How to tell wool from rabbit/fur felt

[Brother cavefish]

i just recently purchased a older i guess snowy river Akubra it looks a little thinner and softer, how would one know it it is rabbit or wool

 

[job]

I don't think Akubra has ever made wool hats. Wool would be thicker and rougher if it was made by them.

 

[Brother cavefish]

I don't think Akubra has ever made wool hats. Wool would be thicker and rougher if it was made by them.

i hope your right,

 

[tommyK]

I've wondered about the possibility of some wool content in the modern Akubras I have.

I have 4 of them. The tawny fawn Fed 4 and Fawn Bushman both feel rougher than an old wool Bailey I have. My silverbelly Campdraft and moonstone Fed 4 are softer.

Probably just something to do with a particular run of felt or perhaps how color dyes affect the finish. I don't think they have any rabbit shortages or reason to "cheap out".

 

[job]

Being built tough can leave them with a lot of stiffener and under pounced.

 

[ingineer]

Perhaps an expert will chime in but it seems to be that the pastel colours are always softer since the go through an additional "bleaching" operation.
This info on man's poor attempt on animal control has been posted here before from another source :
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2014/s4011429.htm
Richard

 

[tommyK]

Being built tough can leave them with a lot of stiffener and under pounced.

That sounds about right. The finish is a trade off I'm willing to make for a tough hat I'm not afraid to wear in the worst weather. Still a great bargain too.

 

[tonyb]

Perhaps an expert will chime in but it seems to be that the pastel colours are always softer since the go through an additional "bleaching" operation. ...
Richard

Sure seems that way to me.

 

[fedoracentric]

I think a big tell for wool vs fur is the smell. Each have a particular smell, especially when wet.

 

[tonyb]

My experience with Akubras is limited, so keep that in mind when I say that I have never handled an Akubra with what I would consider a nice finish. I like their styles, and reports here are that they are quite durable. But they have a lousy "hand," even worse than some woollies I've shaken hands with. Part of that might be due to the source material, but I suspect the bigger part is that Akubra just doesn't pay much attention to body finish. Maybe they figure the additional trouble just isn't worth it.

 

[tonyb]

I can almost always tell by handling the body. But remember, I said "almost." I can tell the difference between Winchester's dress (rabbit) staples and their 100 percent beavers every time, though.

 

[fedoracentric]

...I have never handled an Akubra with what I would consider a nice finish. ... Maybe they figure the additional trouble just isn't worth it.

Seems to me they do it on purpose to befit their rough and tumble, hard using, outback reputation. Why put a fine finish on a trail hat?

 

[Zombie_61]

...Probably just something to do with a particular run of felt or perhaps how color dyes affect the finish. I don't think they have any rabbit shortages or reason to "cheap out".

Actually...

Rabbit Shortage Forces Akubra to Look Offshore for Raw Hat Materials

It does appear they're doing what they can to continue using rabbit fur, but if they're forced to take what they can get the quality of the felt might slip a bit.

Seems to me they do it on purpose to befit their rough and tumble, hard using, outback reputation. Why put a fine finish on a trail hat?

I concur. As I understand it, in Australia Akubras are primarily a working man's hat and, as such, wouldn't need to be as "finished" as a dress hat.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

If it's an older Akubra then you can be sure it's fur. Could be softer 'cause it's seen a lot of weather &/or has been handled a lot & the shellac has worn down. Thin fur felts don't necessarily mean inferior, on the contrary. you'd be lucky to ever find a thin wool felt hat.
Due to the rabbit shortage in Oz, Akubra faces a very uncertain future, especially where quality is concerned, so these 'older models' will no doubt be much sought after.

 

[T Jones]

i hope your right,

I believe you're safe. The rougher texture of the Akubra fur felts compared to the smoother texture of the vintage fur felts is the difference in the finishing processes that were used.

 

[tonyb]

Seems to me they do it on purpose to befit their rough and tumble, hard using, outback reputation. Why put a fine finish on a trail hat?

Seems plausible. A manufacturer has to weigh where his resources are best expended. More pouncing takes more time, and a bit more supply (abrasives) expense. But they pounce 'em some. They aren't THAT rough. And Akubra does indeed make "city" hats.

 

[Hercule]

What is this?!!! Two pages of a thread and somebody hasn't chimed in to say you can tell a wool hat when people run away screaming in abject horror at the sight of it. Come on guys, you're letting me down.

But seriously, in my experience it's a bit hard to quantify in words, though in hand one can usually tell which is which. Of course you'll find wide ranging qualities with both materials, and it also depends how the hat is made and treated. I tend to find fur to be a bit more dense (tighter?) felt, with perhaps a degree of fragility to it, than wool felt.

 

[gtdean48]

I've pounced all of my Imperial Campdrafts as they were a tad wooly when I got them out of the box.

 

[RJR]

I've had the same experience with "wooly"Imperial CDs.

 

[Rogera]

I've pounced all of my Imperial Campdrafts as they were a tad wooly when I got them out of the box.

Me too