Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs
As you can well imagine, here in the South West Cowboy hats are a big deal. Lots of folks like their hats not just stiff but HARD. I get mine at a western wear shop called Teanners. I'd imagine you can get a similar product from any haberdashery.Texan Scott wrote:where can a person look 'spiffy' and get 'stiffy'? What if it is sprayed on the ribbon? damage?
ha! ...why don't you just get a hard hat, Mike?alphared6 wrote:As you can well imagine, here in the South West Cowboy hats are a big deal. Lots of folks like their hats not just stiff but HARD. MikeTexan Scott wrote:where can a person look 'spiffy' and get 'stiffy'? What if it is sprayed on the ribbon? damage?
I personally don't care for hard hats. And, I don't wear cowboy hats, the closest I come is 1857 and a 1885 campaign hats. I kinda like my hats a bit floppy.Texan Scott wrote:ha! ...why don't you just get a hard hat, Mike?
Might be helpful when leaning into a hail of bullets!
Texan Scott wrote:...just a jest....I know you can't repel bullets with a hard hat, nor 'stiffy', no matter how many applications you use!....now, the G&B goat, that's a different story!
Built like a tank doesn't actualy mean it is one 
Built like a tank doesn't actualy mean it is one 
I have been wearing beaver hats year round as well my friend. But the lighter more porous rabbit hats seem to be cooler. I say "seem" only because I have not recently compared the two. I will have to wait for the 100 degree 90 per cent humidity days to judge it correctly. But, with that said, it is very logical that a less dense felt would be cooler, due to the air exchange. Beaver hats are wonderful in cold wet weather though. Nothing will keep your head as dry, except an oilskin hat. For serious outdoor wear in wet elements, beaver is the only way to go, IMO. And beaver is the most durable felt made. It will outlast other felts. And only look better with age. Which is the main reason I went with it early on. I was looking for a felt that would outlast me. I always wanted the best bang for the buck in anything I buy. Which is why I buy most of my stuff from ebay, due to the current Chinese connection.Hummm. I guess I need to rethink my hat wearing pattern. I've been wearing beaver felt year round, with the exception of those times I HAVE to go to my PB straw.
I can see the day coming when most felt will be coming from China, unless something changes. Many hatters shop price when sourcing felt and parts for hatting. I get constant emails from China trying to sell me felt! 
But I think it is inevitable. 
Oh no!! We don't want to change my spots. I am too old.Steve, your comments almost sounded as a compliment to Christy's hats for a moment
I want dibs on your aldens !Erri wrote:
andI actually like the HJ and Christy felt now
...boy, isn't that a slap in the face to everyone who agreed with you no-matter-what till now?So, I have to change my opinion in regards to the felt. If I am wrong, I have never been hesitant to admit it.
Be sure now that you have said it there will be a general revaluation of the Christy's hat. That's how things work around here. Don't hold your breath on that one Erri.Next thing we know you'll be offering a Burma colour for your Grey Clipper version
It CAN BE worked with. My opinon still has not changed on the other materials used for this hat, or the construction techniques used by that factory. They dry block these hats for goodness sakes. That info came straight from HJ by the way. And the prime reason the HJs shrink like a shrinking violet in a reblock,(made by same factory that makes the Christy) or direct exposure to steam. But is it worth the price? You betcha. Regards. FedoraPure gold coming out of your mouthFedora wrote:But is it worth the price? You betcha. Regards. Fedora
Jason advertised it as a sable.Texan Scott wrote:Nice photo. Is that a light sable?
Am I right in saying, if I order a christy's a couple of sizes bigger and get it rebolcked down to my actual size, then the hat will be less fragile??Fedora wrote:
IF, I take a size 8 hat and turn it into a size 7 1/4. The shrinkage turns this felt into a totally different animal! It improves the felt by a thousand per centage points. Which says to me they over stretch the hats in the blocking. It is not the felt so much as the procedures used to block these hats. The felt is actually nice if you can use a large hat to make a small one. And the hats made this way are not unstable either.
