Western, anyone?

[gtdean48]

More than $2000. I don't believe the hat itself would be more than $600.

You'd be surprised in the custom western market, some beaver blends start at $600. Pure beaver, well over $1000....

 

[Joao Encarnado]

So much? And I was thinking those Stetsons 1000x beaver had insane prices.

 

[gtdean48]

Most pure beaver listed over $1000 = http://greeleyhatworks.com/collections/western/

 

[T Jones]

Most pure beaver listed over $1000 = http://greeleyhatworks.com/collections/western/

Yup. Greely Hat Works. Rod's Western Palace, not far from me in Columbus, carries those hats. They start at $400. The ones I saw were open crown and the brims were unshaped, probably shaped to the liking of the customer right in the store. The 2' wide sweat bands in those hats are really nice.....

http://www.rods.com/western-cowboy-hats/felt.html

 

[Joao Encarnado]

OK I surrender.
I really would like to see it in hand to feel how it is by the touch but I'm very very far...

 

[barrowjh]

I see that Rods has only one pure beaver from Greely, marked down to $499 from $899. Big-price hats do not turn over very fast.

 

[T Jones]

I see that Rods has only one pure beaver from Greely, marked down to $499 from $899. Big-price hats do not turn over very fast.

Not too many wealthy Cowboys around these parts.

 

[John Galt]

OK I surrender.
I really would like to see it in hand to feel how it is by the touch but I'm very very far...

I own 2 100% beaver cowboy hats, circa early 1950's. I think you might be disappointed. The felt is very compact & durable, but not really very pleasant to touch, and stiff. Kind of cardboard-like. Hopefully that will change with some alcohol to cut the lacquer. The 100% beaver dress hat I have is a dream, very soft & eminently shapable.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

So it all depends on the stiffner?

 

[John Galt]

Well, I think it depends on the felting process. All of the 100% beaver cowboy hats I've seen, including the Stetson 100 I'm working on now, have been very tightly felted, and pretty stiff. The stiffness is mostly due to lacquer, but the tight felting appears to be how they were made. I am sure they will soften up if the lacquer is taken out, but the felt will still be compact. Perhaps that could be changed (the appearance & surface texture, at least) by pouncing, wire brushing, etc.

The dress hat has a very different felt - much looser & with longer fibers, resulting in a more familiar "hand," much like nutria.

 

[carouselvic]

lacquer?

 

[alanfgag]

Well, I think it depends on the felting process. All of the 100% beaver cowboy hats I've seen, including the Stetson 100 I'm working on now, have been very tightly felted, and pretty stiff. The stiffness is mostly due to lacquer, but the tight felting appears to be how they were made. I am sure they will soften up if the lacquer is taken out, but the felt will still be compact. Perhaps that could be changed (the appearance & surface texture, at least) by pouncing, wire brushing, etc.

The dress hat has a very different felt - much looser & with longer fibers, resulting in a more familiar "hand," much like nutria.

I think it depends on the era and fashion and tastes. Earlier cowboy hats were soft and flexible. The become firmer into the 1930s and 1940s and stiffen more in the 1950s. By the 1960s, they really took a good shellacking.

 

[NewJack]

Not as old as Alan's no.1, a 4x beaver Stetson.

This looks like my Resistol Stagecoach that is blue with matching red/blue trimming similar to yours, Joao!

 

[Joao Encarnado]

This looks like my Resistol Stagecoach that is blue with matching red/blue trimming similar to yours, Joao!

You have a blue Stagecoach?

 

[Joao Encarnado]

This 5X beaver Stetson, probably modern and not vintage.

 

[Lando]

Posted this in the Buckaroo thread, so go there for details, but I thought it was also at home on this thread.
100x Camel Buckaroo.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Very nice!

 

[NewJack]

You have a blue Stagecoach?

Yes. I do! Similar band and edge trim but in a red and blue color! Hope you're able to see it..Still a novice in the thread!

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Can you take pictures of it in day light? It looks like dark gray... but it looks very nice.

 

[NewJack]

Can you take pictures of it in day light? It looks like dark gray... but it looks very nice.

Try these links...

Here's two pix of 'em. Having difficulty uploading this time around! [huh]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r2u2ay06n6c7v15/2014-05-20 17.32.30.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mfqog1ruf5tiz8t/2014-05-20 17.33.02.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/na30uu3jzm367it/2014-05-20 17.32.22.jpg