Hats

[James Hall]

What kind of hats did cowboys wear in the old west? Did they have the cattleman crease, or?

[St. George]

Take a look at the Time-Life series - 'The Old West' - there are numerous photos in all of the volumes.

You can find them at your local Public Library.

Then - armed with that knowledge - you can look in the 'back pages' of both this forum and the 'NCOWS' forum - where there are detailed threads already posted.

The hats worn by folks in the 'real' Old West differ from those worn by those featured in the 'John Ford Reference Library' of the 'reel' Old West.

Good Hunting!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Hangtown Frye]

Check out these photo's from the Irwin Smith Collection at the Amon Carter Museum.  They are from the turn of the century, so a tad bit late, but most of the styles aren't far off from the photo's from a few decades earlier, just taken in the field rather than in a studio.:  http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/smith/collection.php?mcat=1

Also tends to show that most of the boots were worn outside the trousers, at least in the Panhandle.  LOTS of interesting details in those photos though, from clothes to saddles, even horses.  Again, LATE period (ca. 1907-1909 for most of them) but they still show many of the styles from 20-30 years before that.  Keep that in mind. On the other hand, if everyone at a Cowboy Action Shoot was dressed like these guys, no one would be complaining!

Cheers!

Gordon

[Delmonico]

If you want to look like a cowboy or any other laborer from the period, you need to decide if you want to look like you just walked out of a dry goods store like most photos or if you want to look like most of them did after the new wore off their new clothes.

For both, simpley put them one and wear them till they look right.   Start with an open crown hat and after a few years it will look like this:



Of course a cheap hat will not hold up to the aging process, you need a good quality hat.

[Texas Lawdog]

Now, That's a Hat!

[Roscoe Coles]

You should also pay attention to the dates and locations of the photographs.  Hat styles change quite a bit between 1865 and 1900 and some hats were more popular in some areas than others.  If you are picking a hat set a time and place (and pick a status) than research the appropriate head gear. 

[MontanaSlick]

I dunt like hats, never will, but, I collect them and wear em once in awhile at a re-enactment or a CAS event.

My sidekicks made me a hat from the Open Range, filmed up in the Alberta Country. Brad cut me out the Boss Spearman and it's his first of a kind.

Longfellow is the historian on hats and does the research, comes up with some very interesting facts on hats.

You can see these on the www.thelastbestwest.com

I'm not selling or advertising for these folks, however they are my Friends and lovers of the Old West, keeping it alive and well.

See if I kin get my pik up here....I tried, no luck.
Go on the web and go to testimonies you will see the results of happy people.

[Harley Starr]

I'm partial to the telescope style hats myself. Like the one Clint Eastwood wore in High Plains Drifter.

[Texas Lawdog]

I've seen pictures of Slick's hat and his hatmaker is good. Slick sorta looks like Mr. Duval when he wears that hat.

[MontanaSlick]

I've seen pictures of Slick's hat and his hatmaker is good. Slick sorta looks like Mr. Duval when he wears that hat.

Yer think so Bro. Tex?  Gee, Thanks

Here's Slick as Duval?

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o187/JakeHarlow/DSCF0167.jpg

[Texas Lawdog]

Bro. Slick, You make a good stand-in for Duval. I like your Riders in The Sky bumper sticker.  Moose and I have seen them twice in Fort Worth.  I saw them in LAX airport several years ago when I was on an extradition.

[MontanaSlick]

Thanks Bro. Tex,

Perhaps if I sent Duval my old West novel He'd do a moovie out of it?

The Riders all signed my sticker and TOO Slim signed it to the "Datson Conistoga" thats what I was driving at the time.

Cool bunch of Fellers.

Actually Tex, I look more like Jack Elam on the other forum.

[Texas Lawdog]

We saw the Riders perform with the Fort Worth Symphony and at a small club in downtown Fort Worth. We had seats about 10 feet from them in the club. TOO Slim is my favorite. Jack's beard looked like mine does until I got a trim last week. We've NW weather this morning, Damp and Raining. I ordered me a Rooster Cogburn hat for my new Persona. I've already got the eyepatch and the build of "The Duke" in his later years.

[MontanaSlick]

Bro. Tex, you and R3B otta get together and have a look alike contest, hez doing the same thing.

I'll find the pik and send it to you.

MS

ps, Been nice and sunny here, think I'll keep it.

[Texas Lawdog]

I've put my Rooster persona on the back burner till I get done with the Movie this summer. Right now, I have shoulder length hair and a full beard.

[MontanaSlick]

I've put my Rooster persona on the back burner till I get done with the Movie this summer. Right now, I have shoulder length hair and a full beard.

Met a Civil War re-enactor today over at the butcher shop, He's giving me some ideas.

Told him I have a pair of Gray pants, he said blue would be better. I dunt have any blue pants.

[Texas Lawdog]

You need some sky blue colored pants for the Northern side.

[MontanaSlick]

But my heart is in the South.

[Texas Lawdog]

Bro. Slick, I guess we can give you a Texas Visa because you come down each December for a while. You can wear the gray pants.

[MontanaSlick]

Thanks Bro. Tex,

I do wear gray pants and my easy chair is at the shady side of the Alamo.

Did I mention that my office is just 4 blocks away?

That Visa will make me more official.

Thanks
ps, where and what web kin I get those Old torn war years out fits?