Christy's Adventurer!

Heyjude7 · Post by **Heyjude7** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:02 pm

Just wanted to start a new thread with photos and opinions on this hat. i do not own this fed but am leaning torwards getting one!
Thanks
Jude

http://www.hornetshats.com/f_hatview.ph ... ur%20Felts

its the 13th hat down from the top!

Serial Hero · Post by **Serial Hero** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:05 pm

any links or pics?

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:49 pm

Oooooh...let me play, too!

'Kay - I've got one of these boogers, and it's a pretty decent hat for the price. I purchased it based on the recommendation of another forum, and a couldn't be happier in terms of investment:payoff ratio. By most accounts, it's made from the same felt supplied for the modern HJ Poet, but falls under the Dorfman Pacific umbrella.

Here's a couple of pics from when mine were new ( I have 2: a 58 and a 59. More on that later. )

The 58, new out of the box:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... G_0284.jpg

Freshly bashed 58:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... IM2252.jpg

58 after it's first extended adventure:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... G_0305.jpg

Now, the first pic was taken at a western store where I took the hat to have the brim trimmed. Sadly, the hat was butchered right before my eyes and I ended up having to sand in down to dimensions I wasn't happy with. The store reimbursed me the cost of the hat and I decided to order a size up, as the 58 was juuuuust right and I was concerned about shrinking*.
So, one week later, a 59. The bash on the 59 was essentially the same, but with a more exaggerated Raven turn. I didn't get much in the way of new pics, but over the 4th of July, I just couldn't resist and a got it out in the rain. I have a habit of removing my hats by the pinch ( sue me ), so the front is pretty tight on this one, having fooled with it while it was still wet. The 59 pics are all post-rain. Enough rain to wet the entire top, but not soak into the liner.

On a train:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... IM2364.jpg

Static display:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... 2407-1.jpg

I've roughhoused with the 59 enough to warrant adding stiffener to the brim to reshape it after the rain ( the turn was making it do wacky stuff ). I still keep a pad from my Akubra Squatter in the band to make for a snug fit on the 59, and the fit of the 58 is pretty much as I received it. I'll likely have the 58 reblocked to get an LC out of it, due to the narrowness of the brim ( Darn you cowboy outfitter and your darn brim cutter !!! )
My gripes: Shoddy ribbon tack
A little concern over longivety
I'd put it on par, construction-wise, with the Soveriegn line by Stetson. You CAN rough it up. It's not an Akubra. It's a dress hat, and as such, the life of the hat will be inversely proportionate to how much you abuse it. It's much sharper, and for certain scenes, a LOT more SA than the Akubras. Good for a WoS or Raven - excellent, really. Supple felt and a good color. Really decent for a dress hat at the price if you doll up the ribbon.
How's that for a start?

* not me - the hat
( edit - actually, the freshly bashed pic on the 58 is, in fact, the 59 now that I think about it...)

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:51 pm

I ordered mine from Hornets - about seven/eight days, including the weekend, to Texas.

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:21 pm

If you want the near-perfect look but don't have the money to spend on a Magnoli HJ or AB, the Christys Adventurer is the best choice out there. At less than $100, there is nothing else that compares to it in the looks department alone.

It may actually be the same hat that HJ sells, only with a different label and a much lower price tag. As such, the felt is very soft and floppy and the colors Light Sable and Sable are close matches to the vintage HJ's that were used in the films. To my eyes, the Christys blockshape looks better (more accurate) than the current HJ.

It has been completely trouble free for me from the ordering process through the time I put the bash in, up to today.

Like the HJ, it is a dress hat, not specifically designed for hard, regular outdoor or work use. For that purpose, there are morer sturdily built hats like the Federation IV at about the same price level.

The Adventurer in no way compares in quality to an AB or other higher end hats. But for those on a budget or looking for an inexpensive beater hat that could easily be replaced if lost or damaged, it is the best looking option available at this time, in my opinion.

Jack

Tron7960 · Post by **Tron7960** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:28 pm

kiltie wrote:Oooooh...let me play, too!

'Kay - I've got one of these boogers, and it's a pretty decent hat for the price. I purchased it based on the recommendation of another forum, and a couldn't be happier in terms of investment:payoff ratio. By most accounts, it's made from the same felt supplied for the modern HJ Poet, but falls under the Dorfman Pacific umbrella.

Here's a couple of pics from when mine were new ( I have 2: a 58 and a 59. More on that later. )

The 58, new out of the box:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... G_0284.jpg

Freshly bashed 58:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... IM2252.jpg

58 after it's first extended adventure:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... G_0305.jpg

Now, the first pic was taken at a western store where I took the hat to have the brim trimmed. Sadly, the hat was butchered right before my eyes and I ended up having to sand in down to dimensions I wasn't happy with. The store reimbursed me the cost of the hat and I decided to order a size up, as the 58 was juuuuust right and I was concerned about shrinking*.
So, one week later, a 59. The bash on the 59 was essentially the same, but with a more exaggerated Raven turn. I didn't get much in the way of new pics, but over the 4th of July, I just couldn't resist and a got it out in the rain. I have a habit of removing my hats by the pinch ( sue me ), so the front is pretty tight on this one, having fooled with it while it was still wet. The 59 pics are all post-rain. Enough rain to wet the entire top, but not soak into the liner.

On a train:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... IM2364.jpg

Static display:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... 2407-1.jpg

I've roughhoused with the 59 enough to warrant adding stiffener to the brim to reshape it after the rain ( the turn was making it do wacky stuff ). I still keep a pad from my Akubra Squatter in the band to make for a snug fit on the 59, and the fit of the 58 is pretty much as I received it. I'll likely have the 58 reblocked to get an LC out of it, due to the narrowness of the brim ( Darn you cowboy outfitter and your darn brim cutter !!! )
My gripes: Shoddy ribbon tack
A little concern over longivety
I'd put it on par, construction-wise, with the Soveriegn line by Stetson. You CAN rough it up. It's not an Akubra. It's a dress hat, and as such, the life of the hat will be inversely proportionate to how much you abuse it. It's much sharper, and for certain scenes, a LOT more SA than the Akubras. Good for a WoS or Raven - excellent, really. Supple felt and a good color. Really decent for a dress hat at the price if you doll up the ribbon.
How's that for a start?

* not me - the hat
( edit - actually, the freshly bashed pic on the 58 is, in fact, the 59 now that I think about it...)

Great pics, especially that last one! Thanks for sharing!

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:40 pm

Yes, those pictures look amazing. This hat may not be quite as fragile as at first thought, but only time will tell for sure.

Jack

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:57 pm

Thanks for the compliments. The thing that makes me most happy about this hat, on a personal note, is it was my first big hit on an Indy style. I read up on the tutorials, got some outside advice, and really hit a home run with this hat. It takes a bash really well and holds it. No steam, spritzing, etc... Just a cold bash.
I think Erri has a nice hat, too, especially the way the brim looks.

okayletsrock · Post by **okayletsrock** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:42 pm

can i ask why you went to have the brim cut?

is it not dimensional?

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:47 pm

okayletsrock wrote:is it not dimensional?

It is dimensionally cut.

Jack

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:48 pm

Super job with the bash Kiltie! It does have "that thing" that lends well to the Raiders look and it appears that you have nailed it to boot. Super!

Yep, from what it sounds like this is the best bang for the buck for the budget minded. Be they a high school student, young adult just starting out with champaign taste but a beer pocket book or the average joe who wants a nice looking street hat for nothing more than wearing around town. This one seems to fits the bill.

No body would get bilked getting this lid for that purpose. Now, if you're wanting it to last a lifetime & use it in a more extreme environment & activity level, then we need to step up to the next level after saving enough ducketts.

I hope that Erri will share his images again. That was a very sharp lid with a completely different look to it. that & I hope others will share theirs again, they were all good photos to get hat illumination from.

Cheers!

Dan

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:54 pm

Yeah, it's dimensionally cut, but I was shooting for the exact Raiders dimensions, which meant something like 1/16 - 1/8 inch off here and there. When I got the 59, I just shaved it using sand paper ( 100something to start, then finishing with 220 ).

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:59 am

I recieved my Christy's today. I went with light grey. No particular reason. I just felt I need a fedora in that color, though it is very close to the CS train color. Here are some photos of the hat, a side-by-side comparison with my Keppler (to show how slight the taper on the Christy's actually is) and lastly, on my noggin. Enjoy!

I gave it a quick bash before I had to go out and didn't fiddle with it before the photos. I would like to work with the creases and the brim a little more but am more than satisfied with this hat.

Dave

Illinois James · Post by **Illinois James** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:40 am

DR Ulloa, what is the finish like of your light grey hat? Mr. Davies at Hornetshats indicated some customers were surprised at how 'hairy' the finish of the felt was, and was actually a 'grey mix' even though they offer 'grey mix' as a color. Is it very smooth? Just wondering.
Thanks,
IJ

Tremolo · Post by **Tremolo** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:40 am

The light grey looks fantastic! Now I really want one

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:07 am

I'm really very tempted by this hat. I must admit that it looks more Raider than my Fed IV (a little too low IMO)... :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Montana Hannah · Post by **Montana Hannah** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:18 am

I'm considering buying one of these at the moment. It's between this and a Fed IV. Which colour should I go for for the SA Radiers look? Sable, Light Sable, or Brown Mix?

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:24 am

Montana Hannah wrote:I'm considering buying one of these at the moment. It's between this and a Fed IV. Which colour should I go for for the SA Radiers look? Sable, Light Sable, or Brown Mix?

I think sable is the correct colour.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:30 am

I personally found the light sable a bit light, I went with the Sable. But JMO some people like the light sable.

Sable:

Light Sable:

Both shots taken with flash... although the lighting with the 'sable' might have been a bit darker.

Tremolo · Post by **Tremolo** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:34 am

KT do you have a front pic of your sable Adventurer?

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:38 am

Tremolo wrote:KT do you have a front pic of your sable Adventurer?

Not to hand, it's been borrowed, I'll try to snap one when I get it back.

Indiana Strones · Post by **Indiana Strones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:47 am

Light sable colour looks similar to Fed IV.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:14 am

Here's one of the front of the light sable. Sorry for the rubbish photo (and my scruffy table!).

Notice how different it looks to the side view!

Dutch_jones · Post by **Dutch_jones** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:17 am

Indiana Strones wrote:Light sable colour looks similar to Fed IV.

Not at all, the fed IV has a very red tint. while the light sable looks light brown.

Montana Hannah · Post by **Montana Hannah** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 6:36 am

Thanks guys! Think I'll go with Sable.

I'm sure there's a gag in there about light sabre/light sable by the way...

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:18 am

Montana Hannah wrote:Thanks guys! Think I'll go with Sable.

I'm sure there's a gag in there about light sabre/light sable by the way...

Sable, light sable, Snakewhip Sable!

Or should I say "lit" Sable?

Heyjude7 · Post by **Heyjude7** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 8:34 am

Im glad to see this thread coming back to life!

Jude

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:58 am

The Light Sable color is the closest match to the old HJ's that were used in the movies, if that is what you want. But there is very little difference between the 2 shades and either one works fine as an Indy color.

I recently had 3 vintage HJ's (just sold one) and a newer Magnoli/HJ/AB. All 4 of the HJ's are a lighter shade of brown than my Light Sable Christys Adventurer, but very close. So based on my own experience, I would go with a Light Sable Christys as the most screen accurate color. But again, if you compare the color swatches on the Hornets Hats website, there is very little difference between the two shades. It is more of a nuance than a real significant difference. Either color works just fine as an Indy hat.

Jack

Piker · Post by **Piker** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:51 pm

Might have to get the Homburg in "Wine" color.

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:15 am

Illinois James wrote:DR Ulloa, what is the finish like of your light grey hat? Mr. Davies at Hornetshats indicated some customers were surprised at how 'hairy' the finish of the felt was, and was actually a 'grey mix' even though they offer 'grey mix' as a color. Is it very smooth? Just wondering.
Thanks,
IJ

The felt could be smoother, but it is certianly not hairy. It seems a pretty solid grey and no grey mix. I had to go down to the courthouse today to fight a traffic ticket (I won) and wore the Christy's. The fit is perfect. I have never had a hat fit better, but then again, I have recieved neither my AB nor my Penman. Back to the question, though, the finish is smooth and I would not say anywhere near "hairy." I think it is more Raiders than the Federation IV, though I have not held one, but seen more than enough photos. If you go with light sable, you may as well have the Raiders hat on your head.

Dave

Montana Hannah · Post by **Montana Hannah** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:25 am

This is all good advice, cheers! I'm about to place my order... Then I'll start saving for an upgrade!

Illinois James · Post by **Illinois James** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:51 am

Thanks, DR. Now waiting from response from Hornetshats @ why I can't seem to place two Adventurers of different colors in the shopping cart! (Yes, Light Sable and Light Grey!)

IJ

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:15 am

I just noticed this thread, thanks for opening a new thread about the Christy's.

I repost the pictures I already had on the previous thread.
This is a pre-bash set of pictures, showing the shape of the crown

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/e ... hristy.jpg

following... some pics taken in town wearing my hat just after I bashed it
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/erri_wan/C_2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/erri_wan/C_3.jpg

this is after a few weeks, in my travel to Switzerland
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/e ... G_6685.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/e ... G_6655.jpg

(more here viewtopic.php?t=31303&start=0&postdays= ... witzerland )

Kt Templar wrote:

Wow KT, that's a nice picture. Shame you're rarely in it

DR Ulloa · Post by **DR Ulloa** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:43 am

Illinois James wrote:Thanks, DR. Now waiting from response from Hornetshats @ why I can't seem to place two Adventurers of different colors in the shopping cart! (Yes, Light Sable and Light Grey!)

IJ

I noticed that too. I was going to pick up another Christy's for my father, only in black. He and I wear the same size so t wouldn't let me do it.

Dave

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:39 am

Thanks for re-posting Erri! Greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Dan

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:09 am

Erri -

That is a good looking hat, and generally nice gear. The brim on yours sorts out so much better than mine

. On mine, I ironed the back brim for a little less of the flip, but it seems to have had an adverse effect on the way it's viewed from the front as well - not bad, just not as nice as yours.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:11 am

Thank you guys

kiltie wrote: On mine, I ironed the back brim for a little less of the flip, but it seems to have had an adverse effect on the way it's viewed from the front as well - not bad, just not as nice as yours.

Yours looks neat too from what I can see in your pictures kiltie.
Consider also that I cut the brim a bit since 3" around was too large to look good on my face, this perhaps helped to reduce the tension on the outer part of the brim (that causes extreme curling)

bigrex · Post by **bigrex** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:14 pm

kiltie wrote:Oooooh...let me play, too!

Static display:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... 2407-1.jpg

Kiltie,

Did you pick the sable or the light sable? I think the color of your hat is about correct as far as I'm concerned. Thanks.

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:40 pm

Here's the color comparisons I was asked to do before:

The first photo shows a vintage HJ on the left next to a Christy's in Light Sable:

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd12 ... 0_0533.jpg

The second photo shows a Magnoli HJ on the left next to the Christys in Light Sable.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd12 ... 0_0529.jpg

I hope this helps, but for the umpteenth time, there is very little difference between the Sable and Light Sable, so you should have no problem with either shade.

Jack

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:42 pm

Hey! Thanks for posting those Easy, they look great.

Cheers!

Dan

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:45 pm

DanielJones wrote:Hey! Thanks for posting those Easy, they look great.

Cheers!

Dan

Thanks, Dan!

Jack

crismans · Post by **crismans** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:43 pm

I'm geting one of the new Kepplers in a SOC bash for my Raider's look. My second favorite bash (and I'm sure this makes me a weird one) is the scene in Temple where Indy first tries to steal the stones. Would the Christy's be good for this bash? I've never tried bashing before, is the hat pretty easy to work with?

eazybox · Post by **eazybox** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:42 pm

crismans wrote:I'm geting one of the new Kepplers in a SOC bash for my Raider's look. My second favorite bash (and I'm sure this makes me a weird one) is the scene in Temple where Indy first tries to steal the stones. Would the Christy's be good for this bash? I've never tried bashing before, is the hat pretty easy to work with?

The crown is easy to shape. I styled my Christys after the Suspension Bridge scene in TOD, and it just fell right into place in less than a minute.

I think the Christys could pull off the scene you would like to replicate, at least in the crown. If you are particular about brim widths, though, if I recall correctly the brim in that particular scene may have been narrower than on hats used in some other scenes.

Jack

crismans · Post by **crismans** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:54 pm

eazybox wrote:

I think the Christys could pull off the scene you would like to replicate, at least in the crown. If you are particular about brim widths, though, if I recall correctly the brim in that particular scene may have been narrower than on hats used in some other scenes.

Jack

No, I was just thinking mainly of the bash. I wasn't concentrating on the brim width so much. Hmm, this Christy's hat is sounding better and better...

Illinois James · Post by **Illinois James** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:51 am

I hope the Adventurer bashes easier than my Fed IV standard! I have two on order and still tweaking the Fed after two months! Must-not--use---steam!

Montana Hannah · Post by **Montana Hannah** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:34 am

I just ordered mine from Hornet's! I hope I can get it to look as good as Kiltie's... This'll be my first attempt at bashing an open crown hat. *GULP*!

PS. I took Eazybox's advice and opted for the light sable in the end. So I guess I'll be constructing my own light sable! I got a joke out of it in the end!

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:44 pm

Montana -

You give me too much credit: thank you for the compliment. I can't empisize enough my reliance on previously posted tutorials and the help of another's input via pm. I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due. That tutorial, however, is from before my time on this forum.
The tutorial I speak of is in the "Fedora" threads somewhere. Anything else I can tell you, I gladly will via pm. I have to add, I think whiskyman has some gooood looking hats, as does bendingoak ( although both use the "chunkier" AB style blocks ) and they may be receptive to inquiries.

Just an aside, I boosted this screen grab from $3k's thread:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... tdock1.jpg

...and there's another example of this hat in the "Complete Making of..." There's no real point here, except to say the most consistant thing about the Raiders hat is it's inconsistancy. Everyone see's something in the hat, then, I think, tends to transpose that idea ( ideal ) onto the hat in every scene.
The Christys' isn't this severe, but this is merely an example that the pendulum swings to extremes.

kiltie · Post by **kiltie** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:47 pm

Montana,

I just got the "light sable" thing, by the way. I guess as long as it's not neon green, you'll be okay. The only problem is, it seems in this hobby, your skills are never complete

.

Piker · Post by **Piker** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:01 pm

Regarding Light Sabers:

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid. ---- Han Solo

Regarding Light Sables:

Hokey marketing and ancient hat shapes are no match for a good AB at your side, kid. ----Piker

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:03 pm

But I can hardly see with the brim pulled down!

You must learn the way of the Felt!