Rand's Custom Hats

[BobHufford]

The felt is nicer than my 3X Resistol.

Good get Moe! The 10X is Rand's 100% beaver. 8X is 50%.

 

[moehawk]

Good get Moe! The 10X is Rand's 100% beaver. 8X is 50%.

Thanks Bob!
I was wondering what their quality tier designations were, but hadn't gotten around to looking it up yet! I could feel that it was nice felt though.
Too bad it's about a size 6 1/2...

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Unusual color on a Western.

Looks like 1990's Confederate Gray. Since it was custom made & not sold thru a dealer you will find lots of original order info written on the back of the sweat including circumfrence in inches & date. Info that could help if you decide to sell it. Nice find from a thrift store!

 

[moehawk]

Looks like 1990's Confederate Gray. Since it was custom made & not sold thru a dealer you will find lots of original order info written on the back of the sweat including circumfrence in inches & date. Info that could help if you decide to sell it. Nice find from a thrift store!

I found this under the sweat,




In person it seems much greener than gray.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I found this under the sweat,

View attachment 299394


In person it seems much greener than gray.

#78613 would be their ticket # which they would still have filed away. The 21 is circumfrence in inches which would link to your guesstimate of size 6-1/2, maybe 6-5/8. Looks like it was made Nov 12, 2002 by Pat.

One of the long time employees is named Randy & I see his signature on a lot of hats. Haven't looked at the Rand website in a long while but Randy used to be pictured as well. Don't know of a Pat but you might look.

PS: no idea on the color then. Maybe Palomino?

 

[belfastboy]

Thanks Bob!
I was wondering what their quality tier designations were, but hadn't gotten around to looking it up yet! I could feel that it was nice felt though.
Too bad it's about a size 6 1/2...

Rand lists their pricing on the website......pricey hats!

 

[moehawk]

#78613 would be their ticket # which they would still have filed away. The 21 is circumfrence in inches which would link to your guesstimate of size 6-1/2, maybe 6-5/8. Looks like it was made Nov 12, 2002 by Pat.

One of the long time employees is named Randy & I see his signature on a lot of hats. Haven't looked at the Rand website in a long while but Randy used to be pictured as well. Don't know of a Pat but you might look.

PS: no idea on the color then. Maybe Palomino?

Thanks!
I might send them an email with that info and ask what the color name is.

 

[moehawk]

Rand lists their pricing on the website......pricey hats!

Five bucks at the thrift store is more my price. I'd have happily paid double for a 7 1/4!

 

[belfastboy]

Five bucks at the thrift store is more my price. I'd have happily paid double for a 7 1/4!

You win the "deal of the year" well at least so far this year!

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Thanks!
I might send them an email with that info and ask what the color name is.

When I suggested Palomino I wasn't thinking about the date of 2002. Palomino is a much older color than that. I have a few Rand catalogs from the 1980's & 1990's put away but nothing as new as 2002.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Out yesterday the lighting was such to really light up the soft hand & finish of the felt on this Rand. I hope the monitor allows you to see it.

 

[M Brown]

It's nice to see an 11 year old thread on such a great topic come back to life!

Rand makes some darned good hats. I have several, ranging from 7X to 10X.
Today's offerings from Rand are usually either 8x or 10X - 8 being 80% beaver and 10 being 100% beaver. But you can also go 'sky's the limit' and get a mink or chinchilla blend in what Rand calls a 20X. And of course, the used market is always a good place to look for a good Rand. They've made so many thousands of hats over the years there's always one out there looking for a new home at a real good price.

There are lots of Rand's general market outfitter store hats out there that were done in a 60/40 or even a 50/50 blend, which are also very well made hats. And corporate presentation hats like the Swarovski hats that Rand made are also good quality hats.

From owning a small variety of Rands, 5 total: 2 x 10X, 2 x 8X, and 1 x 7X, I can say that any of them will outlast the owner and they're built to take on some hard wearing. I'm sure mine will one day end up with my grandson, who just turned 10 and is still a good 15 years or so from being anywhere near my 7 1/2 size.

I don't recall whether or not Rand makes their own felts or uses Winchester's, but the final product is as good as it gets. My 8x and 10s Rands have taken rain, sleet, snow, and just as hardy hot, sweaty weather and they always dry out as if nothing had affected them. I always dry mine on an old wooden hat block, one size larger than my size, so I can turn the sweat band out and let it dry over a day or so. Overall, the felt is top notch and it's simple to style with a good tea kettle or steamer.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My second Rand’s is from a trade with @BobHufford

My opinion is that is is just a solid well-built western. The felt is definitely more impressive than my first Rand’s. While the shape and lower crown aren’t my usual preferences, it’s definitely a keeper. Thanks, Bob!

 

[BobHufford]

My second Rand’s is from a trade with @BobHufford

While the shape and lower crown aren’t my usual preferences, it’s definitely a keeper. Thanks, Bob!

You wear it well — better than I could Brent!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It's nice to see an 11 year old thread on such a great topic come back to life!

Rand makes some darned good hats. I have several, ranging from 7X to 10X.
Today's offerings from Rand are usually either 8x or 10X - 8 being 80% beaver and 10 being 100% beaver. But you can also go 'sky's the limit' and get a mink or chinchilla blend in what Rand calls a 20X. And of course, the used market is always a good place to look for a good Rand. They've made so many thousands of hats over the years there's always one out there looking for a new home at a real good price.

There are lots of Rand's general market outfitter store hats out there that were done in a 60/40 or even a 50/50 blend, which are also very well made hats. And corporate presentation hats like the Swarovski hats that Rand made are also good quality hats.

From owning a small variety of Rands, 5 total: 2 x 10X, 2 x 8X, and 1 x 7X, I can say that any of them will outlast the owner and they're built to take on some hard wearing. I'm sure mine will one day end up with my grandson, who just turned 10 and is still a good 15 years or so from being anywhere near my 7 1/2 size.

I don't recall whether or not Rand makes their own felts or uses Winchester's, but the final product is as good as it gets. My 8x and 10s Rands have taken rain, sleet, snow, and just as hardy hot, sweaty weather and they always dry out as if nothing had affected them. I always dry mine on an old wooden hat block, one size larger than my size, so I can turn the sweat band out and let it dry over a day or so. Overall, the felt is top notch and it's simple to style with a good tea kettle or steamer.

Can I talk you into posting photos of them? I think quite a few of us would enjoy seeing them and how they are aging.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Rand makes some darned good hats. I have several, ranging from 7X to 10X.

When Ritch first went into business in 1974-1975 he made some hats in 5X. It was probably standard at the time. I think it also helped in trying to establish a dealer network & keeping costs down.

 

[M Brown]

Can I talk you into posting photos of them? I think quite a few of us would enjoy seeing them and how they are aging.

sure, I'll take some photos this morning and post them later in this thread.

 

[M Brown]

Here are some quick photos of my Rands...turns out I forgot about one, the Swarovsky...which makes for six:

Here's an old 8X Drover. This is a fantastic hat, thick felt, and will take a beating. It just keeps getting better. Approx 25 yrs old.

This one is a 10X Rocking Bar...I love this hat. It's my #1 work hat out on the property during cooler months. Wide brim & Chocolate Brown makes a great sun shade on bright days. The felt is velvet soft. It's approx 8 Yrs old and has seen more rain and sweat than any hat I own. I bought it 1/8th too big. For a while I had to put foam tabs under the sweat band but eventually, after enough rain and sun, it conformed exactly to the shape of my head. If you want a hat to fit like it was born on your head, wear it in a heavy rain, then wear it til it's dry. Just like boots.

Here is a 10X Diamond Jim. I reworked the brim to take the extreme curl out of it and give me more sun protection. This one fits like a well worn glove and, of all of them, gets the most 'around town' wear. It's about 15 yrs old. The feather, (as are all my feathers) came from the property. This one fell from the sky and landed next to me one day. A friend of mine calls those 'Spirit Feathers'.

Just a couple of years ago I got these two Tom Horn hats. The Gray is an 8X and the Bone is a 7X. I wear the Gray one out on the property when the Chocolate Rocking Bar is taking a rest (it needs a good brushing from some outdoor work wear just a couple of days ago, and I flattened the brim a bit, again, for sun protection) - Note the Star pattern air vents on the side of the crown) and the Bone is more of a dress hat for me.

And here's one of Rand's Swarovsky hats. I bought this one on Ebay a couple of years ago for $75 and wear it when I play with my Americana band. There's nothing inside to indicate the fur % but it feels similar to a 5X or 6X Stetson.

All of these hats will live well beyond my years. And fortunately I have a son and grandson who will give them a good home after my time with them is done.

 

[belfastboy]

Here are some quick photos of my Rands...turns out I forgot about one, the Swarovsky...which makes for six:

Here's an old an 8X Drover. This is a fantastic hat, thick felt, and will take a beating. It just keeps getting better. Approx 25 yrs old.
View attachment 300005

This one is a 10X Rocking Bar...I love this hat. It's my #1 work hat out on the property during cooler months. Wide brim & Chocolate Brown makes a great sun shade on bright days. The felt is velvet soft. It's approx 8 Yrs old and has seen more rain and sweat than any hat I own. I bought it 1/8th too big. For a while I had to put foam tabs under the sweat band but eventually, after enough rain and sun, it conformed exactly to the shape of my head. If you want a hat to fit like it was born on your head, wear it in a heavy rain, then wear it til it's dry. Just like boots.
View attachment 300007

Here is a 10X Diamond Jim. I reworked the brim to take the extreme curl out of it and give me more sun protection. This one fits like a well worn glove and, of all of them, gets the most 'around town' wear. It's about 15 yrs old. The feather, (as are all my feathers) came from the property. This one fell from the sky and landed next to me one day. A friend of mine calls those 'Spirit Feathers'.

View attachment 300009
Just a couple of years ago I got these two Tom Horn hats. The Gray is an 8X and the Bone is a 7X. I wear the Gray one out on the property when the Chocolate Rocking Bar is taking a rest (it needs a good brushing from some outdoor work wear just a couple of days ago, and I flattened the brim a bit, again, for sun protection) - Note the Star pattern air vents on the side of the crown) and the Bone is more of a dress hat for me.
View attachment 300014
View attachment 300015

And here's one of Rand's Swarovsky hats. I bought this one on Ebay a couple of years ago for $75 and wear it when I play with my Americana band. There's nothing inside to indicate the fur % but it feels similar to a 5X or 6X Stetson.
View attachment 300016

All of the hats will live well beyond my years. And fortunately I have a son and grandson who will give them a good home after my time with them is done.

Thank you for the pics, what a treat. A great start for my Monday morning.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Here are some quick photos of my Rands...turns out I forgot about one, the Swarovsky...which makes for six:

Here's an old an 8X Drover. This is a fantastic hat, thick felt, and will take a beating. It just keeps getting better. Approx 25 yrs old.
View attachment 300005

This one is a 10X Rocking Bar...I love this hat. It's my #1 work hat out on the property during cooler months. Wide brim & Chocolate Brown makes a great sun shade on bright days. The felt is velvet soft. It's approx 8 Yrs old and has seen more rain and sweat than any hat I own. I bought it 1/8th too big. For a while I had to put foam tabs under the sweat band but eventually, after enough rain and sun, it conformed exactly to the shape of my head. If you want a hat to fit like it was born on your head, wear it in a heavy rain, then wear it til it's dry. Just like boots.
View attachment 300007

Here is a 10X Diamond Jim. I reworked the brim to take the extreme curl out of it and give me more sun protection. This one fits like a well worn glove and, of all of them, gets the most 'around town' wear. It's about 15 yrs old. The feather, (as are all my feathers) came from the property. This one fell from the sky and landed next to me one day. A friend of mine calls those 'Spirit Feathers'.

View attachment 300009
Just a couple of years ago I got these two Tom Horn hats. The Gray is an 8X and the Bone is a 7X. I wear the Gray one out on the property when the Chocolate Rocking Bar is taking a rest (it needs a good brushing from some outdoor work wear just a couple of days ago, and I flattened the brim a bit, again, for sun protection) - Note the Star pattern air vents on the side of the crown) and the Bone is more of a dress hat for me.
View attachment 300014
View attachment 300015

And here's one of Rand's Swarovsky hats. I bought this one on Ebay a couple of years ago for $75 and wear it when I play with my Americana band. There's nothing inside to indicate the fur % but it feels similar to a 5X or 6X Stetson.
View attachment 300016

All of the hats will live well beyond my years. And fortunately I have a son and grandson who will give them a good home after my time with them is done.

Outstanding! It’s nice to see the hats with you years on them still looking so good.