Stetson Imperial, Sovereign, Royal

[memphislawyer]

I am trying to find out the differences in the various lines of fur that Stetson has that I see when viewing hats. I have a Saxon and it is said that it is made from the Royal Line. I know Stetson rates some newer hats by the X mark, and I am guessing 3 x is akin to say the Akubra line (not the Deluxe or upper line). So, anything I need to know about Royal vs. whatever?

I read at bencrafts or someplace that the Saxon is their most popular fedora. Wonder why? Smaller brim?

 

[avedwards]

Their dress hats are not rated in X's, only their Western's are. I know only of Royal and Sovereign felt. The Saxon and the Downs are Royal among others, while the Chatham and the Temple are Sovereign. Sovereign is a higher quality than Royal. I'm not sure where Imperial comes, but it's possible that it only exists on vintage Stetsons, where the system is different to modern ones anyway.

 

[gtdean48]

Keep searching because different hatters use X to denote different things. Since I saw an X designation on a straw hat, I never relied on X in a hat to tell me anything of value. You cannot compare X's across different brands for sure & even within the same brand over different eras of production. I have a vintage 3X that is way above a modern 4X & 10X.
There are threads about Royal, Royal Deluxe, Sovereign, Premier but that only relates to Stetson.
What you are looking for as a standard to compare across vendors does not exist, IMHO.

 

[gtdean48]

Stetson won't even tell you exactly what they use an X to mean. Look at FAQs about X & percent beaver....
http://www.stetsonhat.com/faqs.php

 

[Dewhurst]

I know Stetson rates some newer hats by the X mark, and I am guessing 3 x is akin to say the Akubra line (not the Deluxe or upper line). So, anything I need to know about Royal vs. whatever?

Different companies use different X "systems" and never agree on what they mean. Always best to eye-ball X's suspiciously and just get the details on the hat (fur mixture, quality of trimmings, etc.) while basically ignoring the X's.

Royal is inferior to Sovereign, but I do not know how the Imperial compares to them. HOWEVER, I do know that the Imperial quality is employed on a few of their current hats like the Dexter.

 

[avedwards]

I think the easiest thing to do would be to email Stetson and ask them or to send a PM to HATCO (their FL representative). Or wait for HATCO to post. However we can be sure that Sovereign is above Royal on modern Stetsons.

 

[gtdean48]

Nostalgia goes for $179 & is Sovereign
Dexter goes for $199 & is Imperial
Both at same shop, with the Temple for $159 & is Sovereign.
Looks like Imperial is above Sovereign to me.

 

[avedwards]

So from lowest to highest it's Woolfelt, Royal, Sovereign, Imperial.

 

[gtdean48]

Looks that way with Premier being about the same as 100% beaver of the Pinnacle model, if Premier is used as a fedora designation. I just saw it for 1000X El Presidente westerns when I searched...

 

[memphislawyer]

Well, my Saxon (Royal) was $140.00 but I was going more on looks then felt grading. But it would have been nice to know I could get the 'better' felt in the same style of hat for a few $$ more.

 

[Dewhurst]

I don't know.

Berkeley Hat has the Dexter and they give this description:

Real heavy duty Stetson western weight and quality have made this hat a perennial favorite in a dress hat. This hat has an ample sized 2 3/4 inch brim and a full crown. Originally, this hat had a thin cowboy band and a different name, but when Stetson changed the name and added the dress gros grain band, the Dexter really took off. Want a great solid hat that' ll really last? The Dexter is it.

They list it for 139.00

The hat is intriguing. Does anyone have one?

 

[gtdean48]

Well, my Saxon (Royal) was $140.00 but I was going more on looks then felt grading. But it would have been nice to know I could get the 'better' felt in the same style of hat for a few $$ more.

Yes you can & if you hang around here, you'll pick up some bargains if you watch closely. I paid less than $140 for my Pinnacle & then you have guys who frequent the HatCo Outlet store for bargains they pass on...

 

[Mr. Paladin]

So from lowest to highest it's Woolfelt, Royal, Sovereign, Imperial.

AV is correct. According to the manager at the Garland Outlet about a year and a half ago, Imperial is the highest grade of furfelt they make, excluding their 100% beaver lines. I have a Stetson Humphrey, made for Miller Hats in Houston that is Imperial felt. It is the nicest felt I've handled on a modern Stetson, although my Dexter in Sovereign felt (the heavy, velour type finish) is closest to it.