Neophyte]

Yes, but we are discussing the Heritage CD versus the Imperial.

 

[Rodkins]

Yes, but we are discussing the Heritage CD versus the Imperial.

10-4. Sorry - I just saw campdraft. I haven't had the chance to handle a heritage campdraft yet.

 

[DRB]

Hatdoc: the self colored small ribbon (or is it leather) is perfect for that hat.

 

[Neophyte]

10-4. Sorry - I just saw campdraft. I haven't had the chance to handle a heritage campdraft yet.

No prob . Besides, it'll be a month or two before anyone even gets their Heritage CD. You're experience, by the end of this experiment, might prove to be the norm.

 

[danofarlington]

The R.M. Williams is Imperial felt. Essentially, the OP described it as exactly the same as a Mid-Brown Campdraft. Thus, the Heritage Campdraft will be the better choice, being constructed of a higher quality felt.
Good luck!

OK, thanks. That's what I wanted to know. When's the last date I can order one of the Heritage Campdrafts, in case I can put the money together?

 

[Gromulus]

OK, thanks. That's what I wanted to know. When's the last date I can order one of the Heritage Campdrafts, in case I can put the money together?

Hats Direct started taking pre-orders the end of February with a $50 deposit. You can probably still pre-order one - email Jen or Deb at Hats Direct.

Even if you do not pre-order you may still be able to get one once thay are manufactured and delivered to the store, depending on what size you need and availability.

 

[TiltRotorFlyer]

Couldn't resist any longer

I pulled the trigger on this last weekend and it is on its way to me. Tracker shows it should arrive on Thursday. I am going to keep the original crease as I really like it and do not have any hat that resembles it.

On a side note, I originally tried to order through nungar as suggested. I found Steve to be rude and wanting in the customer service department. His communication is next to nil and I ended up cancelling my order and ordering through the RM site. It was worth the extra expense to have some responsive and polite service. The shipping is incredibly quick. In short, I would never order from Nungar again.

 

[rclark]

Akubra RM. Flanged and re-blocked it. Love the color. I think this might be my favorite modern hat that I own.
.

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

Wow! Holy resurrected thread.
Great hat.
Mine is more rigid than my CampDrafts, but the felt texture is more pleasing to the touch. Not as deeply flanged in the brim which I like because mine are often turned down in the front and back.
The factory crease is shallow and easily changed.
The color shown in the photos is a bit too gray. The actual color is more of a rich chocolate brown with slight gray on the edge highlights.
This model is actually termed a CampDraft in some ads with references to its Open Road roots:
http://www.rmwilliams.com.au/akubra--rm--hat/HA179.html
I wear this hat a lot and love it.

Fed