Club Obi Wan

Hello there everyone!! With some kind of divine luck (Thank you Oklahoma Jones), I was able to bypass the whole waiting game and was able to obtain a genuine Adventurebilt from a fellow COW member!! Oklahoma Jones even shipped the hat with the original hatbox that came with it!! I was so excited when I got the package, I almost cried. I am an avid fedora wearer and I've been wearing my HJ for about 7 months now. (Every single day. I don't leave the house without my hat) Ever since I got my HJ from Todd, I've always been contemplating about the idea of buying an AB, but the whole wait time and price range was a bit out of my league... and then oneday, I kind of stumbled into the Cairo Bazzar and behold, there it was!! An Ad for an Adventurebilt!! I couldn't believe someone already hasn't snatched it up yet!! The size was a bit of concern (The hat is 7 1/4 and I usually wear 7 3/8), but I knew I can fit 7 1/4 since my head is shaped kinda wanky.... However it's AB we are talking about!! I don't care if it's a bit tight around my head, it's freaking AB!! haha... (Luckily it fit me perfect and it's not really that tight around my head at all!!) Anywho, without further ado.... here are my pride and joy... my new Adventurebilt hat!! Enjoy!!




Here's the box it came with... I am definitely keeping the box!! haha

Uhhhhhhh...you post pics of the box but not the hat???

Nice box gi_canuck! looks just like mine

Hahaha I am still uploading the pics as we speak!! Sorry about the confusion... anyway here are some more pics...

Wow nice box!!!! lol. I have about 10 of them sitting around my house...show us the HAT.

That's me in the hat...




I guess the old staff of Ra adventurebilt logo is being replaced by new logo... So sad... but I am glad I get to own a piece of history!!

IT'S A BEAUTY. You got so lucky and I am so jealous!!!!! I can't believe someone would part with that, but it looks really nice on you anyway...congrats and enjoy.

Here's my AB in all its glory...






And this is my old HJ that I've been wearing pretty much everyday for 7 months... through rain, snow... it got beat up pretty bad...





...and here are some comparison shots AB left, HJ right.

Oklahoma Jones loved this hat, but it was kind of getting out of the hat wearing rotation (He has lots of hats), so he couldn't just bear to see it just sitting there. He'd rather want to see it being worn by someone who'd love it and care for it. (and I am that person) I totally understand where he's coming from... I think he's the kind of guy who understand the fact that the hat is most beautiful when it's on someone's head rather than on a shelf... I guess if you truly love something that is meant to be used, you'd rather want to see it being used... That's my two cents anyway....

Oh as for the hat specs... it's 7 1/4... I believe it's a beaver... it feels different from my rabbit fur HJ anyway... I have a round skull, but it's a long oval..., so I can't get that raiders swoop out of it... but I think it looks good on me too...

Congratulations. The contents of the box are even nicer than the box itself!

Ya gotta love that liner.

Tron

Congrats on the AB. enjoy it for many years. Look at much nicer the AB looks than the HJ.


I just don't get why people post pics of the box. Show me the hat not hte box. very funny.

Thanks for sharing this canuck - it brings back some great memories of when I first received my AB. They're terrific hats, aren't they? (and that's probably the most repeated phrase on the entirety of this board). Wear it in good health, :junior: -M

Everytime I look at an AB I suddenly think of the one Steve will make for me, then I will hold it in the palm of my hand and say "IT'S MINE!!PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS"
Seriously the hat looks awesome I hope to get lucky and catch someone else who's selling a 7 1/4. Use the HJ for your everyday wear and your AB for those more formal occasions, unless you have an Akubra, then you can use the other to collect petty cash for your next hat

Great hat and may it bring you many years of joy.

Use the HJ for your everyday wear and your AB for those more formal occasions,

Seriously, don't do that. I have two hats - an AB and a PB custom. Guess which one gets worn EVERY day. AB, and I don't regret it for a second. As nice as it looks out of the box, it looks even nicer once it's been beaten up, worn everywhere, sweated in, etc. And frankly, what's the point of having it if you aren't going to enjoy it.

I've heard people say that they wouldn't want to wear it too often for fear of damaging it - frankly, I think that's just ridiculous. Steve and Marc have gone through years of research to make the PERFECT Indiana Jones hat, but it will never be an Indiana Jones hat unless it's treated as such by it's wearer. Wear it. Wear it long, and wear it often.

You can baby your AB and only wear it at parties when you receive it, Solo, but if you do, you'll never enjoy it as much as I have mine - mine that's been beaten up, worn everywhere and gone through several frog-stranglers. Why take the adventure out of Adventurebilt? :junior: -M

mulceber, you nailed it my friend. Its called Adventurebilt for a reason. I wear mine every day. I say wear the AB everyday and if you must have a very expensive logo (Herbert Johnson) use that as the special hat. HJ can't handle everyday use. You ready should just scratch the Hk and get a secound AB.

I concur with the previous poster!! Yes, I know I will wear the AB pretty much everyday!! I don't really want to neglect my HJ either though... After all, it's my first real hat. It may not look as good as AB, but it's really well broken in now. (It's got that floppyness of the Raiders hat... my AB is very stiff compared to the HJ) It's comfy, and it's got that rugged beaten up look... HJ just won't be my favorite hat anymore, but I think both hats will get their share of sunshine!! (Unless of course I get a second AB, but that's just a wishful thinking at this point... haha)

What do you guys think of my HJ though? Do you think it needs reblocking?

That is what I was thinking about doing with my AB, wearing it only for special occasions. You guys are 100% right though; It is named Adventurebilt for a reason.

Dave

gi_canuck wrote:What do you guys think of my HJ though? Do you think it needs reblocking?

Just from the pictures alone the HJ doesn't come close to the look of the AB. I'd wear the AB as it was meant to be worn, everywhere all the time, and forget about the HJ unless you keep it strictly for monsoon weather so the AB doesn't get soaked through. Although I'd wear mine even in that...

gi_canuck wrote:What do you guys think of my HJ though? Do you think it needs reblocking?

Your HJ reminds me of the night dig scene outside of the Well Of Souls. I think it looks great; well loved and well worn.

Jack

My AB is a SOC bash... and my HJ originally came in as a SOC bash, but one day it got drenched in rain during a huge rain storm (Looked like the wet and floppy hat from the Hobitos chase scene in ROTLA) and I had to rebash it... that's when it kinda shrunk a bit (Hence the taper) and I got a bit of wonky brim as well... As far as I know though, it held up pretty good... Maybe it's not built for adventures..., but it sure held up so far.... I think it's time for my new AB to tag along my crazy adventures from now on.... Cheers!!

hmm...I'd say, yeah, your HJ probably could use a reblocking. Although if you do, be sure to have Fedora reblock it - all the HJ's except the Magnoli one have their sweat band sewn in with a machine, creating a perforation where the crown meets the brim. If the person who's doing the reblocking isn't aware of this, they're liable to accidentally rip the hat apart. It's definitely a great, well-loved hat though. :junior: -M

Mulceber,

I agree with you 100%. AB being beaver would be better off out in the wild and actually USED. Seeing that It would stand up to the elements better than any other hat why wouldn’t I wear it everyday? For me it’s simple but doesn’t apply to everyone. Considering that Steve’s prices will go up and lead times take at least 6 months, while wearing it everyday brings out its best it also puts it at risk. I have lost 2 hats before (luckily they were wool) and it’s New York City that worries me. AB’s are awesome but to me are also scarce. I know I would be insulting fate by thinking this way but I don’t think I would be able to afford to replace it once those prices go up. I’m not into much of the beat up look, even though I adore Indy, SOC bash wouldn’t do it for me.
So keep in mind, you have a piece of Indy history. Perhaps if the factory version makes it through I’ll end up wearing that casually. But that would be my reasoning for my use of the AB.

Cheers

That's one nice hat. I'm still waiting for my AB, so I haven;t decided on a wearing strategy yet. I wear the Stetson I got this past year virtually every day, so I will probably do the same to the AB, saving the Stetson for the grungiest or riskiest wearing (since it was cheaper!)

Thank you very much everyone for awesome advice!! I wonder though... Wouldn't reblocking also take quite long for Steve to do, if he is that busy? I don't know if I can wait 6 months just to get my hat reblocked... If it is feasible though, how much would reblocking cost? Does anyone have any idea? Please let me know if you have done reblocking from Steve before. Thanks!!

gi_canuck wrote:Thank you very much everyone for awesome advice!! I wonder though... Wouldn't reblocking also take quite long for Steve to do, if he is that busy? I don't know if I can wait 6 months just to get my hat reblocked... If it is feasible though, how much would reblocking cost? Does anyone have any idea? Please let me know if you have done reblocking from Steve before. Thanks!!

If you think your HJ needs a reblocking, you should see one of my old ones!

I'm not sure what Steve charges, but Worth & Worth in NYC used to reblock hats free of charge, you just paid the postage; of course, they probably don't have the correct block shape. You could also buy the Raiders block from Lamode, if you want to try doing it yourself and avoid the long waits. But if you are like me, you would probably prefer having it done by The Man Himself.

I think the only way to be sure about the current wait time would be to call or email Steve about it. Also, keep in mind that he has said he will only reblock the vintage HJ's because the modern ones tear too easily. If yours is newer, he may not want to risk damaging it...

Jack

Oh wow, thanks for the tip!! Actually, I've always wanted to try to make my own hat and stuff... I think I might actually try to reblock it myself!! Do you know the link to that lamode place? I'll google it and see if I can find it!! Thanks!!

gi_canuck wrote:Oh wow, thanks for the tip!! Actually, I've always wanted to try to make my own hat and stuff... I think I might actually try to reblock it myself!! Do you know the link to that lamode place? I'll google it and see if I can find it!! Thanks!!

Just in case you can't find it:

http://www.lamodewoodhatblocks.com


you must ask for the Raiders block as I believe it's not one of those offered on the site, although the Dome block is probably closest to the Raiders shape. You may also want to check out the sticky thread "Hat Making Tutorial" for additional tips.
\
Jack

If I recall, Steve charges $35 for a reblock, which is pretty reasonable since most other places I've seen charge at least $50 - usually more. :junior: -M

Thanks everyone!! Now I am seriously considering about doing the reblocking on my own... Maybe I can even make my own hat someday!! I'll definitely check out the hat making tutorials on COW for sure!! Thank you very much and have a good one!!

BendingOak wrote:Congrats on the AB. enjoy it for many years. Look at much nicer the AB looks than the HJ.


I just don't get why people post pics of the box. Show me the hat not hte box. very funny.

Personally I like to see the box. We get to share in that moment of anticipation before the unveiling of the Fedora. It's like christmas morning!

Tron