Club Obi Wan

Texan Scott wrote:where can a person look 'spiffy' and get 'stiffy'? What if it is sprayed on the ribbon? damage?

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.

I've used it on my Akubra Classic Collections fedora, there were no negative affects on either the fur felt or the ribbon.

Mike

alphared6 wrote:

Texan Scott wrote:where can a person look 'spiffy' and get 'stiffy'? What if it is sprayed on the ribbon? damage?

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. Mike

ha! ...why don't you just get a hard hat, Mike?

Might be helpful when leaning into a hail of bullets!

Texan Scott wrote:ha! ...why don't you just get a hard hat, Mike?

Might be helpful when leaning into a hail of bullets!

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.

Obviously you've never faced a hail of bullets. Even Kevlar ain't hard enough.

Mike

...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!

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

Regards, Geert

Built like a tank doesn't actualy mean it is one

Regards, Geert[/quote]

Mine came with track, a 120mm main gun, and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun!

What I really like about the Christy, or any rabbit hat is it breathes really well in the hot weather. This has always been a selling point for rabbit hats. Plus in regards to the Christy, it is priced so well!! I don't think the price can be beat.

Therefore, I can see wearing rabbit hats in the summer, and beaver in the cold wet weather.

I just found out that HJ is offering a heavier rabbit felt, and I am anxious to see this felt. I think it may be even closer to the Raider's fedora, if they leave out the shellac. Fedora

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.

Regards! Michaelson

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 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. 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!

I was happy when HJ sent a buyer to China, but she decided not to buy from them. Instead, they are using European rabbit felt. The thing is, great felt is still made in some parts of Europe. But I really do look for DP to use China in the future. They are keyed in on the bottom line of the P and L statements. This is me doing fortune telling though. But I think it is inevitable.

Since this is a Christy thread, will the guy who sent me the two Christys to reblock please drop me an email? I am waiting on HJ bodies to arrived, and need to use the HJ time to reblock these two hats. When my pc went out, I lost the emails regarding these hats, and have been waiting to be contacted. Thanks. Fedora

Oh...well then, I'll just keep my Ford Felt AB on my noggin this summer.....as usual....

Regards! Michaelson

Steve, your comments almost sounded as a compliment to Christy's hats for a moment




Interesting to know about the HJ upcoming heavier felt. Hope Christy will follow their friends and keep the same price because HJ could even sell me the most accurate rabbit felt ever but I still wouldn't buy it for £190

Yup. If Christy's follows suit, I may pick up another one. I'm still surprised at how well my Christy's has held up. I know there is a lot of air in the felt and its not very dense, but it just doesn't want to taper very much. I have a small bit of taper right over the ribbon and then the hat begins to bulge.

Dave

great looking hat

Steve, your comments almost sounded as a compliment to Christy's hats for a moment

Oh no!! We don't want to change my spots. I am too old.

Seriously, I can see the attraction for the Christy, or the HJ, due to the way the felt moves. And of course the price of the Christy automatically makes it an attractive hat for those on a budget. Or even for those not on a budget but are curious.

I actually like the HJ and Christy felt now, 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.

So, I have to change my opinion in regards to the felt. If I am wrong, I have never been hesitant to admit it.

I don't know if Christy will offer the heavier weight rabbit or not. I guess time will tell. And I am so anxious to see this new heavier HJ felt. I think it is what we have needed, if they keep out the shellac. It may be the best yet, for making a Raiders fedora. Fedora

Erri, if, indeed, this is the Rapture... can I have your stuff?

Erri wrote:

I want dibs on your aldens !

Ooo, I call your Wested!

Dave

My gear is very appreciated around here

No, its you we appreciate Erri, not your gear.

Dave

Dibbs your shirt.

The NH.

Not 'the other one'.

I got the bags...all of them!!!!

I think I'm going to have to check one of these out. I've been curious about them and you can't beat the price to scratch a hat itch. Especially since Fedora has commented several times that you can make a nice LC out of them. The LC isn't my favorite hat, but I'd like to have a hat specific to each movie so this may be the very way to go.

Kids you're getting nothin' !


Steve, I appreciate in you the fact that you can change opinion so drastically on something. Now, I know that you didn't say that the Christy's hat is a "good hat" but the only fact that you said:

I actually like the HJ and Christy felt now

and

So, I have to change my opinion in regards to the felt. If I am wrong, I have never been hesitant to admit it.

...boy, isn't that a slap in the face to everyone who agreed with you no-matter-what till now? 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.
Anyway welcome back to the rabbit felt appreciation group Steve. May my "hallelujah" picture be also a "welcome" one.

Next thing we know you'll be offering a Burma colour for your Grey Clipper version

...you just can't get drug by a truck in one! There are limits. The Project Director of the dig/lead Archaeologist and I did a 2 hr. interview on one of our local TV stations last night. The Christy's got lots of air time, ha! It was fun.

Sable is the best color for an IJ hat, although I do like the 'cork'.

Next thing we know you'll be offering a Burma colour for your Grey Clipper version

Don't hold your breath on that one Erri.

And to be clear, the ONLY thing I like about the Christy is the felt. 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. Fedora

Fedora wrote:But is it worth the price? You betcha. Regards. Fedora

Pure gold coming out of your mouth

Thats really what is most attractive about the Christy's. I wouldn't pay more than $150 for that hat, which is less than what I paid and included shipping. But at $75, or whatever its at now, I don't think you can go wrong. I don't think its a great hat, but a great value.

Dave

Here's my Christy's, which I just got from a fellow member, Jason of the Isle of Malta.



Mike

Nice photo. Is that a light sable?

Texan Scott wrote:Nice photo. Is that a light sable?

Jason advertised it as a sable.

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.

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??

Really interested in getting one. think that they look realy good when shaped. Just afraid of it tapering beyond recognition if I get caught in the rain.