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The BORSALINO BROTHERHOOD

Beef

New in Town
Messages
32
Location
Denver, CO
Hi everyone. I am going to check out a Borsalino black fedora for sale later this morning, but I am not very familiar with Borsalino. I am relatively new to hats, but the price is too good to pass up. Does Borsalino make any "cheap" hats or are they all pretty much top notch hats? This photos are the one I am going to look at. Thoughts? Borsalino.jpg borsalino fed.jpg
 
Messages
10,342
Location
vancouver, canada
Seeing as no one has responded I will give my two cents worth. I am far from a Borsa expert. I have owned maybe a dozen or so over the last 20 years....currently have 4 vintage from the 1950's to early 60's. Have owned 1980's and even a mid 1990. I have liked them all. The felt was great on all of them even the contemporary ones as was the quality of the build. Hard to tell from the pic you showed as to its era but if the price is right and you like black then go for it. My only complaint about Borsa is the price of the new ones (last decade or so) I think they were/are overpriced and you pay far too much for the name badge....much better buys on the custom hat market. But as I stated,,,if the price is good for you and you like the hat not likely to be a misstep on your part.
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
Hi everyone. I am going to check out a Borsalino black fedora for sale later this morning, but I am not very familiar with Borsalino. I am relatively new to hats, but the price is too good to pass up. Does Borsalino make any "cheap" hats or are they all pretty much top notch hats? This photos are the one I am going to look at. Thoughts? View attachment 245401 View attachment 245402


I’m familiar with the hat in your photos. For the price and being a size 7 1/2 I think you’ll do fine. I will say that they run small, in fact, I’d say they often run a full size small. The European market hats are known for this, but the more recent black US religious market hats are even worse. The hat in question is not one of the prized vintage Borsalinos, but it’s a good deal for $50 (less if they’ll deal).

To answer your actual question, Borsalino did make some lower quality hats and their rainproof line is something I avoid.
 
Messages
10,342
Location
vancouver, canada
I’m familiar with the hat in your photos. For the price and being a size 7 1/2 I think you’ll do fine. I will say that they run small, in fact, I’d say they often run a full size small. The European market hats are known for this, but the more recent black US religious market hats are even worse. The hat in question is not one of the prized vintage Borsalinos, but it’s a good deal for $50 (less if they’ll deal).

To answer your actual question, Borsalino did make some lower quality hats and their rainproof line is something I avoid.
$50 is a good price. The lowest I paid was $40 for the mid 90's one but it was a stingy brim
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
$50 is a good price. The lowest I paid was $40 for the mid 90's one but it was a stingy brim


I almost bought it myself when I saw it for sale a few days ago, but all of my similar Borsalinos have run small, seriously small. My vintage US market Borsalinos have been pretty much true to size, and the vintage European hats maybe 1/4 to 1/2 size small, but this era Borsalino has run at least one full size small for me! The quality though has been decent or better.
 

Beef

New in Town
Messages
32
Location
Denver, CO
I almost bought it myself when I saw it for sale a few days ago, but all of my similar Borsalinos have run small, seriously small. My vintage US market Borsalinos have been pretty much true to size, and the vintage European hats maybe 1/4 to 1/2 size small, but this era Borsalino has run at least one full size small for me! The quality though has been decent or better.
You are correct that it is $50, and I figured that it was a great price considering even cheapo ones run about $35 to $40. Do you think this is just a wool felt, or could it possibly be fur felt?
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
You are correct that it is $50, and I figured that it was a great price considering even cheapo ones run about $35 to $40. Do you think this is just a wool felt, or could it possibly be fur felt?


No, it’s definitely a fur felt hat. Rabbit or a rabbit and hare blend. It’s been for sale for a few days...maybe make a lower offer? If you like the style, $50 is very fair too.
 
Last edited:
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
You are correct that it is $50, and I figured that it was a great price considering even cheapo ones run about $35 to $40. Do you think this is just a wool felt, or could it possibly be fur felt?


Since the sign tag isn’t shown, I’d confirm the size. More than a few sellers think the inside length measurement is the size.
 

Beef

New in Town
Messages
32
Location
Denver, CO
Since the sign tag isn’t shown, I’d confirm the size. More than a few sellers think the inside length measurement is the size.
Well, I went and looked at it and it was a great looking hat, and was feather light. But alas, when I tried it on, it fit more like a tight 59 or possibly a 58, so it was too small and I left empty handed. In case anyone else in the Denver area is interested, here is the craigslist link - https://denver.craigslist.org/clo/d/denver-mens-black-fedora/7150855356.html
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
Well, I went and looked at it and it was a great looking hat, and was feather light. But alas, when I tried it on, it fit more like a tight 59 or possibly a 58, so it was too small and I left empty handed. In case anyone else in the Denver area is interested, here is the craigslist link - https://denver.craigslist.org/clo/d/denver-mens-black-fedora/7150855356.html


Sorry it didn’t work out for you. For what it’s worth, mine have responded reasonably well to stretching, but my limit is 1/2 size up. It sounds like you ended up disappointed, but at least you didn’t have to pay for a hat that you can’t fit into.
 
Messages
17,855
Location
Nederland
Soooo. After waiting for well over three months now I'm going to have to live with the idea that these next two hats are not going to make it to my doorstep and must be written off as victims of the corona-pandemic. In the grand scheme of things there are worse things, but I can tell you that I'm pretty bummed out by this. So, for posterity, here are seller's pics.

Borsalino Landasti Misto Ruitor

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TheOldFashioned

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,042
Location
The Great Lakes
Soooo. After waiting for well over three months now I'm going to have to live with the idea that these next two hats are not going to make it to my doorstep and must be written off as victims of the corona-pandemic. In the grand scheme of things there are worse things, but I can tell you that I'm pretty bummed out by this. So, for posterity, here are seller's pics.

Borsalino Landasti Misto Ruitor

View attachment 245747 View attachment 245748 View attachment 245749 View attachment 245750 View attachment 245751 View attachment 245752 View attachment 245753 View attachment 245754 View attachment 245755 View attachment 245756


Can I like and dislike this? That's a real shame if those don't show up, but after three months I guess it's probably not likely. Just curious, was this through the Global Shipping Program?

I really would have liked to have seen the Aligi ribbon on that Misto Ruitor. I have an Aligi ribbon on my Averla Gorasgu and it's definitely a shade of brown. It appears slightly so on the seller pics but for the most part looks closer to black on my screen.
 

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