Stetson Saxon, thoughts?

[m0nk]

It's that time of year where my family (parents, sisters, etc) asks what everyone wants for Christmas... and of course, they all stick strictly to the list. So, I thought "Hey, what a great way to get a new hat without having to justify the expense to my wife!".... which likely wouldn't work out well....

I already have several different Akubras, but want a classic Stetson style in a price range that my family could collectively afford. The Nostalgia has become completely unavailable on the few sites that still had stock, so one vendor pointed me to the Saxon. Fur felt, 2" brim, 4+" crown, very classic style... and I like the Caribou color. The crown is pre-creased with a pinch and center-dent, which I'm not 100% sold on, but of course I can always adjust it slightly to work on my head if needed. And since I already have the Fed IV in Moonstone for the diamond-crease look that I like... I'm thinking it's a good hat for my collection and I may end up liking it more that I thought. I searched, and didn't find much in the way of a "review" on the hat itself, so I wanted to open the question up to fellow "loungers"... what are your thoughts on this hat?

Thanks!

 

[Jauntyone]

I have a Saxon which I bought back in 2006. Compared to your Fed IV, it's going to appear tiny to you. The felt is thick, but quite smooth and it's seems tough enough. There was no powder in the hat, and it was easy to re-crease/re-block. The sweat is some sort of reconstituted leather, a bit cardboardy. The shape and proportions are nice enough, but definately 1960s, not 1940s.

 

[m0nk]

I have a Saxon which I bought back in 2006. Compared to your Fed IV, it's going to appear tiny to you. The felt is thick, but quite smooth and it's seems tough enough. There was no powder in the hat, and it was easy to re-crease/re-block. The sweat is some sort of reconstituted leather, a bit cardboardy. The shape and proportions are nice enough, but definately 1960s, not 1940s.

Do you mean tiny as in the size compared to standard sizes or tiny because of the crown height and brim width? I was hoping the brim width my be just about right since I wear a size 56 and I thought the Fed IV had too much brim for me... I am considering trimming my Moonstone to an even 2.5" all around, but we'll see there.

Shame that it seems more 60's than 40's, too.

How about durability? Can it handle rain ok?

 

[Jauntyone]

Do you mean tiny as in the size compared to standard sizes or tiny because of the crown height and brim width? I was hoping the brim width my be just about right since I wear a size 56 and I thought the Fed IV had too much brim for me... I am considering trimming my Moonstone to an even 2.5" all around, but we'll see there.

Shame that it seems more 60's than 40's, too.

How about durability? Can it handle rain ok?

Sorry, I meant tiny as far as it's proportions; the actual size of the hat runs a bit big, I think. But then all modern Hatco hats seem to run big, especially compared to Biltmore or Akubra.
The felt seems plenty durable, but mine is over five years old, the felt quality may vary from batch to batch.
I think it's a servicable, no-frills, basic hat. Funny that the felt seems much superior to the Dobbs Jet I have, which is supposed to be "Golden Coach" quality.

 

[monbla256]

It's that time of year where my family (parents, sisters, etc) asks what everyone wants for Christmas... and of course, they all stick strictly to the list. So, I thought "Hey, what a great way to get a new hat without having to justify the expense to my wife!".... which likely wouldn't work out well....

I already have several different Akubras, but want a classic Stetson style in a price range that my family could collectively afford. The Nostalgia has become completely unavailable on the few sites that still had stock, so one vendor pointed me to the Saxon. Fur felt, 2" brim, 4+" crown, very classic style... and I like the Caribou color. The crown is pre-creased with a pinch and center-dent, which I'm not 100% sold on, but of course I can always adjust it slightly to work on my head if needed. And since I already have the Fed IV in Moonstone for the diamond-crease look that I like... I'm thinking it's a good hat for my collection and I may end up liking it more that I thought. I searched, and didn't find much in the way of a "review" on the hat itself, so I wanted to open the question up to fellow "loungers"... what are your thoughts on this hat?

Thanks!

You did not mention what was the price range of Stetson you're aiming for but have you looked at some of the dress Stetsons Miller's down in Houston sells? They seem to have a wide range of dim. cut unbound brimmed models with some in a teardrop crease as you like. They are a good old line hat shop in Houston and are good folks to deal with. I always stop in when I'm in Houston and see what I might "need"

 

[Benzadmiral]

And there's always the Stetson Temple. (Somehow I seem to have become its default cheering section here.) It's a lot like the Saxon to my untutored eye, but with a wider brim -- 2 5/8" x 2 3/8", I think; dimensional like the Fed, anyway -- and with a wide ribbon. Sort of the Saxon's bigger brother. It comes in the same colors, I believe. Certainly there's a Caribou Gray.

ETA: And they're not too far apart in price: http://www.dadshats.com/stetson1.html has the Saxon at $150, the Temple at $160.

 

[m0nk]

Thanks guys, though I'm not big on the dimensional cut. I actually prefer a uniform width and was hoping to find one around the 2.5" range with an open crown, but that's next to impossible unless anyone knows of something. That's why I really wanted the Nostalgia, but perhaps I can find a used one or something.

 

[monbla256]

Thanks guys, though I'm not big on the dimensional cut. I actually prefer a uniform width and was hoping to find one around the 2.5" range with an open crown, but that's next to impossible unless anyone knows of something. That's why I really wanted the Nostalgia, but perhaps I can find a used one or something.

Have you looked at the Akubra Sydney DM sells? He has it in a brown shade and a nice steel grey and it is a cut brim, 2 1/2" all arown'd and comes in an open crown. I just ordered the grey as it is the same block as the Stylemaster only non bound brim and open crown so I can crease it myself. If you feel the need to order it from OZ, it is called the Fedora by the OZ retailers.

 

[m0nk]

Have you looked at the Akubra Sydney DM sells? He has it in a brown shade and a nice steel grey and it is a cut brim, 2 1/2" all arown'd and comes in an open crown. I just ordered the grey as it is the same block as the Stylemaster only non bound brim and open crown so I can crease it myself. If you feel the need to order it from OZ, it is called the Fedora by the OZ retailers.

I've considered this one as well, though the ribbon is a bit thinner than I was hoping for... I went with the Moonstone Fed IV instead and will be trimming the brim to an even 2.5"...

I guess I'm being really picky, especially for that price range. It's just that the Nostalgia was EXACTLY what I'm after, and it no longer exists...

 

[monbla256]

I've considered this one as well, though the ribbon is a bit thinner than I was hoping for... I went with the Moonstone Fed IV instead and will be trimming the brim to an even 2.5"...

I guess I'm being really picky, especially for that price range. It's just that the Nostalgia was EXACTLY what I'm after, and it no longer exists...

Since you've cut the brim down on one hat it would seem almost as easy to get a wider ribbon?

 

[jlee562]

Thanks guys, though I'm not big on the dimensional cut. I actually prefer a uniform width and was hoping to find one around the 2.5" range with an open crown, but that's next to impossible unless anyone knows of something. That's why I really wanted the Nostalgia, but perhaps I can find a used one or something.

Give Hat Guys in Oakland a call, they're still showing the Nostalgia on their website.

http://hatguys.com/onlineStore.cfm?storeAction=_view&prodID=366&srow=na

 

[frussell]

I had a Saxon, in Caribou, about two years ago. it was a little stingy brim-wise, but otherwise a nice hat. I definitely liked it a lot more than all three of the floppy-brimmed, powder-filled, color-leaking Stetson Temples I've owned. They did not last long. The welted brim on the Saxon kept it sharp. If you don't mind the smaller brim, and it sounds like you don't, it was a serviceable hat of good quality. Try the Resistol Outlet in Garland, they may have a Nostalgia, or a Saxon for cheap. Frank

 

[jbucklin]

You might look at the Chatham too. Brim width is 2 3/8, which for me is perfect. I have a Saxon and a Temple. frussell is right, the brim on the Temple is very floppy and wavy on the edges. The Saxon does border on a stingy brim, so I rarely wear it, although I do think it's a nice hat. I've bought all my Stetsons from the Outlet in Garland.

 

[bradbraden]

It's that time of year where my family (parents, sisters, etc) asks what everyone wants for Christmas... and of course, they all stick strictly to the list. So, I thought "Hey, what a great way to get a new hat without having to justify the expense to my wife!".... which likely wouldn't work out well....

I already have several different Akubras, but want a classic Stetson style in a price range that my family could collectively afford. The Nostalgia has become completely unavailable on the few sites that still had stock, so one vendor pointed me to the Saxon. Fur felt, 2" brim, 4+" crown, very classic style... and I like the Caribou color. The crown is pre-creased with a pinch and center-dent, which I'm not 100% sold on, but of course I can always adjust it slightly to work on my head if needed. And since I already have the Fed IV in Moonstone for the diamond-crease look that I like... I'm thinking it's a good hat for my collection and I may end up liking it more that I thought. I searched, and didn't find much in the way of a "review" on the hat itself, so I wanted to open the question up to fellow "loungers"... what are your thoughts on this hat?

Thanks!

Did you look at miller.com? They sell an open crown model that has a 2 1/2 inch brim all the way around I believe.

 

[RichardH]

The saxon is a very nice hat. I have one in caribou grey and I'm super happy with it! It's also my first and only fur-felt hat ever (I'm on the lookout for a bowler for my birthday in december)

If you're after the 40s look, the saxon is obviously not for you. I think it's a modern take on the stingy brims of the 60's.

Like this:

 

[m0nk]

Thanks everyone... I've started to think that maybe the Saxon isn't for me. As for the Nostalgia, I couldn't find the Caribou color on the Hat guys site, but I'm emailing them to find out. I'll also be keeping an eye out, but for now I'll just tell everyone that they can put cash into a "Penman" fund to help me pay off the Casablanca.

 

[Kmadden]

kmadden

Say, mOnk, have you checked out the Dobbs Savoy?

The Savoy (with a 2 3/8-inch brim) is pretty much like a Stetson Saxon (which has a 2-inch brim).

HatsPlus and several other hat shops sell them on-line.

Hope this helps.

 

[CPT/VSG]

I know that modern Stetsons are not really in vogue here but I started in fedoras with a Temple and Sutley and like them both. The Temple is stiffer than the Sutley but both are comfortable and have worn well. The Sutley is pretty soft felt. The only drawback to either is the crease. I'd prefer a teardrop but that is available in the Chatham.

 

[pjt113]

Have you thought of a Stetson Firenze? I picked one up this spring and I'm wearing it in my avatar. I get a lot of nice comments from people on it and I get Loungers asking me what hat it is and that it's nice looking.

 

[Historyteach24]

I have a used black Stetson Saxon size 7.5 would b willing to part with