Wild Bunch Hat

[litl rooster]

Pards I found this on Gunbroker, If it was a bit larger I'd be driving over to pick it up.  Ennyhooo it look like something someone here might want for their Wild Bunch persona, and the price seem plenty fair.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=196862976

[Pancho Peacemaker]

If you are in the DFW area, the Stetson/Resistol Hat Factory has a factory outlet over in Garland.  Everytime I've been there they have Stetson campaign hats for sale.   They usually run in the $50 to $60 range. 

Warning:  the outlet store has an enourmous inventory.  It can often take 2 or 3 hour to search throught all the racks they have.

[Sod Buster]

LR, that is too small for my head but it looks interesting...

[John Smith]

This is a resonably priced hat:  http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_107_228&products_id=10068

[PickKimbel¶]

If you are in the DFW area, the Stetson/Resistol Hat Factory has a factory outlet over in Garland.  Everytime I've been there they have Stetson campaign hats for sale.   They usually run in the $50 to $60 range. 

Warning:  the outlet store has an enourmous inventory.  It can often take 2 or 3 hour to search throught all the racks they have.

A better warning is that place is also hazardous to one's pocket book.  Went in looking for a new hat and left with several.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Got mine from Sgt Grit.  Downside it came with a Marine Corps Emblem I was not entiteled to wear - not to worry gave it to a Marine SASS Pard.

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I found a campaign hat on Ebay and Infantry hat cords from CavHooah.

[Slowhand Bob]

I am currently searching for an economy hat to go with my future uniform costume.  It will not be a first rate affair but is rather, based on the photo that circulated in SASS of the guy with the low cost Wild Bunch military costume.  I have been watching a few of the hats on ebay recently but not sure if the used hat market is smart for someone who is not familiar with the products being sold.  There seems to be some pretty weird price differences going on with the old hats and I am guessing that some are not what I think they are while others have crossed over into collectable??  Any pointers on color, strings, insignias or anything else that will make the difference between a reasonably passable hat for the WB period and one that is really out of place.  Keep in mind that we are talking low budget 'look alike' and not first rate costuming for this one.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Coon Creek Oldwest has a decent low cost hat and the proper cord.  Really the marines are the only ones that used insignia on the hat.  Google mexican punitive expedition photos.  Back in the day, the hat was kinda OD like a Marine DI hat.  They faded in the sun to a kinda brown collor.from what I have been able to determine.

I bought the marine version from Sgt Grit, gave away the EGA to a marine buddy.  The Sgt Grit hat was $98.

[Grizzly Adams]

I am currently searching for an economy hat to go with my future uniform costume.  It will not be a first rate affair but is rather, based on the photo that circulated in SASS of the guy with the low cost Wild Bunch military costume.  I have been watching a few of the hats on ebay recently but not sure if the used hat market is smart for someone who is not familiar with the products being sold.  There seems to be some pretty weird price differences going on with the old hats and I am guessing that some are not what I think they are while others have crossed over into collectable??  Any pointers on color, strings, insignias or anything else that will make the difference between a reasonably passable hat for the WB period and one that is really out of place.  Keep in mind that we are talking low budget 'look alike' and not first rate costuming for this one.

Your caution serves you well!  Buying vintage hats, like buying vintage firearms requires one do a bit of research.  Quick rule of thumb, look for "fur felt" and especially anything indicating some beaver fur content.  Fur felt may only indicate rabbit, and there are grades of that.  Wild hare is better and more durable than domestic rabbit.  A fur hat will take a drenching, and still retain it's shape without a lot, or any shrinkage.  Beaver is better yet, and a hat with 40-50% beaver should provide excellent service.  Good vintage felt hats are generally much lighter and thinner, than modern Western hats, which are usually made of wool felt, and tend to be thick and very stiff.  Check ebay for vintage Open Road Stetsons and Resistols, which can be reshaped (reblocked and "bashed.") to almost any style you fancy.  Again, look for beaver or nutria  content.  A fine vintage hat is a pleasure to wear.  Here's an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380405086616?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_2657wt_997

Here's one with nutria fur:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160721333384?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1012

[Bugscuffle]

I have wondered if "Nutria Quality" means that it is made of Nutria fur or is just claimed to be of the same quality as Nutria fur. I have  Nuria fur, Stetson campain hat that is many years old and it just says Nutria fur, I also have a new "5X Beaver Quality" hat. Does that mean that the 5X Beaver Quality hat that I only paid $125 for is real 100% Beaver fur, and if so how much of it is Beaver fur?

[Grizzly Adams]

I have wondered if "Nutria Quality" means that it is made of Nutria fur or is just claimed to be of the same quality as Nutria fur. I have  Nuria fur, Stetson campain hat that is many years old and it just says Nutria fur, I also have a new "5X Beaver Quality" hat. Does that mean that the 5X Beaver Quality hat that I only paid $125 for is real 100% Beaver fur, and if so how much of it is Beaver fur?

The X factor varies from maker to maker.  On an older hat it MIGHT mean 50%.  However, many makers, Stetson for example, do not disclose what percentage of beaver the X denotes currently.  Therefore, the number of Xs within  a brand simply denotes the quality of a given hat in reference to other made by that maker.  Vintage hats were/are more predictable.  For example, in vintage Stetsons, a "Stetson 100" was 100% beaver, and cost $100 - and that was in the 1950s!.  A princely sum indeed!  A 100% beaver felt hat from a custom maker will run upwards of $600 - $1000 today. 

[St. George]

Original issue Campaign hats from the period have a soft light brown color.

The USMC's and Army Drill Sergeant's hats of today almost have an almost olive drab cast, if not darker - and appear 'modern'.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[cpt dan blodgett]

Your caution serves you well!  Buying vintage hats, like buying vintage firearms requires one do a bit of research.  Quick rule of thumb, look for "fur felt" and especially anything indicating some beaver fur content.  Fur felt may only indicate rabbit, and there are grades of that.  Wild hare is better and more durable than domestic rabbit.  A fur hat will take a drenching, and still retain it's shape without a lot, or any shrinkage.  Beaver is better yet, and a hat with 40-50% beaver should provide excellent service.  Good vintage felt hats are generally much lighter and thinner, than modern Western hats, which are usually made of wool felt, and tend to be thick and very stiff.  Check ebay for vintage Open Road Stetsons and Resistols, which can be reshaped (reblocked and "bashed.") to almost any style you fancy.  Again, look for beaver or nutria  content.  A fine vintage hat is a pleasure to wear.  Here's an example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380405086616?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648#ht_2657wt_997

Here's one with nutria fur:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/160721333384?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1012

How old is vintage?  I bought a Resitol XXX Beaver in early 1971 shortly after I got back from the RVN which at the time was a good as Resistol got.  Is my hat vintage?

[Bugscuffle]

I'm not for sure on this,but i though that the 5X referred to the amount of material, beaver, Nutria, Rabbit, etc. and not the percentage of whatever fur it was made from. If it refers to the percent of fur content, how is it that Stetson puts out 500X and 1000X hats?

The X factor varies from maker to maker.  On an older hat it MIGHT mean 50%.  However, many makers, Stetson for example, do not disclose what percentage of beaver the X denotes currently.  Therefore, the number of Xs within  a brand simply denotes the quality of a given hat in reference to other made by that maker.  Vintage hats were/are more predictable.  For example, in vintage Stetsons, a "Stetson 100" was 100% beaver, and cost $100 - and that was in the 1950s!.  A princely sum indeed!  A 100% beaver felt hat from a custom maker will run upwards of $600 - $1000 today. 

[Grizzly Adams]

I'm not for sure on this,but i though that the 5X referred to the amount of material, beaver, Nutria, Rabbit, etc. and not the percentage of whatever fur it was made from. If it refers to the percent of fur content, how is it that Stetson puts out 500X and 1000X hat

Not sure I follow you........Percentage or "amount" - either way, it has still doesn't work out to 500 or 1000x does it?   Today's 500X may very well be yesterday's 50X or XXXXX. Stetson does not use the same "scale"  now as they did in  the 40s and 50s.  Heck you see straw hats described as 50X!  It is just a way of rating a hat against others by  the same maker - and all use their own grading system.   

[Grizzly Adams]

How old is vintage?  I bought a Resitol XXX Beaver in early 1971 shortly after I got back from the RVN which at the time was a good as Resistol got.  Is my hat vintage?

Capt., I am not sure there is a hard fast rule, but hat collectors seem to draw the line at the "1960s."  Personally, I think your Resistol XXX Beaver is vintage - kinda like many of us!  In any case, you would be pressed to find a current off the rack Resistol XXX that matches the quality.  For one thing, as I understand it, current production hats use a "Greener" process (no lead) and tend to be stiffer and less soft.  Many  will also "bleed" color when they get soaked.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Original issue Campaign hats from the period have a soft light brown color.

The USMC's and Army Drill Sergeant's hats of today almost have an almost olive drab cast, if not darker - and appear 'modern'.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

We they issued that way, or just fad to brown?

[St. George]

They didn't fade - the softer shade of brown was the way they were initially issued, and that color is very similar to that seen on a WWI uniform.

Today's are much stiffer - much more rigid in shape - and don't seem to fade.

Scouts Out!

[1961MJS]

They didn't fade - the softer shade of brown was the way they were initially issued, and that color is very similar to that seen on a WWI uniform.

Today's are much stiffer - much more rigid in shape - and don't seem to fade.

Scouts Out!

Hi, today's are Stratton hats, and they have four vent holes, and plastic lined slots for the hat band to go through.  I briefly owned one for Scouts.  I ended up ordering a Jaxonbilt hat (www. jaxonbilthats.com) Montana peak.  He's a custom maker and can produce anything you ask for. 

I bet Tim Bender could make you a very good Montana peak in his sand color that would last forever.

Later

Mike
Wichita KS