Can I show off my new hat?

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:34 am

I spend a lot of time outdoors and got my love of hats from my grandfather, who was never outdoors without a hat.
Haven't had a really good beaver hat (blends, OK, but not 100%) since a short-brim Ryan I got from a co-worker's father's estate in the late 70s. I wore it for 20 years and then my girls took it over. (it was a bit small for me anyway - I cut a few stitches in the sweat band and stretched it)
I fish my tailwater all through the winter, so I need a hat that weathers. Also make trips to the Rockies and occasionally AK. A few years ago, I bought a Stetson kangaroo fedora. But in the winter mist, it smells like a wet kangaroo, it became very floppy, and I starched it so often it has white rings in the brim.

Decided I was overdue for a good hat. I love looking at the fedoras made by Art Fawcett, though they are certainly dress hats.
http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/limit ... _start.htm
Recently, I noticed Art started a line of outdoor hats made with rabbit/nutria blend. The Journeyman was the hat I wanted, so I contacted Art and had him make me one from beaver. Then reached into the fly rod stash and picked one that would sell quickly to pay for the hat. Art sent a conformer to mold my bean, and swatches of every beaver felt so I could pick the color (and to keep, he wants me to buy more, and I may get a cooler color in a dress hat some day). I picked pecan with my daughter's help, and it's a greenish-gray that takes on the tones of waxed canvas.
But after a month, here it is.

and better, the hat without me detracting from its good looks

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:52 am

Looks great Bulldog! I live in an area where there are only two types of hats worn.....the Amish with their straw hats and hunters with camo ball caps. I get strange looks, but I like a hat which gives a lot of shade and usually wear this one in the out of doors, sans patch and acorns....with a western horse hair hatband.
http://www.dirtybillyshats.com/CS6.htm.html

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 7:59 am

I like the cavalry hat - smells like victory - ha.

I have a decent silverbelly that made two trips to Alaska, but most of the time, I'd rather wear a fedora.

and of course, I wear straw hats in the summer - which is 9 months of the year here - Resistol, a Panama (which I showed on the board maybe last year) and an Akubra hemp hat that I kayak in at the coast.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:11 am

Looks good...where was the fishing photo taken?

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:26 am

I was with a buddy at the Russian River trail - we hiked up to the falls and fished our way down.

It was late June, flows were high, and the fishing wasn't great, but we were finding enough early rainbows and dollies that we were very happy. And you can't not be happy in Alaska. We did the same thing in Crescent and Ptarmigan Creeks and also caught grayling.

I was at the end of a business trip, and my buddy flew up and met me. We spent three days on Kenai at Cooper Landing hiked and fished creeks.
When we first got there, he had to try the afternoon of combat fishing for sockeye, but one afternoon was enough for him.
He's hooked up to a red here - he didn't land it.

He learned to like the creek fishing much better.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:33 am

Somebody's livin' right, and it ain't me!
Very nice hat and lovely water. After my one fishing trip to Alaska, I'd be nervous about bears on those creeks, though.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:42 am

Bill I've made the trip often enough, I can guide the Russian.
One September by myself, I caught 26 dollies and rainbows by 2pm. It was just me and bear scat on the trail.

they all looked like this - it was amazing - the bottom of the river was pink with salmon eggs, I had to kick salmon carcasses out of the way to step into the river, and they still took my plastic bead every third cast.

On a fly out once with my favorite guide, we did have a bear come down the beach after us - we jumped in the boat.
I'm hiding it in this photo, but we went on to the next beach and caught more silvers (this was an August trip).

our bag limit of silvers

but this was also from the most recent June trip - 15 lbs of fillets from this one king - best eats on earth.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 8:54 am

Dang that is heavenly!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:01 am

Those are some nice pictures, your a lucky man indeed, nice hats too.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:03 am

As long as I'm on a roll.
If you ever get to Seward, make sure you have lunch at Rays. Cajun chef cooks fresh Alaska seafood.

stopped for this photo op on the drive to Seward for lunch (that's Ptarmigan peak in the back, which you can also see on another photo)

can't possibly show them all - just driving from Anchorage to Seward is a vacation by itself.
there is also a train you can ride that makes this run

Post by **Old Savage** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:12 am

WOW!!!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 9:52 am

whistle.....whistle................She's a beauty!

I don't think its fair that you get to spend so much time outdoors.

Your livin' large.....nice pictures.

I wonder if Jerry Sandusky is ever thinking about spending time outdoors when the pig just got 30-60.

------------Sixgun

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:16 am

Bulldog, Ray's in Seward duly noted. My one Alaska visit, we fished Andrew Creek at the mouth of the Stikeen out of Wrangell. Unforgettable, especially the dollies and pinks. Literally had salmon swimming between my legs as I waded. Wolf prints the size of paper plates, brown bear tracks ON TOP of my tracks from the day before. Glad I had the Redhawk stuffed with 340-grain cast, even though my Tlingit guide looked at it, laughed and said fire all six and then throw it at him ...

Thanks for the wonderful thread!

piller · Post by **piller** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:25 am

I need to get to Alaska sometime. Those pictures look great. As far as the hats, I am not so sure that there is any hat that would be inappropriate for an outdoorsman as long as it has some brim on it. A good Stetson type looks a little more normal with a levergun, but if you look at the pictures which survived the old west, fedoras and bowlers weren't all that uncommon. I have even seen homburgs in some of the old pictures.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 10:37 am

here's what happened to my Stetson kangaroo after only 2 winters (back in Texas)

and there's still something left of the Ryan beaver, after me fishing it 20 years and my girls stepping on it for another 12

of course a lot of people are happy with modern materials and design hats - Tilley - Outdoor Research, which my buddy is wearing in the AK photos above, but I'm happier with straw in the summer and felt in the winter. But I need a felt that is going to weather with me...

GoatGuy · Post by **GoatGuy** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:05 am

FINE looking hat and you wear it well. I approve. Apparently you found a good hatmaker, one who wants to please and keep his customers. Beats the heck out going to the local western shop and picking out one where the choices only differ in color. Black, silver belly, some variant of those...or the color fad of the year!

Also, something else for you. I want to take this opportunity to tell you how how much I admire your connection with your daughter. It's not so easy a thing to keep that relationship intact when divorced. I'm here to admit that I failed in that responsibility with my kids. Moved around so much that regular visits were a difficult proposition. Don't think I lived anywhere within 400 miles of them during their growing up years. In hindsight, I guess I was trying to keep a wide gulf between me and their mother, as she deliberately made it difficult for the kids and me to get together for regular visits when we lived closer. That's all changed in the last decade or so. They, my four grandkids and I have a great relationship now and growing. Still live a good distance a-ways from each other, but we do visit whenever possible and keep in touch through telephone and e-mail on a regular basis.

Anyway, sorry for straying off the subject. Just wanted to let you know of my admiration for your commitment to your daughter.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:12 am

thank you, brother - she's everything in my life that matters.

my hatmaker, Art Fawcett, makes virtually all the classic fedoras you see in a generation of modern movies.

oh, and my ex does a "great" job at keeping a wide gulf between us - what a nutcase.
I was picking my daughter up Sunday afternoon for some movie time with me, the cat, and Hawaiian popcorn.
Her phone was dead and I had no idea where she was because I get these cryptic messages from the ex- spent the night with "a friend" - well who?!!!
I call my buddy to see if my daughter is at his house with his girls. No, but it's OK, we needed to catch up anyway.
Finally, with one hour to spare I get a phone number where to pick up my daughter.
It was a cold day Sunday - I didn't have much better to do than wait.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:16 am

Nice fedora! Here is my old resistol I got directly from the factory. I have had it for 47 years and it shows. This gives you an idea of how yours will look in time.

RR7

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:28 am

character is good stuff - especially when it lasts.

crs · Post by **crs** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:35 am

Great hats, all. Of my many caps and hats, one of my favorites is this leather one purchased in RSA ten years ago and adorned with a bit of blood from every African animal I have taken:

When purchased, I had the shop install a leather strip to hold it on when riding up top in a hunting truck.

GoatGuy · Post by **GoatGuy** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 11:51 am

rangerider7 - The condition of my work hat, a silver Bailey bought new some quarter century ago, looks very similar to the condition of yours. Yet it feels really, really good on my head, and is still my daily headgear when it's not so blazing hot when doing chores (I sweat a lot). It's got "character" all right, but so much so that it's been relegated to an around the place, feed store, veterinarian, farm related kind of hat. Have others that get to go to town for eating out, shopping or that sort of thing. Going to look into bulldog1935's hatmakers stuff. Might be time to look into something different and new for a change and I admire bulldog's choice.

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 1:14 pm

GREAT pics and posts, all! Bulldog, you really got the ball rolling. Thanks for those great sport and outdoor photos!

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 4:36 pm

I'm a hat-aholic too though I don't believe I have any that I paid over $20.00 for. My latest was a nice straw fedora for $10.00 the straw being nice for our hot humid weather to keep the sun off and stay cool. Would love a felt fedora for cool weather one day.

Just curious, watcha packin' in bahr country? Fishing Alaska streams always been a dream of mine. I'll be packin' my 6.5" barrel Taurus model 44 loaded for bahr- 310 grain hardcast Keith type bullets on top off H-110 powder. I know, a tad light but a 44 mag on the hip beats a 12 gauge slug gun on the bank.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 5:39 pm

Really like the hat! And thanks for all the pics.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 6:57 pm

Love hats. My favorite, made by a fellar up in CO... new (21 years ago):

and as reblocked by Texas Hatter's about 12 years ago...

and from about 5 years ago (me on far right):

Another of my favorites, a Resistol 100X beaver, (new in 1992):

and today:

possesses a tad more "character", no?

It was also re-blocked by Texas Hatters. I've had 3 hats done by them, great shop, and super service. The Resistol was reblocked when I had shorter hair. It doesn't fit right now, and I'm loathe to stretch it. Many days of tuggin' it down, shooting BP has sorta "colored" it... in spots!

The fun thing about felt hats, is that they can be reshaped in just a few minutes in the kitchen. Don't like that style? Change it!

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 7:17 am

thanks for all the great photos - and great hats.

Griff, I used to visit Texas Hatters in college - they were in a tiny old house.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 12:59 pm

Griff wrote:

I am suspicious of the looks the people behind you are giving you. Did you have a hole in the seat of your trousers?

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 1:36 pm

my ex-wife's uncle is a gay cowboy.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:38 pm

GAY COWBOY???????

Aren't they called sheep herders?

Meeteetse · Post by **Meeteetse** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:03 pm

You've obviously never met a real sheepherder.

If they are old Mexican heritage or Basque they will rip you a new one if you tease them. And if they don't, their dog will. They may be strange, but gay they ain't, no matter what Hollyweird thinks.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Wed Oct 10, 2012 10:41 pm

bulldog1935 wrote:I spend a lot of time outdoors and got my love of hats from my grandfather, who was never outdoors without a hat.
Haven't had a really good beaver hat (blends, OK, but not 100%) since a short-brim Ryan I got from a co-worker's father's estate in the late 70s. I wore it for 20 years and then my girls took it over. (it was a bit small for me anyway - I cut a few stitches in the sweat band and stretched it)
I fish my tailwater all through the winter, so I need a hat that weathers. Also make trips to the Rockies and occasionally AK. A few years ago, I bought a Stetson kangaroo fedora. But in the winter mist, it smells like a wet kangaroo, it became very floppy, and I starched it so often it has white rings in the brim.

Decided I was overdue for a good hat. I love looking at the fedoras made by Art Fawcett, though they are certainly dress hats.
http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/limit ... _start.htm
Recently, I noticed Art started a line of outdoor hats made with rabbit/nutria blend. The Journeyman was the hat I wanted, so I contacted Art and had him make me one from beaver. Then reached into the fly rod stash and picked one that would sell quickly to pay for the hat. Art sent a conformer to mold my bean, and swatches of every beaver felt so I could pick the color (and to keep, he wants me to buy more, and I may get a cooler color in a dress hat some day). I picked pecan with my daughter's help, and it's a greenish-gray that takes on the tones of waxed canvas.
But after a month, here it is.

and better, the hat without me detracting from its good looks

Outstanding hat, Bulldog! Love the color. I have admired Art's work for some time now. May have to talk to him about a Journeyman.

http://www.vintagesilhouettes.com/

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:04 am

if you like looking at hats, this thread was led by a cool post
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthre ... erminology
while they show different blocks on a fedora, they only show one cowboy block

It would be cool to find a similar photo for the range of cowboy hat blocks (the one they show in that thread is a Hondo block).

Here was a beauty that was posted - Art made a 2-3/4" brim silverbelly cattleman
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthre ... ost1521127

WoodrowC · Post by **WoodrowC** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:57 am

I was guessing you were a Fedora lounge fellow, Bulldog..........great Art Fawcett beaver, just beautiful, and well worth the cost.

I love my Akubra Federation fedoras, and like you, I wonder why good hats aren't on more heads.

Regards, Gerry.

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 10:30 am

Hi Gerry, I recently joined that board, though I've gone over threads on it many times - golden age autos of the stars, etc.
Ive noticed there are a few contentious types and a few effete types there, though (and quite a few children).
Interesting, there seems to be a good representation by Christian women.

I think hair replaced hats in the 60s/70s, but hats are making a comeback.

I'm also lucky that I have good hair for a hat. We all know what "hat hair" looks like. I can wet my fingers and strike my hair back, and hat hair is gone. (something else I got from my grandfather)

Then there's someone like Lyle Lovett, who styles his hair around wearing hats.

If you think about it, both the rural lifestyle and the urban lifestyle should need hats - you walk outside for everything.
It's the suburban lifestyle that overcomes the need - if you're outside, you're in a car.

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 5:19 pm

I have been in love with hats since I was 6 years old. When people came over and put their hats on the bedroom bed I would go in and try them on and look in the mirror and see how they looked. Guns were the same thing. If they had a gun hanging on the wall I would want to hold it. Nothing has changed in 61 years. I love hats and guns. I have a bunch of them and like Griff says I steam them my self. I steamed hats for a western store when I was in college. Some people can wear hats some can't. All the guys here that have posted on this thread love hats and guns. Fun isn't it!

RR7

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 5:29 pm

I hate wearing "baseball" caps - though I seem to collect them...

I have a Stetson Fedora that looks much like this one:

(to match a tailor made suit bought for University Graduation/Formals) and several Burbury type "drivers"/"flat caps". But when it's "hat" weather I'm usually wearing a wool watch cap.

I wish I could find a good "all around" western hat that works for me, but I've not been lucky so far.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:44 pm

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:
Griff wrote:
I am suspicious of the looks the people behind you are giving you. Did you have a hole in the seat of your trousers?

Actually, there's not seat at all... in the chaps. Actually, every time I look at the picture, I'm reminded of the great folks that're involved various types of cowboy shootin'. After 5 years, this was my very first WIN at a mounted event! One my friends had just asked if every one else had fallen off!

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:33 am

Griff wrote:
Friends Call Me Ji wrote:
Griff wrote:
I am suspicious of the looks the people behind you are giving you. Did you have a hole in the seat of your trousers?
Actually, there's not seat at all... in the chaps. Actually, every time I look at the picture, I'm reminded of the great folks that're involved various types of cowboy shootin'. After 5 years, this was my very first WIN at a mounted event! One my friends had just asked if every one else had fallen off!

No wonder everyone's in a great mood, belated congratulations on the win!

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 7:02 am

Akubra hemp hat

I've been wearing Akubra hats for over 35 years now but I've never heard of one of those.

Here in Oz Akubra make rabbit fur felt hats

My preference is for a wide brimmed hat with a moderately low crown, something to keep the rain and sun off without getting hung up on trees and door frames everywhere I go.

Back in 1975 I bought a Stetson hat imported from the USA. It was a nice hat but if I remember correctly I left it in the sun in a truck too long and it shrank.

Here's the only pic I have of my current hat,

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 7:05 am

here's the Akubra Range hemp hat

http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info ... ts_id=1330
David Morgan is the US distributor for Akubra hats.
While this is heavy compared to a Panama, it's next to indestructible, is not afraid of water, and very cool in the summer heat of the salt flats.

gdu, great hat, nice knife, and beautiful rifle.