Western, anyone?

[Harry Morgan]

If it takes a lot of beating, it can always be reblocked.

You're right Joao, and my local hatter would probably appreciate the business

I'm going to use it as my "go to town hat", might wear it to work now and then instead of my beater too.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

From what you can see in this pic the hat appears to be very similar but the crease not as narrow. My guess is this was taken sometime around 1895-1900 when he was a bit younger.

 

[1mach1]

It sure does. That's a great looking hat. Fantastic color and finish.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

It sure does. That's a great looking hat. Fantastic color and finish.

+1 on that.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

During his Wild West show days & late in his life Cody probably wore hats that were very similar to each other. That would explain why slight differences are seen in pics from the same era. Cody also used a double as a stand-in for himself sometimes at public appearances, as the schedule required. The double was a doctor from the New England area. This pic is commonly thought to be the doctor as he aged.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Nice story.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

James Butler Hickok was about a generation older than Cody (9 yrs). I always thought the hat he favored was something similar to the Stetson Boss of the Plains with the short rounded crown but a much wider brim. I have no idea who made that style of hat. If anyone does I would appreciate knowing. And with such large hats/brims why did they prefer their hats to sit so high on their heads & above the ears?

Jeff Bridges hat from the movie "Wild Bill" appears to be pretty accurate to the original.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Older Ritch Rand 10X Cattleman in chocolate brown from my collection.
3.25" brim, 5" crown.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Nice Rand.
I also like the brim on Cody and Wild Billy.

 

[hatophile]

Jack,

In answer to your question about why the old timers wore their hats so far back, I believe they tilted them back or higher when getting their picture taken so as to see the face more clearly, because of the wider brims. My guess is Wild Bill's hat probably is a BOTP, has those dimensions, the crown just looks smaller because it's so far up on his head.
I agree, Jeff Bridges' hat is a pretty good likeness.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Jack,

In answer to your question about why the old timers wore their hats so far back, I believe they tilted them back or higher when getting their picture taken so as to see the face more clearly, because of the wider brims. My guess is Wild Bill's hat probably is a BOTP, has those dimensions, the crown just looks smaller because it's so far up on his head.
I agree, Jeff Bridges' hat is a pretty good likeness.

I believe they wore a size smaller. I can only tilt a hat like that with a 7 1/8 hat. Can't do it with a 7 1/4 nor a 7 3/8.

 

[hatophile]

I'd be worried about it blowing off while riding my horse.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

That is one thing I cannot understand how did they not lost the hat when riding a horse. Maybe head shape?

 

[hatophile]

I'm sure some wore stampede cords.
http://www.sunbody.com/index.cfm/category/26/stampede-stringschin-cords.cfm

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I guess you are correct; with the lighting & longer exposure time of photography of the day that probably is the answer. Even Custer seemed to wear his broad brim hat set back or cocked also.

Jack,

In answer to your question about why the old timers wore their hats so far back, I believe they tilted them back or higher when getting their picture taken so as to see the face more clearly, because of the wider brims. My guess is Wild Bill's hat probably is a BOTP, has those dimensions, the crown just looks smaller because it's so far up on his head.
I agree, Jeff Bridges' hat is a pretty good likeness.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

I'm sure some wore stampede cords.

Probably a strap on the back of the head like the campaign hat?
It's like... if I tilt the hat like that in my size (7 1/4), my ear will be inside the hat.
With a size smaller (7 1/8), that does not happen.

 

[dh66]

Here's my recently reshaped hat with the horseshoe crease . There ya go Joao.

This looks great! I've been on the hunt for a western hat for a while that I can put this type crease on. A classic.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

This looks great! I've been on the hunt for a western hat for a while that I can put this type crease on. A classic.

If John Galt was not loaded with work, I would have one.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

The black is hard to photograph especially with just an iPad camera (& dog hair). This is a Ritch Rand 5X Tom Horn from the Old West collection. The crown rakes down from 5.75" in back to 3.25" in the front. The brim width is 3.5" with low sides & a slight packer front & back. The glass beaded hatband was made by a local Indian woman. The colors of the beads didn't come out very well due to the auto exposure but they are black, white, silver & steel blue.

 

[Joao Encarnado]

Nice!