My Garrison Raider (Garrison owners unite here!)

Indiana Green · Post by **Indiana Green** » Fri May 01, 2009 7:42 pm

I got home from work today, expecting a small package (resin parts for my other hobby) and to my surprise there was a huge box sitting in front of my door. I looked at the label and it read "Garrison Hatters". I thought to myself, "Holy @#$%, LLS just told me that he shipped it and it's here already!" Anyway, I won't belabor this as I don't have pics up yet, but I just had to chime in and tell everyone about my first impressions.

First: This hat is very sturdy, and the construction is top notch.

Second: The sweatband is soft and smooth. Love it.

Third: This hat was very easy to bash. Though it's not incredibly floppy, it took the bash fairly easy and it stayed in place after about 10 minutes of messing with it.

Finally: I love the liner. It's a nice, soft color and the logo is great.

I promise I will have pics up by Sunday night. Until then, all I can say is David, thanks for the hat and the hard work

-Indy Green

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Fri May 01, 2009 7:44 pm

Sunday's not fast enough. How about tomorrow morning?

Congrats on being the first COW member to receive a Garrison!

Dave

Montana Jones · Post by **Montana Jones** » Sat May 02, 2009 9:04 am

Indiana Green, allow me to pull at your heartstrings for a moment.

Picture if you will a man that has loved Indiana Jones ever since he first saw Raiders of the Lost Ark with his dad. Imagine a man that has thoroughly enjoyed this board and members ever since he joined and loves the Raiders hat above all of his other gear. This man, who like you, ordered a hat from LLS and is very excited to receive it but will not see it until November because he is in Iraq. All he wants is to see pictures......

So, did it work?

In all seriousness I look forward to seeing pics of this hat!

Congrats on your surprise.

Regards to all, (it's nice to be posting again)
Hollis

jasonalun · Post by **jasonalun** » Sat May 02, 2009 10:04 am

Not to steal Indiana Green's thunder (or topic), but if you absolutely can't wait to see one of LLS's hats, you can go here... My Garrison Hat

Montana Jones · Post by **Montana Jones** » Sat May 02, 2009 12:33 pm

Thanks jasonalun, as soon as I hit the submit button I noticed your thread. Yours sure is nice.

I still wouldn't mind seeing another one though.......

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sat May 02, 2009 2:50 pm

Thank you, Hollis.

Dave

Montana Jones · Post by **Montana Jones** » Sat May 02, 2009 3:46 pm

For trying to get some pictures posted?

Well, it hasn't worked yet so no thanks needed, my friend.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sat May 02, 2009 5:56 pm

I meant thank you for your service to our country.

Dave

Montana Jones · Post by **Montana Jones** » Sun May 03, 2009 11:37 am

I know what you meant and I appreciate it more than you can ever imagine. It is people like you and your comments that make this all worthwhile.

However, I'll tell you what I tell everyone else; there are those that are far more deserving of your thanks than I am. I actually volunteered for this deployment.

Regards to all,
Hollis

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sun May 03, 2009 2:09 pm

CanNOT wait to get mine, too!

Gotta say, though... between the non-specific nature of the name of the subject that Indiana Green gave THIS thread (no offense meant, IG!) and jasonalun getting HIS Garrison Hats thread locked down...
I DO think someone needs to start a thread simply titled
"Garrison Hats Thread (with PHOTOS!)"
for all of LLS's customers to contribute to.

(My own photos of David's Raiders Fedora being just a matter of time...)

Anyone?

Mitch

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sun May 03, 2009 2:58 pm

Maybe just adding Garrison to the title would help?

Dave

Indiana Green · Post by **Indiana Green** » Sun May 03, 2009 3:43 pm

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Sun May 03, 2009 5:12 pm

THANKS, IG!

DR Ulloa wrote:Maybe just adding Garrison to the title would help?
Dave

You're RIGHT, of course Dave...

I was making a simple thing waaay too complicated!

Now, jasonalun: can we just get you to re-post a few of YOUR pictures over here, too?

Local Land Surveyor · Post by **Local Land Surveyor** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:04 pm

Pics look good Indiana Green.

I am glad you like your hat. I would like to see a few with you wearing the hat. It appears to me that you like the unturned version. That top shot from the back is my favorite.

LLS

jasonalun · Post by **jasonalun** » Sun May 03, 2009 9:44 pm

Mitch LaRue wrote:Now, jasonalun: can we just get you to re-post a few of YOUR pictures over here, too?

Since you asked...

LLS has definitely nailed the Raiders hat. This is it - from any angle, any scene, it is spot on in blockshape, felt floppiness, texture, and ribbon look. My quest for "the hat" is over.
Felt - nice texture - not quite Henry-soft, but close. Best I've felt on a rabbit hat yet.
Color - Very nice. I think I would prefer a lighter color right off the bat, with more reddish tinge in it like the Henry , but in a year or two of wear in the sun this hat will be a very Raiders color, I think. It's kind of a medium dark, warm brown.
Ribbon - Beautiful bow work. My compliments to LLS. I don't think he could do too much better.
Sweatband - top notch - very soft and supple. Feels great. I could wear it all day and not notice.
Liner - Nice! I love the Staff of Ra logo inside. I was surprised by the choice of tan or "taupe" for the liner, as I'm used to white, but since no one knows the color of the Raiders liner, and I've heard that at least at some point in the film the hat was without its liner, it doesn't much matter for screen accuracy to me, and it goes well with the brown sweat and hat.
Felt floppiness - perfect. Not too floppy as to not hold a bash well, but floppy enough to replicate how the hat reacts on screen in Raiders. I even popped out the initial bash and turned the hat more and re-creased it, and there was no trace of the old bash after working it for a few minutes.

I hate to mention anything negative, since I love the hat and there's so much to praise about it, but I would feel dishonest if I didn't, so here goes. There was a small spot on my brim where the cut hadn't been sanded down enough, and so the edge wasn't quite even. LLS offered to fix it free of charge for me, but since he already explained how I can fix it with the right grit sandpaper, I think I may just take care of it myself, since I don't really want to be without the hat again for a few weeks. There were also two small spots on the top of the brim where something had pulled up some of the felt, creating "fuzzy spots," but these most likely occurred in shipping, and can easily be smoothed out with some fine grit sandpaper, or maybe even wetting the felt slightly and giving it a brush.

All in all, I am extremely happy with my hat, and I think anyone who chooses to order one of these will be very satisfied as well. LLS is a pleasure to deal with and goes the extra mile to please his customers.

So, here are some pics! Enjoy! I will have more, and better ones (outdoor in natural light) tomorrow.

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/6008 ... onhat1.jpg
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/9637 ... onhat2.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5624 ... onhat9.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7158 ... nhat10.jpg

Outdoor: http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/769/garrisonhat11.jpg

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:02 am

NICE photos, jasonalun... THANKS!

fedoraiders · Post by **fedoraiders** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:40 am

Very great hat and nice picture, i like it.

Hollowpond · Post by **Hollowpond** » Mon May 04, 2009 6:00 am

Lookin good!

Montana Jones · Post by **Montana Jones** » Mon May 04, 2009 7:17 am

Great looking hats everybody.

Does anybody know how many initial orders LLS took? How many hats can we expect to see in the near future David? I know that I was number 3 on David's list but there will be no pics from me for a while. Come to think of it, the preorder was supposed to be so people could get their hands on these fedoras and see what they are like unless I am mistaken (which I could very well be). If so, I shouldn't have ordered as it is one less hat that can be reviewed but I just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to have one of the first hats sold by Garrison Hats.

Keep the pics coming gents, these hats deserve to be shown off……

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon May 04, 2009 10:19 am

I can only speak for myself and say that I did order one of David's Garrison Hatters "Raider"s... David actually mentioned that I was the first Canadian to do so... but, of course there may well be others who've ordered since.

So, since THAT's such a wishy-washy answer I guess what I'm saying is:
While David might be the ONLY one who might be able to say what his total number of orders were (and I'm not sure if he - or ANY Vendor - would be willing to share that kind of info), what I can tell you is there's at least one more hat to come... MINE!

(And yeah, I'll definitely be posting a few words and a photo or two.)
But in the meantime, since MJ IS asking the question, let's try to get an answer:
If you're reading this, and you've ordered a Garrison Raider, chime in for a second and make yourself known!
Let's get a Roll-Call going!

Cheers,
Mitch

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Mon May 04, 2009 11:48 am

Fedora

Indiana Green · Post by **Indiana Green** » Mon May 04, 2009 12:14 pm

-Jordan

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon May 04, 2009 12:32 pm

Indiana Green wrote:It looks so much better on my head, than it does on my bookshelf...something tells me it's supposed to be that way...

It's simply where a great hat like that one is MEANT to be, Indy Green... on the noggin of a deserving GearHead!
Congrats once again!
Mitch

jacksdad · Post by **jacksdad** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:33 am

the hat looks really good on you enjoy.

crismans · Post by **crismans** » Thu May 07, 2009 4:41 pm

Very, very nice! You can almost see the "floppiness" in the pictures!

gwyddion · Post by **gwyddion** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:26 pm

(now where is that drooling emoticon.... ah, here it is)

Boy, this will make it hard for me to decide what my next hat order will be once my bankaccount recovers: this one, a CS ABD or a grey/gray Penman

Whatever the outcome, someday I will own one of these beauties

Regards, Geert

ravencrow · Post by **ravencrow** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:36 am

what's the price for a garrison

IndianaSVT · Post by **IndianaSVT** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:40 am

$250 if i'm not mistaken.

ravencrow · Post by **ravencrow** » Fri May 08, 2009 7:58 pm

that's not too bad at all

jasonalun · Post by **jasonalun** » Fri May 08, 2009 10:29 pm

Hey Indiana Green, you didn't turn turn yours, did you? I just did a slight turn on mine, but now I wish I done more. But I'm happy with how mine looks. I tried turning it a little more on my head today and the brim took on that really cool warp you see in the Raven Bar and other scenes. I know some people don't like it on their hats, though, and the hat looks great turn or un-turned. Yours looks great on you.

Here's some more pics I took of mine, since LLS wanted certain angles to see how things came out with them on the owner's heads. Sorry for the lack of detail in the "studio" type ones (white background), I didn't have proper studio lighting and my camera doesn't have very low ISO settings available, hence a lot of grain and less detail. I'll see if I can get some better ones later. But for now, enjoy as best you can...

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/8916/garrisonhat017.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5829/g ... hat015.jpg

Indiana Green · Post by **Indiana Green** » Sat May 09, 2009 8:41 pm

Yea, I turned mine a little bit. It was enough to get the "swoop" effect, which is what I really wanted.

jasonalun · Post by **jasonalun** » Sat May 09, 2009 9:41 pm

Sounds like you did the same as I, then. It's a little hard to tell on these hats because I think LLS set the ribbon bow back a bit in the hat's normal position so even when it's turned, it's not always so obvious because the bow is still right over the ear like normal. Did you notice that?

Georgia Steve · Post by **Georgia Steve** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:21 am

My Garrison Hatters - Raiders.

When I got home from work on Tuesday, there was a box waiting for me, and I knew it was my hat from David LLS. He had sent me an email the day before stating that it was on its way. I took out my pocket knife and carefully opened up the outer box to reveal a nice white box enclosed. Right then I knew there was something special waiting for me inside . When I opened the white box, it was just what I had asked him to make, the Idol Grab Hat. I quickly picked it up and placed it on my head. Even though it was new this hat felt like an old friend that I have been wearing for years.

I love the sweatband, it is soft and comfortable and conforms to your head quickly . The felt is soft and pliable and has no problem holding its bash, this is some fine felt that is surely only to get better with age .The pounce job is excellent and very smooth . The bash job is very skillfully done. The inside liner is hand sewn in and is a champagne color with the Staff of Ra. I really like this liner color, it looks more classy to me. The bow on the ribbon is nicely detailed with a great looking flying V . The construction and materials of this hat are first class.This hat is well put together and will survive many adventures of escaping Hovitos, being dragged under a truck, or whatever else comes our way.

David’s skills,knowledge and customer service at making hats are superb.

Thanks LLS for making this hat that I know I will enjoy for many years to come.

Georgia Steve

Tremolo · Post by **Tremolo** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:12 pm

Great looking hat Steve! The fourth picture looks looks amazing, I wish we could see more of David´s great looking hats. Congratulations!

Georgia Steve · Post by **Georgia Steve** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:27 pm

Thanks Tremolo,
David's hats are great we need more post of these fine hats.

Local Land Surveyor · Post by **Local Land Surveyor** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 6:32 pm

Thanks, Georgia Steve, for the compliments, comprehensive review and some great pics. It has been a dry spell 'till lately for posting Garrison Hatters. Glad to see this post revived. I hope you enjoy this hat for a long time. I am particularly proud of this hat, because you live within a hour of me. Pratically neighbors.

Good to see a fan so close to home.

You have some nice pics there. My favorite ones are the top one and bottom one. Classic angles. You are also the wearer of my improved brim technique. After seeing your pics, I now see I went the right way. No details from me, but let's say I have let new numbers guide me on the brim widths as a whole. Case closed.

That rabbit felt is second to none. It should hold up as long as you want it to. It will do nothing but get better with time. Thanks for being a great customer.

LLS

Noah · Post by **Noah** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:32 pm

Great hats everyone! And great job LLS

steerpike · Post by **steerpike** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:55 am

How could I miss this thread!! ..Garrison owners unite!

I love to see your great pics and reviews of this hats! I posted some pics of my own in other theads, but absolutely I have to post a couple here. Here's my SOC Garrison hat, of wich I'm very proud:

Georgia Steve · Post by **Georgia Steve** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:40 am

Thanks, Georgia Steve, for the compliments, comprehensive review and some great pics. It has been a dry spell 'till lately for posting Garrison Hatters. Glad to see this post revived. I hope you enjoy this hat for a long time. I am particularly proud of this hat, because you live within a hour of me. Pratically neighbors. Good to see a fan so close to home.
You have some nice pics there. My favorite ones are the top one and bottom one. Classic angles. You are also the wearer of my improved brim technique. After seeing your pics, I now see I went the right way. No details from me, but let's say I have let new numbers guide me on the brim widths as a whole. Case closed.

That rabbit felt is second to none. It should hold up as long as you want it to. It will do nothing but get better with time. Thanks for being a great customer.

LLS

David,
I was only to glad to post comments and pics.
This is a great hat and I do plan to enjoy wearing it for years to come. I do agree with you about the brim, the new technique you used works and looks great. I am also glad there is another Indy fan close by.Hope to see more post About Garrison Hatters in the future.

Georgia Steve

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:57 pm

Hey guys! Can I play too?

I'm ALSO the proud owner of one of David's BEAUTIFUL hats:
Back in July of last year I received my Garrison Raider and promptly took it on vacation with me. I gave it a really good, HARD workout (which it shook off like a pro) and wrote a review of the hat once I'd returned home.
It also showed up in a few different Threads I posted last year simply because it was the hat that happened to be on my head at the time...

But I'm ashamed to say that in all that time I completely forgot to return to THIS Thread and contribute some photos of this wonderful fedora that I'm lucky enough to own

(David makes a WONDERFUL hat and I'm in agreement with everyone here who says it deserves more attention!)

The other day I had some snapshots taken with my KotCS Rucksack... I'm happy to say The Garrison Raider was sitting atop my head.
There's various angles here that show off what a great Indy Hat Mr. Garrison makes... I sincerely hope that the photos we're all posting here in this Thread will help anyone here who's "on the fence" about buying one of these great hats to get OFF that fence and DO so!

THANKS AGAIN David for such a wonderful lid!

All the Best,
Mitch

achi11es · Post by **achi11es** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:21 pm

That's a corker of a hat Mitch. Looks very soft - did you have to work that in or was it already that limber?

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:28 pm

Great look Fox!! That Garrison is just you! You wear it all very naturally, like your every day attire. You ever out of gear?

Ian

Tremolo · Post by **Tremolo** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:21 pm

Again these are some great shots Mitch! The hat looks fantastic!
I begin to see a Garrison Raider in my future

Georgia Steve · Post by **Georgia Steve** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:28 pm

Steerpike
That Garrison looks mighty fine these hats are made for the great outdoors great photos

Georgia Steve

Georgia Steve · Post by **Georgia Steve** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:58 pm

Hey,Mitch
Glad you could come out to play

These Garrison Raiders are second to none. Yours looks great, love the pics, and you are right any one on the fence should get off and get one of these fine hats. They don't know what they are missing.

Steve

Local Land Surveyor · Post by **Local Land Surveyor** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:15 pm

WOW!!!

Steerpike ------- Thanks for showing an update of you Cairo Raider Style GH in this post. I still have the 'before and after' pics of your hat I took as I was making it. Yours was the first of the 'out-of-the-box Cairo' I did when I first offered them back last summer. Looks better now than then.

Mitch --------- SUPER!! I feel honored that you included my hat for these pics of the KOTCS backpack. The Garrison Hatters Standard Raiders has held up great. All views look tremendous.

Both you and Steerpike have a great gear collection.

achi11es ------ As to your question of the softness and limberness... Yes, right out of the box.

Thanks to all on this thread for the compliments. PM any one of these owners for a staight line answer to any questions about the Garrison Hatters The Raider.

It does me good to see a reunion of these hats. I hope to see more as time goes on. I really enjoy making these hats. You guys wear these hats and enjoy them.

LLS

Indiana Sloan · Post by **Indiana Sloan** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:31 am

I can't wait to post pictures of my Garrison Raider on this thread ...

... mostly because that means I'll actually have it in my hands!

I plan on passing the time by counting to ten ... in Greek.

steerpike · Post by **steerpike** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:18 am

You've choose wisely!

Indiana Sloan · Post by **Indiana Sloan** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:18 pm

Well, your pictures helped a great deal in the decision, Steerpike. When I was shopping around it was sadly difficult to find many quality pictures of LLS' fedora. Thanks to your action shots I knew it had the look I was going for and that it would hold up over time. Thanks for sharing!

I have a digital slr canon and a nikon with various lenses that should capture the essence of the finished fedora quite nicely so I will pass it forward for the next prospective Garrison owner.

Mitch LaRue · Post by **Mitch LaRue** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 1:15 pm

achi11es:
Thanks very much for the compliment! My Garrison Raider arrived already feeling very soft and pliable... the only manipulation I gave it was when I took the spray bottle (atomizer) that my wife uses to spray some of her houseplants, cleaned it out by giving it a rinse, filled it with some warm water and simply gave the brim a few light sprays (just a light "misting" of water, really)... then I gave the brim a little curl here & there and set it down to dry. Once it did, the hat had pretty much taken on the look you see in those photos.

Ian:
Very sincere Thanks for those words, mate. I know I don't have to tell you (repeat, really) how much I think your new Penman suits you... so, to hear that compliment coming from you is very nice from my perspective!
I laughed when you asked if I'm "ever out of gear"

Believe it or not, I'm not always toting around a whip and a holster! There's a Link I posted (on page 4) in the Thread I started in the Jacket Section for my Tony Nowak 747 from Riley Barrie. After Indiana G commented that he thought the jacket would work with a grey fedora as well, I put on my Penman Seaplane and had a couple of shots taken...I guess THOSE photos look most like my "regular" day-to-day wardrobe... so, I'll let YOU decide if I'm still kinda' "in Gear" on a daily basis!

Tremolo:
Thanks, my friend.

And by the way: a Garrison Raider would look GREAT on you! It'd be a puchase I'm sure you wouldn't regret. And dealing with / doing business with David is a wonderful experience... he's a great guy!

Georgia Steve:
Thanks vey much... glad you like the pictures! And Thanks again for "resurrecting" this Thread... it sure is one that deserves another shot at nudging a few people who might not otherwise have David's wonderful hats on their "radars"... I know we all greatly appreciate you putting a spotlight back on the fantastic lids!

LLS:
Glad you liked the photos! And it was my pleasure to "team-up" your fine fedora with the Crystal Skull rucksack... they make for a very natural pairing, in my opinion.
Thank you again, David, for such a greatly - and irreplaceable - addition to my hat collection. It's a privilege to own one of these beauties!

Indiana Sloan:
I can't wait to see your photos on here soon, TOO!

Cheers, everyone.

Mitch