Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Trying a new hat brand.

I shopped two states and four counties today looking for a new hat. Nobody sells a real cowboy hat between Ontario Or and Boise Id, or anything I would call cowboy boots either for that matter.

Last week I got one dealer to order in a pair of Lamas in my size 10 EE. Still waiting on them to arrive, only available in chocolate. But back to the hat.

After checking every store I could think of today, all they carried were wool hats. I finally remembered Idaho Hat Co in Nampa Id. It is a Mexican guy who sells hats and a few boots out of his little home on a residential street on the less prosperous side of town.

So, I googled him up and called the number. Yes, still in business. I drive over and he checks inventory for a 7 1/8. He comes back with an American Hat Co in Pecan. The 7 1/8 is a bit tight, but 7 1/4 fits perfect, so they must run a bit smaller than Stetson and Resistol.

The box says 7X beaver, but that means nothing between brands because there is no standard for X vs %beaver. It seems to be a decent hat. Made in America. Cloth lined. And I guess the color will match the new boots. Just a typical wide brim hat with a crease in the crown.

Now if I can find a felt safe solvent to take the tractor grease stains out of my silver belly Resistol.

I know people I wouldn't recognize without a hat. In my opinion, people who wear them as part of their job look uncomfortable without one and downright miserable if forced to wear a necktie too.

Next time go down to Elko. JM Capriola.

All the real cowboys are wearing Nikes- - - - -they don't want people to think they're truck drivers!
Jerry

Pics or it ........well....you know.

I do like beaver pics. 7 beavers....even better.

I have had several hats rebuilt at Catalina Hatters in Bryan,Texas. If the silver belly is a good quality hat might be worth looking into. They do get kinda dirty wearing them every day.

American Hat Co. makes good hats.

I'd try some Fast Orange hand cleaner. Won't hurt anything and should work if you go at it a few times.

Went to grade school and roomed at Texas A&M with Tom, one of the grandsons of the company's founder. His dad Bubba became an amazing competitive saltwater fisherman in retirement. All ancient history to me now but the Silver family was the best of stock. I'll bet the hats are still solid too.

Thanks guys. The Resistol has some burn scars from campfire embers encountered elk hunting about ten years ago, other wise I would not have been wearing it while handling hydraulic hoses on the 4020. So it really probably is not a prospect for "rebuilding".

But I would like to remove the worst of the oil and grease stains so it is presentable for trips to the grocery or gas station.

I had considered washing it with Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber, or brake cleaner, but did not know if the felt would survive.

Fast Orange might lift the grease, but how would you get rid of the Fast Orange? Run it through the dishwasher?

My son inherited a Stetson 7X silver narrow brim hat from my dad. Too small for me. It's an awesome hat.

I was told at the Ofarrel hat company, each x indicates the amount of felt used. But unless the hat is specified beaver, it is made from rabbit .

With Stetson and Resistol the number of X indicates percentage beaver in the felt. The rest is often muskrat and rabbit.

I do not know what it means with American Hat.

And no a 10 X Stetson is not equal to a 10 X Resistol. Each company has devised its own criteria for X designation. There is no industry standard.

A little information from American Hat: 1000X is beaver belly mixed with mink. 500X is beaver belly. 200X is pure beaver.

Perhaps my 7X sniffed a beaver at some point.

Try a dry cleaner.

I think it just means their 7X is better tban their 5X.

Thanks, I had not considered that.

I also couldn't find a good hat last time I need an new one, so I had a 100% Beaver felt western hat made by Northwest Hat Co. in Eugene, Or.

It's made to fit my head shape, and fits better than any hat I've ever had on my head.

Pretty reasonable for 100% Beaver. I think they're $350. now.

The same quality hat from Stetson would be about $1,000.

Virgil B.

Forgot to mention;

I also had Northwest Hat Co. re-build, block and reshape a 30 year old Resistol, and make it into a Fedora.

Looks like a brand new hat now! Mike Miller of the Northwest Hat Co. can do amazing things with old hats!

Virgil B.

Thanks VB! Have to put that on the visit list for the next rare stop in that area.