Western, anyone?

[ETBass]

"Give me back my bullets"? Thought they were in your pocket?

Thanks ET. The pattern for the beaded hatband came from one that Kiowa Chief Rolling Thunder wore on his hat, and later his son, also Chief Rolling Thunder. While green is not normally a Native American color I chose the colors to go with this hat.

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Chief Rolling Thunder is who Dylan named his Rolling Thunder Review Tour after. I always wondered why he chose the horsehair & flowers for his hat. Maybe it was due to the white face makeup.

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The green looks good, really good on that hat.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

The green looks good, really good on that hat.

Thanks ET!

 

[johnnycanuck]

Years ago I watched the movie Monty Walsh. Loved it so much I bought the book. In it Monty buys a blue Stetson. So I started talking to Art Fawcett about a new hat that meets that description but isn’t too “Yee Haw” if you know what I mean. So he made me this one that he called his first crossover. Used a western flange with a slight swoop to it.

Well I stopped today and watched the movie “the cowboy hat movie” and it occurred to me this could just be a “boss of the plains” hat shaped. It’s got a 3” brim and 5.5” open crown. Does that sound about right?
Johnny

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Well I stopped today and watched the movie “the cowboy hat movie” and it occurred to me this could just be a “boss of the plains” hat shaped. It’s got a 3” brim and 5.5” open crown. Does that sound about right?
Johnny

Johnny, I have not seen "The Cowboy Hat Movie" so I don't know what they represent the dimensions of a BOP to be. Maybe Bob Hufford or someone who has can weigh in. Jared is a BOP fan also so hopefully he will weigh in too. Or Moviehats. Today you will see some slight variation in BOP's among custom hatters, mostly in slight variation in crown height, etc. There are production hats being called BOP's that aren't even close.

A BOP is a flat 4" RE brim with a very small or slight pencil curl. The crown was also 4". I think matching ribbons were 1-1/4". Today the custom hatters who make a good BOP have crown heights that run from 3-7/8 to 5". More importantly is the block which is very straight sided & round. A LO just wouldn't look correct. At the top crown break the break is rounded just enough and the block has just enough arch so the crown top doesn't come off as being a sharp 90 degree crown break with a flat top, like a Bolero style crown. The crown has no rake front to back either. And it's not as near as arched & rounded as a #51 or #52 for example.

Hope this pic give a better example of the crown shape, & not just the fact that it's an open crown. This is a Rand & they build theirs with. 5" crown.

D bar J builds their BOP with a 4" BE brim with no pencil curl & a 3-7/8 crown.

How does this differ from what you saw in the movie?

 

[johnnycanuck]

Johnny, I have not seen "The Cowboy Hat Movie" so I don't know what they represent the dimensions of a BOP to be. Maybe Bob Hufford or someone who has can weigh in. Jared is a BOP fan also so hopefully he will weigh in too. Or Moviehats. Today you will see some slight variation in BOP's among custom hatters, mostly in slight variation in crown height, etc. There are production hats being called BOP's that aren't even close.

A BOP is a flat 4" RE brim with a very small or slight pencil curl. The crown was also 4". I think matching ribbons were 1-1/4". Today the custom hatters who make a good BOP have crown heights that run from 3-7/8 to 5". More importantly is the block which is very straight sided & round. A LO just wouldn't look correct. At the top crown break the break is rounded just enough and the block has just enough arch so the crown top doesn't come off as being a sharp 90 degree crown break with a flat top, like a Bolero style crown. The crown has no rake front to back either. And it's not as near as arched & rounded as a #51 or #52 for example.

Hope this pic give a better example of the crown shape, & not just the fact that it's an open crown. This is a Rand & they build theirs with. 5" crown.

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D bar J builds their BOP with a 4" BE brim with no pencil curl & a 3-7/8 crown.

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How does this differ from what you saw in the movie?

Looks like the photos you posted. The movie is on Amazon prime if you have it.
Johnny

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Looks like the photos you posted. The movie is on Amazon prime if you have it.
Johnny

Guess I don't understand then, so I'll back away.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Guess I don't understand then, so I'll back away.

I appreciate all the information you provided. In the movie they pointed out how all BOP start out like the pictures you provided and then get “individualized” by the wearer or haberdasher. If I knock the diamond crown out of my hat it goes really flat and square open crown. It just made he think Art may have used a BOP as a starting point for this hat.
Johnny

 

[Just A Hat Rack]

An old Canadian made Stetson. Could never get comfortable in a hat this big. Tried going for a teardrop crown but finally gave up. Knocked it back out to open crown and gave it a Conagher / Monty Walsh bash.
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Not sure where or when I would wear this outside of the yard, but I do love the western style.
Johnny

Looks great Johnny. Nice color and shape. Wear it with pride, and good health!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I appreciate all the information you provided. In the movie they pointed out how all BOP start out like the pictures you provided and then get “individualized” by the wearer or haberdasher. If I knock the diamond crown out of my hat it goes really flat and square open crown. It just made he think Art may have used a BOP as a starting point for this hat.
Johnny

The BOP in the movie with the bound brim...great hat! I always thought that the BOP hats were worn open crown, but I’m sure that just like today their owners shaped them in all sorts of ways. I really like your hat by Art, and I’m partial to your crease too.

The hat that John Carradine wore in Stagecoach (39:25 in the Cowboy Hat Movie) was the one that I kept watching over and over. You can tell from the crown shot where you can see down into the crease what type of felt that hat has. I wonder if anyone could make you that hat today at any price?

 

[johnnycanuck]

The BOP in the movie with the bound brim...great hat! I always thought that the BOP hats were worn open crown, but I’m sure that just like today their owners shaped them in all sorts of ways. I really like your hat by Art, and I’m partial to your crease too.

The hat that John Carradine wore in Stagecoach (39:25 in the Cowboy Hat Movie) was the one that I kept watching over and over. You can tell from the crown shot where you can see down into the crease what type of felt that hat has. I wonder if anyone could make you that hat today at any price?

Thanks for the compliment. I get more compliments on this hat than any other I own. Must really suit me.

I think it was normal to crease a BOP. It’s like getting an open crown fedora. Canadian cowboys would wear a BOP but give it that Mountie bash. In fact that’s where the Mounties got it from, the locals work hats.

I had to check out the hat you meant. That white gambler? It looks the same quality as my Stetson 25. I have never felt another hat that quality. That includes my 5 custom beaver felt hats. You can get it duplicated but I am sure you would be hard pressed to find the same quality of felt.
Johnny

 

[deadlyhandsome]

The original BOP hat had a pretty low crown. There weren’t/aren’t many creases suitable for the hat. I think it looks great open.

 

[Tukwila]

Well I stopped today and watched the movie “the cowboy hat movie” and it occurred to me this could just be a “boss of the plains” hat shaped. It’s got a 3” brim and 5.5” open crown. Does that sound about right?
Johnny

Thanks for tip on the movie. Watching it in the background as I telework...

 

[Bamaboots]

In the Cowboy Hat Movie they show a catalog listing for No. 52392 Stetson’s Boss of the Plains with a 4 1/2” crown x 4” brim.. I don’t see many if any creases going into that hat.

 

[jlee562]

Ok, ok, I'll watch the movie!

I tend to think the derivative of the BOP is the campaign hat. My 1920's No. 1 quality came with a shallow campaign hat style crease which is about as much as you can get out of the crown height.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’m sure some of them took on a “crease” just from use and abuse.

 

[Bob Houghton]

Regarding all weather hats...
While looking for a custom hat maker, i found both this forum, and Northwest Hats; they are just a few miles away, in Eugene OR.

I use a beaver hat working in all weather, which for me means working all day in the rain, some days, and often downpours mixed with sun. Southeaster rain hats are ok, but not that comfortable when the sun peeks out. Hoods are a no go, visibility not good. A beaver hat sheds the rain all day and remains comfortable in the sun.

I need a size 8, which can’t be found off the shelf any more, so custom it is. Mike at Northwest Hats made just what i needed — wide brim, etc., and very reasonably.

So there it is: a good beaver western is for me the best rain hat you can get!

 

[johnnycanuck]

Regarding all weather hats...
While looking for a custom hat maker, i found both this forum, and Northwest Hats; they are just a few miles away, in Eugene OR.

I use a beaver hat working in all weather, which for me means working all day in the rain, some days, and often downpours mixed with sun. Southeaster rain hats are ok, but not that comfortable when the sun peeks out. Hoods are a no go, visibility not good. A beaver hat sheds the rain all day and remains comfortable in the sun.

I need a size 8, which can’t be found off the shelf any more, so custom it is. Mike at Northwest Hats made just what i needed — wide brim, etc., and very reasonably.

So there it is: a good beaver western is for me the best rain hat you can get!

Nice! I haven’t seen many of his westerns posted. Looks good on you, you should give us a review.

Talking about the durability in all weather I have a friend that is X generation Alberta farmer (they have no idea how long the family has been in province) her grandfather always wore the same grey cowboy hat her entire life all year round. A high quality 100% beaver number. Sent it away every few years in the winter to be serviced and it came back clean and looking brand new. Her dog took an exception to the hat two years ago and shredded it. Heartbroken he had to buy a new hat. She said it’s the same quality but a dark brown number. Two years later she still can’t get used to his “new look”.
Looks good on you and Wear it in good health my friend.
Johnny
P.S. no harm was done to the dog.

 

[Tukwila]

Regarding all weather hats...
While looking for a custom hat maker, i found both this forum, and Northwest Hats; they are just a few miles away, in Eugene OR.

I use a beaver hat working in all weather, which for me means working all day in the rain, some days, and often downpours mixed with sun. Southeaster rain hats are ok, but not that comfortable when the sun peeks out. Hoods are a no go, visibility not good. A beaver hat sheds the rain all day and remains comfortable in the sun.

I need a size 8, which can’t be found off the shelf any more, so custom it is. Mike at Northwest Hats made just what i needed — wide brim, etc., and very reasonably.

So there it is: a good beaver western is for me the best rain hat you can get!

I was just down to see Mike last Saturday. Which river are you on in that first picture? McKenzie, perhaps?

Love your hat! You should post it on the NW Hats thread, too:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/northwest-hats-eugene-ore.66155/page-96

 

[Bob Houghton]

I was just down to see Mike last Saturday. Which river are you on in that first picture? McKenzie, perhaps?

Love your hat! You should post it on the NW Hats thread, too:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/northwest-hats-eugene-ore.66155/page-96

 

[Bob Houghton]

Yes, i think he makes mostly dress hats, but can make anything, of course. He’s made several westerns for my compadres and I’ve seen lots of others. I guess its really about the felt quality and craftsmanship. Mike seems top notch in both.

Thats Mckenzie in the sun, Willamette in the rain.

Thanks for the nice compliments!