My dang Span Am hat shrunk!

[Baltimore Ed]

Getting my gear lined up for Saturday's BAMM, belts and holsters still fit but I tried on my Dirty Billys Span Am hat and it's shrunk! Was fine the last time I wore it last year. Guess I gained some weight during the pandemic but in my head? My DI hat fits ok so maybe it's global warming or a tear in the time space continuum that shrunk it. I've got a hat stretcher around here somewhere I think. Always somethin. Two other club members and i are having a mini bamm just between us. We three are shooting Krags before lunch [we have 5 rd Krag speed loaders to use] and my 1903 and their Enfields after lunch. My 03 has a 10 rd mag extension to level the field. We are all shooting double action revolvers too though 1911s are allowed. I plan to use my RNWMP.45 NS and a 4.5 inch .38-40 NS. Going to try my M12 riot build out too. Span Am outfit before lunch and then doing a Rico Fardan outfit after lunch. 'Peace brother.'

[Major 2]

I leave my hats in a stretcher....
Both my 1912 Campaign & my Span-Am Campaign hat are Nutria by Tim Bender
I also a Rodeo King in Nutria and a Akubra ( Australian ) in rabbit fir felt.

I have no dirty billy hats, no idea if he uses wool or fir felt

[Delmonico]

Hats will shrink sometimes.   

[1961MJS]

Hi
Hat stretcher and a haircut.
Later

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Hat stretcher? Why not a head shrinker? Oh yeah, head shrinkers are way more expensive. (They may also report you for having too many guns.)

Rev. Chase

[Baltimore Ed]

Rev, a good idea but then my other hats will be too big. I messed with it yesterday by wetting it and wearing it. Thought that I was good but during the night the sweatband shrunk big time so I messed with it today and the sweatband broke, it's just dry rotted I guess. I removed the leather sweatband but left the lining material and now it fits. So after this Saturday's shoot I'll have to send it off for a new sweatband. I've had Brims and Trims do a couple of old DI hats but their website looks weird like they're out of business. Anybody know of a east coast hatter that does repairs? Don't think I'll send it back to Dirty Billy. I've got other hats just as old that are still ok.

[Major 2]

"...Don't think I'll send it back to Dirty Billy"

GOOD decision,
I have known "him" for many years ( from my reenacting days ) and from my "Gettysburg" & God & Generals "
experiences with "him"
he is not called dirty billy's for nothing 

Sadly Tim Bender has retired

you might try https://carolinamillinery.com/bespoke-%26-hat-repairs

[Pitspitr]

Delmonico?
He's not on the East coast, but I've had him work on my hats
Prairie Flower has made me hat sweat bands and makes DI hats https://www.pflco.com/

BTW I can relate to things shrinking in the closet, only it has never been hats. Just belts, pants, shirts, jackets.......

[Major 2]

"...Just belts, pants, shirts, jackets.

I resemble that remark, lets not go there   

[cpt dan blodgett]

General
I wonder if the same guy made my closet.  All manner of things shrink in mine.  Even the boots I got married in 48 years and 45 lbs ago don't fit anymore.  Happily CA Boots made me a replica pair that do the good news is back in 71 I had to work about 60 hrs to buy the first pair.  In 2008 only had to work 20 hrs at approx 17 times the hourly rate.

[Coffinmaker]

  Strange   

I have a storage closet for my CAS stuff made by the same "craftsman."  It routinely shrinks not only hats, but Gun Belts.  Really a nuisance.

No real help for Eddard, just an observation.  And perhaps a compare of a more common occurrence.