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Western, anyone?

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19,001
Location
Central California
^^^^brings rise to the question. Does anybody know who made any of the Duke’s iconic hats??
Maybe Valentine???
B

I’d be interested in knowing too. My problem is two fold: most of the reputable custom western hatters charge big money and several of the more modest priced hatters make use of standard sized hats that end up as scaled replicas. Several of The Shootist hats I’ve seen started with six inch open crowns that that clearly isn’t enough. I once had an old Bee western that had a 7” crown, but nothing taller than that has come my way.


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Tukwila

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,382
Location
SW of Antifa Central (PDX)
I’d be interested in knowing too. My problem is two fold: most of the reputable custom western hatters charge big money and several of the more modest priced hatters make use of standard sized hats that end up as scaled replicas. Several of The Shootist hats I’ve seen started with six inch open crowns that that clearly isn’t enough. I once had an old Bee western that had a 7” crown, but nothing taller than that has come my way.


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I know @Joao Encarnado has made his Tall n Wide hats from felts he acquired from FEPSA or somewhere. Perhaps @humanshoes can acquire a real large felt for you
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,827
I’d be interested in knowing too. My problem is two fold: most of the reputable custom western hatters charge big money and several of the more modest priced hatters make use of standard sized hats that end up as scaled replicas. Several of The Shootist hats I’ve seen started with six inch open crowns that that clearly isn’t enough. I once had an old Bee western that had a 7” crown, but nothing taller than that has come my way.


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You’d think Brent, somebody here at the lounge would have figured out the Duke’s hatter(s). Maybe some will know.
7” crown is a bad boy!! I think my Boss Nutria is 7”.
If i see something i’ll send a Red Alert!!
B
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
You’d think Brent, somebody here at the lounge would have figured out the Duke’s hatter(s). Maybe some will know.
7” crown is a bad boy!! I think my Boss Nutria is 7”.
If i see something i’ll send a Red Alert!!
B

I’d be much obliged. I’ll never forget watching old westerns with my father. My dad and I didn’t have too much in common, but we both loved John Wayne. I don’t know when or where I’d wear such a hat, but I’d like to have one just because.


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Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
I know @Joao Encarnado has made his Tall n Wide hats from felts he acquired from FEPSA or somewhere. Perhaps @humanshoes can acquire a real large felt for you

I’ll ask Rick. We’re keeping him busy with other hats, and I can’t say that I’ve seen him do a BIG western like this, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.


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therevran

New in Town
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20
Location
Dallas Texas
IMG_2737.jpg My work hat.
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
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5,099
Location
San Francisco, CA
You’d think Brent, somebody here at the lounge would have figured out the Duke’s hatter(s). Maybe some will know.
7” crown is a bad boy!! I think my Boss Nutria is 7”.
If i see something i’ll send a Red Alert!!
B
Past iterations of Baron's site have claimed an association (e.g. "shaped with one of Wayne's original blocks"). But Baron also claims a lot of things that can't always be substantiated (like their supposed connection to Indiana Jones).

At least one of the Rooster Cogburn hats from the film of the same name with Katherine Hepburn, was a Resistol sold out of Nudies. There was also a Stetson 7x in the same auction.
 

AbbaDatDeHat

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8,827
Interesting jlee. Thanks for the info.
I’m suprised that the Duke didn’t wear customs considering his stature as a Western icon. One would think the movie studios would have catered to his stardom as with some of the others old time icons. Maybe they did and we just aren’t aware.
B
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,099
Location
San Francisco, CA
Interesting jlee. Thanks for the info.
I’m suprised that the Duke didn’t wear customs considering his stature as a Western icon. One would think the movie studios would have catered to his stardom as with some of the others old time icons. Maybe they did and we just aren’t aware.
B

It's very well possible he did and his kids are still sitting on a closet full of hats. Only a small selection was auctioned off, and those included some hats that had no clear manufacturer marks.

In fairness to Baron, I have seen it said that they made hats for Wayne in places like the LA times...which also mentions the Indiana Jones thing. As far as anyone at COW can figure, Baron might have submitted a hat to the production team, but there is neither a documented example of a Baron hat in the Lucasfilm archives, nor an identifiable one seen on screen. So, the Indy connection is most dubious. Eddie Baron may have made a hat for Temple of Doom, but it's not in the movie. The old Baron site claimed Wayne was a customer for over 40 years. Maybe he was!

And heck, a 7x from that era is still a pretty nice hat!
 

Joao Encarnado

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,776
Location
Portugal
Interesting jlee. Thanks for the info.
I’m suprised that the Duke didn’t wear customs considering his stature as a Western icon. One would think the movie studios would have catered to his stardom as with some of the others old time icons. Maybe they did and we just aren’t aware.
B
Maybe because those hats with 7" crown and 5" brim existed by his time. Nowadays they are pretty hard to find.
 
Messages
18,171
7” crown is a bad boy!!
Look for a Resistol Hi-7 or the Aces High. I think Michael R may have a Hi-7. My 1940's Carlsbad is 7" open crown. Dinnerman has had a few Carlsbads. The Stagecoach Outlaw is 6-3/4" open crown. The Akubra Woomera is 6.7".

They are out there but you won't find them with a $30 budget.

In the mood for some early Waylon this morning.

 
Last edited:
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
Maybe because those hats with 7" crown and 5" brim existed by his time. Nowadays they are pretty hard to find.

@Joao Encarnado you certainly qualify as an expert: what’s your estimate on the crown height and brim width of the Shootist hat? I’m thinking seven inch open crown and a 4.25 inch brim. Does that look to be close?


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Last edited:
Messages
15,276
Location
Somewhere south of crazy
Look for a Resistol Hi-7 or the Aces High. I think Michael R may have a Hi-7. My 1940's Carlsbad is 7" open crown. Dinnerman has had a few Carlsbads. The Stagecoach Outlaw is 6-3/4" open crown. The Akubra Woomera is 6.7".

They are out there but you won't find them with a $30 budget.

In the mood for some early Waylon this morning.

Gotta love Waylon... and Willie!
 
Messages
11,368
Location
Alabama
I’m on the hunt for a donor hat for conversion to something like the Duke wore in The Shootist.

This is from True West magazine from around 2012 from an article on hats in westerns.
image.jpeg

John Wayne in Th e Shootist
In his final film role, as gunfighter J.B. Books for The Shootist, John Wayne wore a cowboy hat with a six-inch crown in his favored pinch-front, triangle crease style. Golden Gate Western Wear offers the Duke’s Shootist hat in 10X beaver. The hat is shown here in silverbelly ($529.98) with the optional snakeskin hat band and its attached diamondback rattler ($95).
 
Messages
19,001
Location
Central California
This is from True West magazine from around 2012 from an article on hats in westerns.
View attachment 135914
John Wayne in Th e Shootist
In his final film role, as gunfighter J.B. Books for The Shootist, John Wayne wore a cowboy hat with a six-inch crown in his favored pinch-front, triangle crease style. Golden Gate Western Wear offers the Duke’s Shootist hat in 10X beaver. The hat is shown here in silverbelly ($529.98) with the optional snakeskin hat band and its attached diamondback rattler ($95).

Thanks, Jared. As well as can be determined by a photo, the proportions look right on the Golden Gate Western.


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Woodtroll

One Too Many
Messages
1,263
Location
Mtns. of SW Virginia
This is from True West magazine from around 2012 from an article on hats in westerns.
View attachment 135914
John Wayne in Th e Shootist
In his final film role, as gunfighter J.B. Books for The Shootist, John Wayne wore a cowboy hat with a six-inch crown in his favored pinch-front, triangle crease style. Golden Gate Western Wear offers the Duke’s Shootist hat in 10X beaver. The hat is shown here in silverbelly ($529.98) with the optional snakeskin hat band and its attached diamondback rattler ($95).


Yahoody (wonder where he's been lately, I miss his posts?) always has those big ol' hats he's posting. I seem to remember he did most, if not all, of the work on those himself. Maybe he could lend some perspective as to sizes, or some sources?
 

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