Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Help! Is this special? Am I missing something? Vintage 1950s Knox Vagabond Brown Fur Felt Fedora Mint

VintageMommy

New in Town
Messages
1
Hello Ladies and Gents.

I know nothing about hats. ZERO. I like to go to estate sales and collect vintage glass and jewelry. I see plenty of old dusty hats and walk right past. When I saw this gem it stopped me dead in my tracks. I was one of the first shoppers in the house and I saw two of these hats resting on boxes. People were coming up behind me and I made a split second decision based on gut feeling. I figured one would make a great early Christmas present for my hubby and I could try to sell the other to pay for the first.

Unfortunately, hubby has a huge head and the hat looked ridiculous on him. Also, on further inspection at home, one hat was excellent, pretty much mint, but the other one was in very poor and worn condition.

I tried listing the good one on eBay but it didn't sell and I thought I listed at a reasonable minimum? But honestly I have no idea. I honestly couldn't find any comps listed or sold. Similar Vagabonds were slightly different in shape, maybe made later? 60s? Other 50s fedoras I saw were all lined and thicker and not Vagabonds. I've done some research and I understand that this is a hat designed for packability and travel, so it may not be worth as much as like a thicker, fancier fedora? Is it even a 50s hat? I know it was purchased in 1963 because of the original receipt ($5.95 at Penney's!) but Google tells me it's a 50s hat based on the paper tag and style.

Even though I have zero knowledge, I do feel like it is something special. I couldn't even explain why. Just the look of it? The shape? Looking for advice. Did I find a treasure? Or is it just nice but something not that special? Should I try eBay again and if so, what is a fair and reasonable min target? I would prefer it go to a true aficionado if it is indeed as special as I think it is. Or can a mod share on Classifieds for me?

Any information, insight, and guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Edit to add: Some comments in another forum suggested that I can have it resized to fit hub's big noggin. I didn't know it was possible to make hats bigger. I don't know how many sizes up would be needed but I feel like that's the wrong move? How can you make a hat bigger without fundamentally changing it? Won't it look totally different? Also hubs thinks its cool but not enough to pay to have it sized up, which I assume may be costly.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2026-11-09 113653.png
    Screenshot 2026-11-09 113653.png
    311.2 KB · Views: 6
  • Screenshot 2026-11-09 113843.png
    Screenshot 2026-11-09 113843.png
    383.2 KB · Views: 6
  • Screenshot 2026-11-09 113825.png
    Screenshot 2026-11-09 113825.png
    448.2 KB · Views: 5
  • Screenshot 2026-11-09 113911.png
    Screenshot 2026-11-09 113911.png
    571.1 KB · Views: 7
  • Screenshot 2026-11-09 113802.png
    Screenshot 2026-11-09 113802.png
    430 KB · Views: 7
  • Screenshot 2026-11-09 113730.png
    Screenshot 2026-11-09 113730.png
    670.9 KB · Views: 6
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
115,774
Messages
3,199,265
Members
59,367
Latest member
MisterChung
Top