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.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I'm sure my Hat is just a "Dyed Wool" as I got it for a very reasonable price. It is a Dallas brand. Great quality for the price paid and I only wear it now and then and avoid any predicted weather with it. It's my 2nd one. First one I bought many years ago actually hurt wearing it. This last one is so comfortable, I keep forgetting I have it on, lol. If not exact, it is very close to the one in my avatar, color as well.

[BigAl52]

We have a local Hat Store here in Greeley Colorado. Greeley Hat Works. They have been around a long time and sell a bunch of hats in the area. He travels to all the local and National Finals Rodeos. Has a very high rating for customer service in the area.

[Mags]

I have a Pendleton. Not really cowboy shaped. More Indiana Jones shape. Had it for years. Felt has started to fade on the top side. Underside of the brim less so.

[RanchRoper]

Greeley makes good hats. Lots of cowboys wear them.

[dave77]

Ran across this site, looks like they will custom make just about any hat style ever made. Have some nice leather items too. I don't ride anymore so don't really have a need for a cowboy hat but wouldn't mind having a nice beaver Fedora. Can't really justify the cost though, have a wool Pendleton for the occasional rainy weather we have here and a nice sheepskin hat for cold weather.

I bought my Pendleton at a local 3rd generation men's shop that opened in the early 1900's. The owner showed me a photo of the hat selection they had once had. It was an entire wall, floor to ceiling.

https://thelastbestwest.com/

[RanchRoper]

Yup. In Calgary Alberta. Nice holsters too.

[Blackdog]

When I was a kid I lived in Garland, Tx - where the Resistol/Stetson factory is. I remember going on a tour around 1959...the place hasen't changed much. Back then you could get a factory 2nd for about $10.
Thanks for the video link.

[markiver54]

I have a Stetson much like the one on Clints head in BigAl's avatar.

[Henry88]

I have an old black Stetson cowboy that my sister bought me when we were in Austin about 20 years ago. As I look at it now, the writing is all worn on the inside headband, but it had too many XXX's to count, at least 8X.

I wore it up to New York last month and wear it around the property all the time. I think it will outlive me.

BTW, Stetson University is here in this county, not far from me. Go Hatters..............

[Henry88]

Oh, hey. I found a picture of me with the hat...........hold on..........























Gosh darn it, where's that dang thing....................





















Here it is..........

stetson.jpg (5.39 KiB) Viewed 3097 times

No seriously, mine is not flat on top.