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Park service hat reuse?

Fed in a Fedora

Practically Family
Messages
739
Location
Dixie, USA
Aside from the official markings on the band, why can't you use them as they are?

If the shapes do not suit your tastes, the conversion corral exists to discuss remaking hats and is a wealth of info which has helped me redo several hats.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?22306-The-Conversion-Corral

As to specifics of this type of hat, you can look at the link to the related thread

Corpshttp://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?16998-Now-Forming!-the-Campaign-Hat-Corps

You might consider making an earlier version of a campaign hat with the felt hat which might be more to your tastes.

As to the straw one, I would make or buy a nice custom band for it and use it, but a soak; reblock and some reshaping might be possible. The people who would know will be sure to notice if you post in those threads.

Good luck and share photos!

Fed
 

Lean'n'mean

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,085
Location
Cloud-cuckoo-land
With the felt hat you can put in a center or diamond crease & loose front pinches, give the brim a slight dip front & back & add a fairly wide ribbon( brown I think goes best with khaki) & you've got yourself a good, no, a damn good outdoor hat. I think they look great, even better with a stampede cord/chin strap........just what the doctor ordered for those windy autumnal days ahead of us.
And if you don't want to keep the leather band, you'll have no problems selling it.
 
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Fed in a Fedora

Practically Family
Messages
739
Location
Dixie, USA
With the felt hat you can put in a center or diamond crease & loose front pinches, give the brim a slight dip front & back & add a fairly wide ribbon( brown I think goes best with khaki) & you've got yourself a good, no, a damn good outdoor hat. I think they look great, even better with a stampede cord/chin strap........just what the doctor ordered for those windy autumnal days ahead of us.
And if you don't want to keep the leather band, you'll have no problems selling it.

All very good options.
 

fedoralover

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,006
Location
Great Northwest
? And I know that I cannot wear the NPS hat band,
e7e0a44a1b1df8a581c16a581c6b06d3.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This subject was covered a few years ago here. I bought one off ebay and was wondering if I could legally wear it. One of our resident Lawyers, Atticus Finch, said that it is legal to wear the hat as long as one isn't trying to impersonate the office it represents. No difference than some people wearing Tee shirts or Ball caps which have NYPD on them. I've seen lots of people wear those without a question. People wear G-1s and A-2 jackets with original logos and patches too. Also not illegal. Just don't try to pass yourself off as an actual Park Service Ranger when you wear it. I wouldn't wear a khaki shirt with one just to make sure no one thought you were trying. Now keep in mind that some people may not take kindly to you wearing one, but that doesn't make it illegal.

If the law has changed on that someone please update the info.

fedoralover
 
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Herzen

One of the Regulars
Messages
207
Location
Western New York
I'm not against wearing them as they are, I guess I just wasn't sure if that was done. Any ideas what kind of bands/ribbons would look good with these?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

humanshoes

One Too Many
Messages
1,444
Location
Tennessee
DSC00885.jpg DSC00886.jpg DSC00887.jpg

Love those park service hats. I steamed out the old bash on this Resistol 3X Beaver and gave it a classic center dent with front pinches. Added a 1" brown ribbon and it has a new life as one of my "go to" hats. I, personally, would add a narrow 3/8" ribbon to the straw and wear it just like it is.
 

Jedwbpm

One Too Many
Messages
1,031
Location
West Coast Florida
I have a NPS hat that I wear when doing outdoor stuff. I would never wear to a state or Federal park
USNPS2_zps6a9fa094.jpg

I also have a Florida Toll Takers shirt that I like but I never wear it when I am in Florida
20150503_163749_zps9uyivt9d.jpg

Contexts is everything. You having worked for the NPS I think could wear it about without a problem. I am sure that Major Mike could make you a real nice custom leather band

Jeff

Jeff
 

Herzen

One of the Regulars
Messages
207
Location
Western New York
View attachment 34712 View attachment 34713 View attachment 34714

Love those park service hats. I steamed out the old bash on this Resistol 3X Beaver and gave it a classic center dent with front pinches. Added a 1" brown ribbon and it has a new life as one of my "go to" hats. I, personally, would add a narrow 3/8" ribbon to the straw and wear it just like it is.

That is a fantastic hat! Mine are both newer Strattons, so I don't know much about the quality of the felt or how well it would take to reshaping. They are, as has been noted elsewhere, quite stiff.

Thank you all for the input!
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
This subject was covered a few years ago here. I bought one off ebay and was wondering if I could legally wear it. One of our resident Lawyers, Atticus Finch, said that it is legal to wear the hat as long as one isn't trying to impersonate the office it represents. No difference than some people wearing Tee shirts or Ball caps which have NYPD on them. I've seen lots of people wear those without a question. People wear G-1s and A-2 jackets with original logos and patches too. Also not illegal. Just don't try to pass yourself off as an actual Park Service Ranger when you wear it. I wouldn't wear a khaki shirt with one just to make sure no one thought you were trying. Now keep in mind that some people may not take kindly to you wearing one, but that doesn't make it illegal.

If the law has changed on that someone please update the info.

fedoralover

I just wear mine upside down on an OR. [huh]
 

UTAHLOGIST

New in Town
Messages
2
Always wanted one of these, but are they Legal to wear??

I've wanted one of these for years and just won this vintage one off of ebay. I paid a little more than I wanted to but the fact that it has "Premium Beaver" imprinted on the sweatband inclined me to bid a little more. But I've been wondering, since it has USNPS imprinted on the leather band, is it going to be legal for me to wear? I know we have some law enforcement gentleman here on the lounge, what say you?? I'm thinking that as long as I don't wear a brown shirt thats looks like I'm trying to impersonate a forest ranger I should be okay.
If anyone knows about the legality of wearing one of these please let me know. Here's the pics. It even comes with the original box.

rangerhat1.jpg

rangerhat2.jpg

rangerhat.jpg

rangerhat3.jpg

rangerhat4.jpg


fedoralover
I've always loved the National Park service ranger hat. I do a lot of camping and hiking in national parks, and if I ever purchased one I would never feel comfortable wearing it while camping.
So I decided to fashion my own kind of look alike hat. It started with a very nice black leather belt with beautiful scroll work on it, I cut it to the right length and stitched it back together to fit my old felt hat, I carved some recesses in the belt and embedded some nice looking religious medallions on either side, added some braided leather cord to the belt buckle holes, then added some Golden Oak acorns, to finish it off. I like it I think it looks rather smart and I'm looking for opinions here. I would like to wear it when I go camping but does anyone here think it looks too much like a ranger hat. The ranger hat of course has a similar leather band with scroll work and leather cording and they have golden Sequoia pine cones, mine has Golden Oak acorns. The hat band does not have USNPS on it, and my hat is 2" diameter smaller and it does not have the National Park service pinch on it. Does anyone think I would get any flack for wearing it in a National Park campground or visitor center. Thank you very much for your opinions
 

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