Today I received my first Akubra: a carbon grey Federation Up until now, I've just had a brown Stetson Sovereign, and after putting the Fed on, I don't think I can ever go back to that tapered Stetson! I also ordered an AB, so between the brown AB and the grey Fed, I'll have a fedora to go with about any color. I was hoping for something taller than the Stetson, and this certainly is. I also really like the color--I don't think any pictures truly do the color justice. I'm just amazed with the quality of this hat--makes me wonder how much more amazing the AB will be when it arrives in a few months.
This is the first time I've ever bashed a fedora, and I think it came out all right. I don't think the brim in front comes down quite as much as I'd like it to, but I'm working on it. I'm posting some pics that I believe are within the size limits, but if not, moderators please let me know. Sorry if some of the pictures are fuzzy--I'm not quite sure what was going on with the camera. The ones of the Fed by itself are closer to the real color, but still not quite as rich as the real thing.
Last edited by Dr. Nebraska S. on Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Thank you both. Sergei, believe me--I look for excuses to go out and wear it (I think my wife gave me some funny looks when I put it on to take out the trash). Michaelson, it's strange that depending on the lighting how the hat almost seems to change colors. Just a little while ago, it looked like a light black, another time it almost appeared brown (but I don't want to open up THAT can of worms ), and occasionally there is almost a very deep blue-gray quality to it. Personally, I really enjoy so much depth of color--makes me glad to have gone with this color (especially knowing that there's a brown AB that'll be coming someday).
Nice looking lid. I just picked up a Fed from Ripper on Ebay....great hat! I've never had a fed before...just 2 AB's (had to rub it in)..but the fed is very nice.
I've got an AB on order and I'm seriously considering a Carbon Grey Fed as well. I have to wait until the AB shows up, but I am really liking that hat. Your last picture makes it look really tall. How high is it at the front and rear?
Thank you for all of the compliments. JeffB, as far as the measurements go, it's a size 60 hat, and with how I've bashed it, the front is approximately 5 3/8 inches tall while the back is approximately 3 3/4 inches tall (but I'm also using a stiff carpenter's measuring tape, not a tailor's measuring tape). I think I've read in a few posts that the crown and brim are proportional to the hat size (and I did not measure it while open-crown). Perhaps some other Fed owners more knowledgeable about the measurements might want to jump in here?
In any case, I was hoping for a tall hat, and that's what I got. I have to say that so far Akubra has been exceeding my expectations with this hat.
Congrats on your hat. It looks good and you did a wonderfull job on bashinf it. If you like the quality o the Akubra compared to the Stetson, just wait until your AB is in your hands. You will be amazed.
Though I've hardly been able to take off my AB since its arrival, I decided to try and breath new life into my Fed III by using some steam to rebash it in more of a CS-style. Of course, the gray is darker than in CS, the block shape isn't as close as the new Fed IV, and my bashing skills are rather elementary. However, I think I'm pleased with the results:
I apologize for the poor lighting and angle of the self-taken photo, but you get the idea at least. ;-)
Up until now, I've just had a brown Stetson Sovereign, and after putting the Fed on, I don't think I can ever go back to that tapered Stetson! I also ordered an AB, so between the brown AB and the grey Fed, I'll have a fedora to go with about any color. I was hoping for something taller than the Stetson, and this certainly is. I also really like the color--I don't think any pictures truly do the color justice. I'm just amazed with the quality of this hat--makes me wonder how much more amazing the AB will be when it arrives in a few months.
Sergei, believe me--I look for excuses to go out and wear it (I think my wife gave me some funny looks when I put it on to take out the trash). 
), and occasionally there is almost a very deep blue-gray quality to it. Personally, I really enjoy so much depth of color--makes me glad to have gone with this color (especially knowing that there's a brown AB that'll be coming someday). 
