Oh interesting! Learning so much still. Unfortunately, the learning process is expensive and often after purchasing a new hat >.< I love my hat just wish the felt was more dense and softer (because I like it but I want to absolutely love it) but that's the raw material itself which I was advised about.
Buckaroo Hatters in Tennessee.
I was in Sisters Oregon last week and the local western store had a trunk show with Lucchese boots and Greeley Hat Works present. The Greeley guy would not disclose the origin of his felts other than they were European origin. He or his staff make upwards of 20 hats per day so he is certainly large enough to qualify for Fepsa so that is my suspicion. He likely used some Tonak for his hare offering. He charged $1000+ for a beaver western weight. I can say from my inspection the felts were no softer than Winchester's western and his hats no better than any of my custom hats that cost a fraction of his. The one upside of his selection was a whole array of new colours not available from Winchester. If his prices were not crazy high I would have made the plunge. I may be an apostate on this matter but my experience is that while making a hat is an art and a craft there is only so much a human can do to the felt. I have customs that cost from $200 up to $700 and for most of them the difference is not apparent. The details in the more expensive hats are paid more attention to but overall the quality of my custom hats does not vary much.....certainly in no way matches the variation in price points.
Vintage & long gone. Oklahoma. This was a doctor's hat & has his name in it.
Yes, I don't own a Daquino nor a Agnoulita. I should mention that I do consider my Gannon amongst those at the top of the quality list. One of the best valued custom hatters out there.
Not sure if that’s the Moore hat, but I can vouch for Buckaroo. Mike Moore does an excellent job making hats. I have 3. A hare, a 100% beaver and a beaver mink blend. All western weight and all very good hats. You can feel the difference in the different furs, but hard to look at them and tell the difference. They are all very high quality in my opinion and worth taking a look at his website.
^^^Ditto, what he said.
I have in inquiry to him right now.
You & your hat pics are always eloquent, Eric! A true gentleman of class.
oh so it's not the buckaroo company some people posted here?
Hey Jack:
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style. 
That looks very nice. Moss green is a great color.I really lucked out with my Gannon hat - Michael magically found a dark moss hat body that worked for my dimensions and due to waiting on felt for a few of the hats in front of mine I skipped the line. Sorry guys
This is the photo he sent me - I don't think the colour is that accurate but we will see when it gets here.
Dark Moss dress weight - 2 3/4 + brim ( Couldn't quite get the 7/8 ) and 5 1/2" open crown
Cactus brim binding and ribbon
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