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[LEOSTARK]

Appreciate the answers, @Frunobulax @belfastboy. It’s just that online pictures can always be deceiving, complicated further more by variation in production runs.

 

[Frunobulax]

Appreciate the answeres, @Frunobulax @belfastboy. It’s just that online pictures can always be deceiving, complicated further more by variation in production runs.

And even moreso in person, from my experience. Several on here have described Stetson's Caribou as a mid-gray; however, I own two in Caribou - one from ~2010 and the other from ~2015. Both have a distinct violet hue.

 

[belfastboy]

And even moreso in person, from my experience. Several on here have described Stetson's Caribou as a mid-gray; however, I own two in Caribou - one from ~2010 and the other from ~2015. Both have a distinct violet hue.

I would concur.....I wasn't sure how to express it but mine does have a slight violet/purplish undertone.

 

[Zombie_61]

The risk in accepting my answer as gospel is that dye lots change. My Cariboo Stetsonian is a mid grey while the Akubra Moonstone I owned was a light grey with strong blue undertones...

I've never seen Stetson's "Caribou" in person, but my Akubra Fed IV in Moonstone definitely has a bit of a bluish hue in certain lighting.

 

[belfastboy]

I've never seen Stetson's "Caribou" in person, but my Akubra Fed IV in Moonstone definitely has a bit of a bluish hue in certain lighting.

That is my recollection as well. My Monnstone had a really nice blue undertone to it.....not sure why the hell I sold it.

 

[Zombie_61]

That is my recollection as well. My Monnstone had a really nice blue undertone to it.....not sure why the hell I sold it.

I find I rarely wear mine, but not because of the color. Long story short, I ordered the regular/Imperial Quality felt, and received the hat in the *deluxe/Heritage Grade felt. I know quite a few people prefer the Heritage Grade felt and pay extra for it (and the "superior" sweatband), but that hat was never as comfortable on my head as my good old Imperial Quality Akubras which, in my experience, formed to the shape of my head far better than the "deluxe" version.


* I did inform The Hattery of the error, and they responded by telling me to keep the hat with their compliments.

 

[LEOSTARK]

I find I rarely wear mine, but not because of the color. Long story short, I ordered the regular/Imperial Quality felt, and received the hat in the *deluxe/Heritage Grade felt. I know quite a few people prefer the Heritage Grade felt and pay extra for it (and the "superior" sweatband), but that hat was never as comfortable on my head as my good old Imperial Quality Akubras which, in my experience, formed to the shape of my head far better than the "deluxe" version.


* I did inform The Hattery of the error, and they responded by telling me to keep the hat with their compliments.

Pretty interesting. Have you gave a thought as to why imperial hats were more comfortable to you? Is it because of the sweat band or the overall characteristics of the felt on the heritage felt? I ask that as I am eyeing out Fed IVs.

 

[Zombie_61]

Pretty interesting. Have you gave a thought as to why imperial hats were more comfortable to you? Is it because of the sweat band or the overall characteristics of the felt on the heritage felt? I ask that as I am eyeing out Fed IVs.

I'm almost positive that it's the difference between the felts that was the reason. I use distilled water in a spray bottle to help shape my fur felt hats because I don't have a way to use steam. The usual procedure is to spray the felt until it's good and wet, give it a few minutes to let the water soak in, then shape the crown and brim as I'd like and set the hat aside to dry at room temperature. With the Heritage Grade felt I had to spray and re-shape the hat four or five times because the felt resisted it's new shape and kept trying to return to it's original "open crown" shape. All things being equal I'd bet the Heritage Grade felt is more durable and would probably last longer, but I still prefer the Imperial Quality. Besides, at this point I'd bet my hats will outlive me anyway.

 

[Samson25]

I have vintage and modern nutria fur felt hats, and I too am a proponent of it’s use. There have been a few new sources of nutria felt in the last few years. Unfortunately, the pricing has been more than beaver fur felt, and I think the current nutria felt is slightly inferior to the current beaver felt. It can make a great hat, but the current nutria felt from Sunrise Hat Supplies is more temperamental and inconsistent compared to beaver offered by the big felt makers. That has more to do with the felting and dye process the maker of Sunrise’s felt is using than the qualities of nutria.

Here’s a thread on the largest source of nutria (aka “coypu”) felt in the US:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/sunrise-hat-company-felt-nutria-and-hatters’-tools.98328/page-2

Thanks Brent for the link. I did check them out but it seems like eveything is out of stock there. I will continue researching. Thanks !

 

[Samson25]

I'm almost positive that it's the difference between the felts that was the reason. I use distilled water in a spray bottle to help shape my fur felt hats because I don't have a way to use steam. The usual procedure is to spray the felt until it's good and wet, give it a few minutes to let the water soak in, then shape the crown and brim as I'd like and set the hat aside to dry at room temperature. With the Heritage Grade felt I had to spray and re-shape the hat four or five times because the felt resisted it's new shape and kept trying to return to it's original "open crown" shape. All things being equal I'd bet the Heritage Grade felt is more durable and would probably last longer, but I still prefer the Imperial Quality. Besides, at this point I'd bet my hats will outlive me anyway.

Yo Zombie....Did the same distilled water in a spray bottle thing to my Campdraft and my Hornskov. Got that advice here on FL ( I think from Belfastboy).
I also followed a strict protocol to appease the "bash setting gods" by burning some excellent Frankinsense and some premium herb to help with the drying process.
Nope...Didn't want to take any chances.
Very happy with my results.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thanks Brent for the link. I did check them out but it seems like eveything is out of stock there. I will continue researching. Thanks !

I’ve been in contact with Sunrise for the last couple of months. They keep saying that a complete restock shipment is on its way.

 

[belfastboy]

I would appreciate that very much, @belfastboy! Thanks!

My apologies for the lengthy delay. Could not recall the thread title and could not locate it. The product is made by "Lepage" and is plastic wood. It looks much like peanut butter. I use a Varathane Diamond Coat as a finisher/sealer.

 

[ILB Frank]

I searched the forum as best I could but so many words are excluded that if this answer is in the forums, I couldn't find it...

Does anyone know why they would put a hatband over the existing ribbon hatband (as opposed to removing the ribbon and then putting the hatband on)? My guess is this is mostly with western hats only because those are the hats I see the most.

Thanks.

 

[Steve1857]

I searched the forum as best I could but so many words are excluded that if this answer is in the forums, I couldn't find it...

Does anyone know why they would put a hatband over the existing ribbon hatband (as opposed to removing the ribbon and then putting the hatband on)? My guess is this is mostly with western hats only because those are the hats I see the most.

Thanks.

Can you come with photo examples?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I searched the forum as best I could but so many words are excluded that if this answer is in the forums, I couldn't find it...

Does anyone know why they would put a hatband over the existing ribbon hatband (as opposed to removing the ribbon and then putting the hatband on)? My guess is this is mostly with western hats only because those are the hats I see the most.

Thanks.

I see this on some types of bohemian hats. It’s a look, but it one that I’m partial to.

 

[Zombie_61]

...I also followed a strict protocol to appease the "bash setting gods" by burning some excellent Frankinsense and some premium herb to help with the drying process.
Nope...Didn't want to take any chances.
Very happy with my results.

I don't have any frankincense, but I have burned sage to cleanse a hat or two that didn't want to cooperate. Worked like a charm! As for the other herb, I usually wait until after I'm done playing with the hat(s) so I won't get too distracted.

 

[Zombie_61]

I searched the forum as best I could but so many words are excluded that if this answer is in the forums, I couldn't find it...

Does anyone know why they would put a hatband over the existing ribbon hatband (as opposed to removing the ribbon and then putting the hatband on)? My guess is this is mostly with western hats only because those are the hats I see the most.

Thanks.

I've only seen this on "Western" hats with a leather or other kind of braided hat band placed over the original ribbon. It may have become a "thing", or a popular style choice, but I'd bet it started as good old laziness: "Oh, I'll just put it on over the ribbon; nobody will care. Besides, it's my hat and I'll do what I want with it."

 

[ILB Frank]

Some quick examples from the net...

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Some quick examples from the net...

The “why” is that some like the look. Some also wrap the crown in bandannas or stick feathers behind the ribbon or band. It’s just a personal preference. Stetson and others offer some hats this way and some custom hat makers do similar for their customers. Even the traditional single ribbon or band is cosmetic as it covers the sweatband stitches and adds some visual appeal.

Here’s three hats from Hornskov’s Bohemian Collection:

It doesn’t appeal to me, but different strokes…

 

[BobHufford]

I like the look on Westerns.