Shady Oak Hat

[Buck Roan]

I'm interested in getting a Shady Oak hat. Would like to hear from somebody who has one. Is it worth the price? How it handles? Or is it just another Open Road imitator? Thanks.

 

[monbla256]

Which level of Shady Oak are you looking at , the 6x, the 10x, the 20x or the 100% Beaver ? As far as quality the lowest level is BETTER than any current production Stetson I have seen. You'd have to get one of the newer Stetson El Presidente models to be the same quality. As for an OR clone the traditional Shady Oak is a hat similar to it but is refered to as an Amon Carter by Peter Bros. as it is the model they made for him. It's bigger than a current OR by 1/8" in all dimensions. Here's a pic from Peter Bros. Notice the Amon Carter was NOT a bound brimmed hat as the OR though you can get it bound. It is probably one of the finest hats made in the US currently. Your going for the top for sure !!

 

[Buck Roan]

Looking at getting a 6x. Going to Ft. Worth, end of month. Thanks for info, been wanting a good dress hat.

 

[gtdean48]

Are you getting the anniversary edition? http://www.pbhats.com/PB 100th HAT/index.htm
If you are going, might as well go all the way!

 

[Buck Roan]

I Think I'll stick with the 6x. If I spent that much on an exceptional hat. I'd be afraid to wear it!

 

[Oldsarge]

Man, that is one fine looking hat! And they do a dress hat? In steel grey? In your choice of brim? Oooooooo, mama! Lemme see, it's already July . . . time to post the Christmas wish list!

 

[monbla256]

Looking at getting a 6x. Going to Ft. Worth, end of month. Thanks for info, been wanting a good dress hat.

If you don't live down here, just a word to let you know it's been HOT here this summer. We're in the middle of one of the worst droughts down here since the 1950's and have gone 12 days straight OVER 100 drgrees F and looks like it's gonna stay that way till into August so it is NOT felt weather for sure At least not for wearing Shady Oak felt Pick up a good straw/Panama while your at it for wear during the heat

 

[monbla256]

Man, that is one fine looking hat! And they do a dress hat? In steel grey? In your choice of brim? Oooooooo, mama! Lemme see, it's already July . . . time to post the Christmas wish list!

I've seen Shady Oak hats since my father looked at one back in the late 50's and always seen them in the Amon Carter style but since they are a custom item I'm sure they could make 'em in any style. Come on down to Ft. Worth and see what Joe can make for you

 

[bluesky2012]

I've seen Shady Oak hats since my father looked at one back in the late 50's and always seen them in the Amon Carter style but since they are a custom item I'm sure they could make 'em in any style. Come on down to Ft. Worth and see what Joe can make for you

never seen the so called Shady Oak hats

 

[feltfan]

You can see the hats here.

Here's a thread about them.

 

[barrowjh]

Here is a recent auction of a Peter Bros Shady Oak Banker's Special One Hundred:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110767298210?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Some evil hat collector amongst us sniped it, I recon, musta fallen for the 'Swiss hoodie' dya think?

 

[barrowjh]

SO 'Swiss Hoodie' DTD Cutter

Here is a Peters Brothers Shady Oak Banker's Special One Hundred 'Swiss Hoodie' in a double tear drop (or double C-crown), my version of a 'Cutter' style:

The 'Swiss Hoodie' (hat blank, or hood, made in Switzerland) marketing:

 

[barrowjh]

SO 'Swiss Hoodie' DTD Cutter

The hat only has a 3 inch brim, and I suspect that is post-Peters Brothers, as I doubt they made these in brims that short. Further, when it arrived, the brim edge looked amateur, like a weak hand on the brim cutter, bad. I fixed that with 400 grit sandpaper and beveled (rounded) the edge all around to eliminate the 'double-cut' sloppiness. The liner is glued in; not stitched.

I strongly suspect this is all beaver, and it has little or no stiffener in it at all, likely the softest felt (especially considering its full-weight thickness) I have ever encountered. So, the crown is a bit too high for the brim width IMHO, so I deliberately used the DTD crown to try and pull it down some.

'nuther look at the DTD:

I am reasonably happy with the hat, but I might not have bought it if I had known the brim was only 3 inches wide. My bad for not asking the seller about brim width, my gamble. There was a moth divot behind the ribbon, but I did not hold the seller accountable for that, as the insect had hidden it fairly well. The ribbon was tacked on just a tad high; keep having to push it down to cover the sweatband stitches. So, with all those complaints, why am I 'reasonably happy with the hat'? Did I mention that the felt is likely the softest, sweetest beaver I have ever touched?