What degree of rake do you prefer?

[El Sid]

First, I'm happy to know what 'rake' is, thank you. 2nd, I like some rake on a diamond bash, somewhere around medium-to-high. I'm a long-faced guy, so too much high real estate in the front can get kind of cartoony.

 

[gtdean48]

Here's the rake I like....

Then the reverse rake that I like too...

 

[danofarlington]

Now that you put it that way, I like zero rake. I don't care for the tugboat look on me.

 

[Blackthorn]

Our guy with the hat on the Fedora Lounge logo likes LOTS of rake:

 

[Rodkins]

I'm a medium to heavy rake guy - but my wife keeps me in check when I get too much rake. She says "too low in back". I'm pretty sure she she only uses the term rake for leaves.

 

[monbla256]

Since I like to do a centerdent w/front pinch on my open crown hats, I'd have to say I'm not big on having much "rake" on my hats.

 

[Wildblue]

Personally, I prefer a balanced crown, with little to no rake. I don't really see a practical or aesthetic need for a slope.

 

[Joshbru3]

Well since I like 20's and 30's proportions, I prefer a higher "rake" (flange) to my brims. With larger brims from this period, the "cup" of the brim is less prevalent than on shorter brims. Keep in mind, all of these hats have a full straight crown. Here's a examaple:

1920's Lion Brand

2 3/8 inch brim

1930's Gordon

2 1/8 inch brim

There are some exceptions. This Shoble has the highest flange I have ever seen on a large brimmed hat.

1940's Schoble Warburton

2 5/8 inch brim

 

[Lastmohecken]

I like a medium rake, but for me it takes a fairly tall crown to get it, and some of hats have a more level rake because there just isn't enough room in the crown to do more, it seams.

And then on a cowboy hat I have, which is a Resistol Black Gold, when I got it, it had a fairly low cowboy crease on it, that was too low for me to even get on my head as low I like. I think the back of my head is higher, or something. For this hat, I punched out the back of hat to get a reverse rake, sort of a low Gus crease and it works fine. I could not wear it in stock form.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Josh that last one sure has a high flange on it. Like it though today's hats have a very shallow flange on the brims.

 

[cybergentleman]

No worries, your head is not mutated, I have the same problem, so either we share the same skull mishap or hats need higher crowns. I tend to go with the latter option.

I like a medium rake, but for me it takes a fairly tall crown to get it, and some of hats have a more level rake because there just isn't enough room in the crown to do more, it seams.

And then on a cowboy hat I have, which is a Resistol Black Gold, when I got it, it had a fairly low cowboy crease on it, that was too low for me to even get on my head as low I like. I think the back of my head is higher, or something. For this hat, I punched out the back of hat to get a reverse rake, sort of a low Gus crease and it works fine. I could not wear it in stock form.

 

[LoveMyHats2]

I tend to differ from one hat to the next as some of my hats just do not look right with any rake. I wear one straw hat with an entirely open crown, and have a few dress hats I do the same with.

 

[Mr Vim]

Honestly,
I have a selection of hats with a variety of rakes. But I do enjoy a rakishly high rake.

Anyone else know rake is a nautical term? Or has been used as one? I did not, but I just looked it up in a proper dictionary.

 

[Sam Craig]

This "rake" issue is also involved in whether one likes the brim up or down in front, apparently ... see "Up or down?" thread.

Sam

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Long lost thread back for more.
Anybody got some rake?
Knox Forty
B

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Super Barbisio
B

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Vita-Felt Stratoliner
B

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Dobbs Forty
B

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Dobbs Twenty
B

 

[T Jones]

This is a nice trip down memory lane. I remember a lot of these old members and I've often wondered what happened to them. Anyway, the sweet spot for me, as far as rake degree, is 4 3/4 inches at the pinch with the rake sloping to 4 inches in the back...the hat pictured is a Resistol Stagecoach that I converted sometime back: