Stetson Cowboy Hats

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

No wonder Stetson's are so expensive. I had no idea it took this much work to make one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjRLNUZSV6M

[JEBar]

fascinating ... I had no clue as to how involved their manufacturing process really is

[BigAl52]

Thanks CGF I liked that. All the time I was thinking Hoss Cartwright. I always liked his hat

[RanchRoper]

Cool video thanks. Most factory cowboy hats are made from fur/felt and the cheap ones from dyed wool. Dyed wool will fall apart in the rain and colors run. However, if you want to spend big bucks...like $750 and up...customer hatters will make them from beaver. These are truly all weather hats, and very lightweight to wear. Think about it, rabbits live underground and beavers in water. I have a hat made by Bronco Sue in New Mexico that is 50% beaver and it was about $400 US years ago. But it is a very high quality hat. The one I wear right now is about 25% beaver. Tom Hirt in Colorado makes great hats too including Sam Elliott's hat in Conagher. D Bar J in Las Vegas does nice hats too including their Federali hat that is 8" crown and 5" brim. That's about the biggest you can get anymore. The old B western style big hats like Tom Mix & Tim McCoy wore are not available anymore. They just cannot get hat bodies big enough. McCoy wore a custom hat with 9" crown and 6" brim!

[PT7]

Wow, RR. You "topped" off this thread very well with your informative post. Not only did the video show us the complex process to build a Stetson, but your choices could have all the Forum members nicely dressed in cowboy hats. That would make some kind of group photo, wouldn't it?

I wonder what you think of Pendleton hats? In the rainy Willamette Valley near Portland I wore my Pendleton wool Outback fairly often. Is that considered a "...cheap one from dyed wool. Dyed wool will fall apart in the rain and colors run." Mine held up pretty well and rain water beaded up. Then when I moved to the near-west burbs of Chicago, I filled up the brim with snowflakes there. Kinda wish I still had it, but gave it to a friend, who really liked it.

PT7

[RanchRoper]

Hmmm never saw a Pendleton hat but I know wool felt cowboy hats don't take abuse. My winter cap is wool and it does well. Same with my coat. Probably same with good quality wool products.

[RanchRoper]

I have worn some Stetsons and they are real nice hats.

[Redthies]

Wow, RR. You "topped" off this thread very well with your informative post. Not only did the video show us the complex process to build a Stetson, but your choices could have all the Forum members nicely dressed in cowboy hats. That would make some kind of group photo, wouldn't it?

I wonder what you think of Pendleton hats? In the rainy Willamette Valley near Portland I wore my Pendleton wool Outback fairly often. Is that considered a "...cheap one from dyed wool. Dyed wool will fall apart in the rain and colors run." Mine held up pretty well and rain water beaded up. Then when I moved to the near-west burbs of Chicago, I filled up the brim with snowflakes there. Kinda wish I still had it, but gave it to a friend, who really liked it.

PT7

You were an Ory-gunyun? Cool. We spend a bunch of time around Newburg/McMinville. Where were you in the Willamette?

Oh, and to keep it on topic, I have a Stetson my stepdad used to wear in the 50s and 60s. It’s a great hat, but only fits my wife. She’s lucky. I have an Aussie hat called a “BC” (ironic name considering where I live). It’s a great leather hat that is west coast rain proof for about 6 hrs, and then I get a little damp around the top/brim seam.

https://connerhats.com/collections/hats ... 1140444360

[BrokenolMarine]

I always wanted a Stetson. Always. When I reenlisted the first time, I bought a quality pair of boots with the help of a cowboy friend of mine. I never got the real Stetson, but the hat I did get was a nice one. Quality and comfortable. Must have been nice, It was stolen. I have a couple "Cowboy" style hats, but nothing in that quality these days. Mostly I wear ball caps or utility covers.

[RanchRoper]

My old store bought Stetson that has seen a lot of miles...still wear it sometimes.