Making a Western hat by hand?

[Cornshucker77]

Had to add Billy Jack

and the early Gus and Woodrow...

Wow. Billy Jack, haven't thought about him for a while. I was a teenager when I saw those movies.

 

[Yahoody]

Richard Caldwell also wore a open crown hat well I think. Heck of a good horseman.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

The only hat I wear open crown, as a Civil War guerrilla hat.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I'll add Randy Quaid as Clell Miller in The Long Riders.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

 

[Yahoody]

Old Randy sure had a nice blaster there. Merlin Hubert 44-40 1873 to 1916. The Swiss watch of vintage revolvers.

 

[Yahoody]

Slim Pickens

For years this last one was my favorite shape and size hat..

 

[Bamaboots]

Every time I read or hear of Slim Pickens, I'm reminded of this Charlie Dunn image of him with some of the lasts he used. In the left of the pile, just off of Dunn's right elbow you can see Slim's.

 

[Cornshucker77]

The only hat I wear open crown, as a Civil War guerrilla hat.

View attachment 108193

View attachment 108194

I like it!

 

[Cornshucker77]

Old Randy sure had a nice blaster there. Merlin Hubert 44-40 1873 to 1916. The Swiss watch of vintage revolvers.

The Merwin Hulbert is such a technologically interesting firearm. I would love to have one but just a little out of my price range.

 

[Cornshucker77]

I'll add Randy Quaid as Clell Miller in The Long Riders.

Love the Montana Peak.

 

[Cornshucker77]

I'll add Randy Quaid as Clell Miller in The Long Riders.

Where is Miller's grave Jack?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Where is Miller's grave Jack?

Muddy Fork Cemetery, Clay County, Holt, MO.

If it was really Clell's skeleton the family received from the good doctor who killed him some yrs later, then Clell is among 5 Miller family members including his dad. It is unknown exactly in which plot he lies so no DNA test could accurately identify him.

The older monument was erected when Clell's father, Moses passed. Clell is noted on one side of the obelisk. The somewhat newer monument was erected some yrs later by either the UDC or SCV; perhaps both.

 

[Yahoody]

How long do your hats tend to last, for you? Can you show a picture of a similar hat at [what you consider] the end of its useful life?

Another example. This is from 25+ years ago now. Bought my wife to be the same Bailey 4X in silver belly as i had in black. The hat's first use was a 5 day, 100 mile back country ride, tenting along the way. It pissed down rain for five full days. Not one to complain she later told me the only thing dry on her the entire trip was under that hat That said bundled in a big yellow slicker.



Some where along the road I reshaped it 10 years or so ago.




2 years ago I had Rodney Allison clean, reblock and add a bound edge. Pretty hat even here, two years later.



Couple of hours after this picture was taken these two got in a pretty good wreck. No cell service or roads for miles, life flight out of the canyon. A a broken pelvis the worst of it. We've all had better days.

Cleaning up, collecting horses and gear after the helo left the hat looked like this.




Lucky for us she has a tough nut

With a little time, sand paper and a wire brush it looks like this now. Had to get a duplicate feather Not bad for a 25+ year old hat that sees regular use and not much tlc. Should tell ya lot just how durable the best of these hats can be. Decades left in this one considering its use to date.

 

[Yahoody]

Hand stitched sweat band line on this hat build. Waxed coated, nylon, millinery thread. Super strong thread, neat stuff.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Yahoody, I know you had a small pic in your list of open crown likes but I like these two also:

Contemplative look (& like the flour sack print shirt)

And with granddaughter

 

[Yahoody]

Yahoody, I know you had a small pic in your list of open crown likes but I like these two also:

Contemplative look (& like the flour sack print shirt)
View attachment 108318

And with granddaughter
View attachment 108319

Thanks HJack. Often thought that movie really needed a prequel and a sequel. Great character and amazing costuming I thought. S&W, Sharps, Apache moccasins, spurs, floursack pull over shirt, saddles and of course the faded hat were really nice efforts I sure appreciated.

and one of the better bad men....

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Thanks HJack. Often thought that movie really needed a prequel and a sequel. Great character and amazing costuming I thought. S&W, Sharps, Apache moccasins, floursack pull over shirt, saddle and of course the hat was a really nice effort I sure appreciated.

I thought Cate Blanchett was great in it also.

 

[Yahoody]

Funny looking ta the photos just now thought the same thing Nice hat as well.

 

[Bamaboots]

Funny looking ta the photos just now thought the same thing Nice hat as well.

Bosal is sitting too high. I gotta work on my impulse control.