BUCKAROO BONANZA! - The Hats that Major Mike Moore Makes

[1961MJS]

Hi
I've been playing with belts a little bit. The CASCity cowboy forum has a leatherwork section. Lots of the guys use natural dies like Pecan hulls, green Walnut hulls, and Vinegaroon (Vinegar and Steel wool). A couple of guys use sunlight, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and then Skidmore's leather conditioner. That's where my Quigley Hat got a new band.

Later

 

[RBH]

Buckaroo Hatters is now open in its new location further up on the square.

 

[1961MJS]

Hi Rusty
Looks a LOT bigger. It's on a corner which might help walk in traffic. Does he have the second floor also? I looked online and it seems Erwin's is back open. I need a road trip at some point.

Dang, I've parked at the Ruffin Theatre parking lot and walked to Mike's in years past.

Later

 

[RBH]

Be cool to see you again Mike...
Major Moore is having a new location Grand Opening May 1st from 1 to 7.

Hi Rusty
Looks a LOT bigger. It's on a corner which might help walk in traffic. Does he have the second floor also? I looked online and it seems Erwin's is back open. I need a road trip at some point.

Dang, I've parked at the Ruffin Theatre parking lot and walked to Mike's in years past.

Later

 

[1961MJS]

Hi
Can't go this weekend, I got Malware and spent yesterday getting a new work computer. Working all weekend. I'll be back soon as I can though.
Later

 

[RBH]

Some pics of the new shop.

 

[RBH]

This is me with Mr Thurl, he has accumulated over 50 Buckaroo hats!

 

[ILB Frank]

It's Thread Revival Wednesday!
Backstory. Last May I picked up a Stetson Catera (5X Gun Club). I then started lurking the forum to learn just a bit about felt hats and soon decided I wanted a pure beaver hat. After some research here and on the wider web, I decided I would like to get a hat from Buckaroo Hatters (good prices, good reviews and as close to me as anyone else I could find that did custom made westerns). Finally, I figured out I was not going to get the chance in the near future to make the trip to Tennessee and visit Buckaroo Hatters. In late August I contacted Mike via email to get the ball rolling (or the hat blocking). As luck would have it he had a 100X Beaver - Natural in stock and could get to work on it within the week.

Today, this gem arrived at my door...

As I couldn't exactly get custom fitted in the shop, I measured my head about 15 different times and tried on a variety of hats by Stetson, Resistol, Rodeo King, American Hat Co, etc. and deduced I was a 7 3/8 Long Oval (at least, according to Stetson and Buckaroo Hatters size guide. As a sidebar, I was closer to 7 1/2 in Rodeo King and American Hat Co guides... Be advised if you are new to this - Not all hatmakers use the same size guide.)

The hat fits like a glove. Phew. I'm sure that as I wear it over time, it will conform even better to my egghead.

This hat is not yet complete. Mike put on the hatband I requested without attaching it to the hat (at my request). I am going to get a horsehair hatband for the hat. I am also going to crease the 6" crown and roll the 3 7/8" brim to my liking.

I will post photos as I do. Consider this a 5 Star review of Mike and Buckaroo Hatters. The only thing that would have made this a better experience is if I could have gone into the shop IRL.

 

[Yahoody]

It's Thread Revival Wednesday! a 100X Beaver - Natural in stock and could get to work on it within the week.
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Nice hat as is, right there Congrads!
I like your style

 

[Robieman]

It's Thread Revival Wednesday!
Backstory. Last May I picked up a Stetson Catera (5X Gun Club). I then started lurking the forum to learn just a bit about felt hats and soon decided I wanted a pure beaver hat. After some research here and on the wider web, I decided I would like to get a hat from Buckaroo Hatters (good prices, good reviews and as close to me as anyone else I could find that did custom made westerns). Finally, I figured out I was not going to get the chance in the near future to make the trip to Tennessee and visit Buckaroo Hatters. In late August I contacted Mike via email to get the ball rolling (or the hat blocking). As luck would have it he had a 100X Beaver - Natural in stock and could get to work on it within the week.

Today, this gem arrived at my door...

View attachment 363290

As I couldn't exactly get custom fitted in the shop, I measured my head about 15 different times and tried on a variety of hats by Stetson, Resistol, Rodeo King, American Hat Co, etc. and deduced I was a 7 3/8 Long Oval (at least, according to Stetson and Buckaroo Hatters size guide. As a sidebar, I was closer to 7 1/2 in Rodeo King and American Hat Co guides... Be advised if you are new to this - Not all hatmakers use the same size guide.)

View attachment 363302
View attachment 363303

The hat fits like a glove. Phew. I'm sure that as I wear it over time, it will conform even better to my egghead.

This hat is not yet complete. Mike put on the hatband I requested without attaching it to the hat (at my request). I am going to get a horsehair hatband for the hat. I am also going to crease the 6" crown and roll the 3 7/8" brim to my liking.

I will post photos as I do. Consider this a 5 Star review of Mike and Buckaroo Hatters. The only thing that would have made this a better experience is if I could have gone into the shop IRL.

Nice looking hat. You did good going with Mike. He and Rocky do great work. I’ve gotten 4 hats from him. Love all of them. I need to make another trip down to see them. He’s in a new larger store now. If you ever get the chance, you should try and go see them. Plus there’s a great restaurant on the square that has good country cooking! My favorite part of the trip!! Hope you enjoy your new hat. By the way, is it the lighter natural color? I got one from him 3-4 years ago and it’s the lighter color. Ive gotten a couple newer hats from other hatters, and their natural is a darker brown tone. I like the lighter tone and have kinda thought about getting another one.

 

[Yahoody]

FWIW 100% beaver in natural will bleach out in the sun over time and get very light in color.

 

[ILB Frank]

Nice looking hat. You did good going with Mike. He and Rocky do great work. I’ve gotten 4 hats from him. Love all of them. I need to make another trip down to see them. He’s in a new larger store now. If you ever get the chance, you should try and go see them. Plus there’s a great restaurant on the square that has good country cooking! My favorite part of the trip!! Hope you enjoy your new hat. By the way, is it the lighter natural color? I got one from him 3-4 years ago and it’s the lighter color. Ive gotten a couple newer hats from other hatters, and their natural is a darker brown tone. I like the lighter tone and have kinda thought about getting another one.

I don't know if it is the lighter or darker natural as this is my first beaver hat. It is a little darker than I expected it to be and I am pleased with that as I wasn't looking for a silverbelly type of light color. I would characterize it as grey/tan.

 

[Robieman]

I don't know if it is the lighter or darker natural as this is my first beaver hat. It is a little darker than I expected it to be and I am pleased with that as I wasn't looking for a silverbelly type of light color. I would characterize it as grey/tan.

Sounds like the lighter shade. The darker shade is really brown.

this one I got from Buckaroo, lighter natural

this one from D bar J, and the darker natural.

 

[ILB Frank]

I would tend to agree with you although the image of my hat is darker than the light and lighter than the dark, it is much closer to the light shade.

On a separate note, I have ordered a horsehair hat band. I have played with a couple of creases so far. It will definitely need steam to hold one properly. I am going to try to get a "modified" center dent (narrow in front, wide in back) that I have affectionately called a saddle crease (it looks like a bicycle saddle).

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I am going to try to get a "modified" center dent (narrow in front, wide in back) that I have affectionately called a saddle crease (it looks like a bicycle saddle).

I like & have used that crease on a 3x6 dress Western. I've always thought of it as sort of a lightbulb. I like your description of a bike saddle.

 

[belfastboy]

I would tend to agree with you although the image of my hat is darker than the light and lighter than the dark, it is much closer to the light shade.

On a separate note, I have ordered a horsehair hat band. I have played with a couple of creases so far. It will definitely need steam to hold one properly. I am going to try to get a "modified" center dent (narrow in front, wide in back) that I have affectionately called a saddle crease (it looks like a bicycle saddle).

I have 3 hats in Natural beaver and all three are different shades (all Winchester). Not just subtle differences but stark.....I like the difference as I have 3 different hats instead of 3 the same colour.

 

[ILB Frank]

I like & have used that crease on a 3x6 dress Western. I've always thought of it as sort of a lightbulb. I like your description of a bike saddle.

I had good luck with this on a palm leaf hat

front
back

I am not getting the same results on the felt hat...

I was hoping to avoid the lip/ridge along the back of the hat.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

was hoping to avoid the lip/ridge along the back of the hat.

To some degree that ridge is dictated by the depth you set. And when you are ready you may have to use steam to get the felt to roll as you like. Start with a shallow center dent that goes all the way across the crown. Then work to widen the rear of the crease by hand. The original blocking will determine how wide you might want to open it up. The straighter, flatter crowns need more opening up to look right. The more tapered crowns need a tighter center.

 

[ILB Frank]

Thanks for the guidance. I am thinking it may have been easier on the palm hat because of the taper. The felt hat doesn't have any taper. I also went kind of deep on the bash so that didn't help.

BTW... those pictures with the drink... It must be 5 o'clock... somewhere...

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Thanks for the guidance. I am thinking it may have been easier on the palm hat because of the taper. The felt hat doesn't have any taper. I also went kind of deep on the bash so that didn't help.

BTW... those pictures with the drink... It must be 5 o'clock... somewhere...

I went back & looked at your open crown. It might help if you have a certain era of Western in mind. Any side dents will make a difference too. I think you can do most whatever you like, but it will have to be a wider crease but not a teardrop or fedora diamond.

You can sink the ridge in the rear so it's not seen from the front but it rounds up the view from the side, popular in the ~1930's.

You can open up the front a bit more leaving just a slight flare from front to back.

And you can put the flare in the center coming back together at the rear.

Just depends on the era you favor.

It's always 5:00 o'clock somewhere. "I'm a sportin' man".
Not a good copy but a brilliant scene from Costner's Wyatt Earp.