Lefty, very nice hat! If you remove the side pinches it definitely gives a Western hat more of a rounded barrel look from the front. It can help on a hat with a bit of taper to it. I don't have any side pinches in this hat for that very reason.
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Certain Western hats just look better without side pinches. I think it's a combination of the crown height & the crease that effects the barrel look. Think about it; you never see a telescope crease with side pinches or a very tall crown. A really tall crown really magnifies the barrel look. I don't have any side pinches with this horseshoe crease & really like the barrel look from the front.
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Try it. They shouldn't be hard for you to put back in if you don't like the look.
HJ, what are the dimensions on the black hat. I really like it and I have an NOS Bailey 50X I've had for some time that I've been trying to figure out what to do with. It has a self felted band that has to go, 5 1/2 OC and a 4" brim. The hat has been on the shelf for a year and I guess I ought to do something with it.