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Recent content by Bob Smalser

  1. Bob Smalser

    Unseen In The Worse Places [Blackjacks & Saps]

    Boston Leather (a police equipment manufacturer) still makes high-quality saps in three sizes and either 2-ply or 4-ply. http://www.bostonleather.com/products/impact_weapon And Copsplus Police Supply is a convenient vendor. http://www.copsplus.com/ Around 25 bucks.
  2. Bob Smalser

    Borsalino ?'s

    Unlikely, unless it says that on the hat somewhere. Borsalino used predominately rabbit fur felts, as did all other European makers. I see a number of eBay listings claiming beaver fur in European-made hats that are probably mistaken. Just because it's soft and feels expensive doesn't mean...
  3. Bob Smalser

    Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

    No worries. A new hat of that quality runs 200 bucks or more today. If it turns out to be really bad, for 80 bucks that includes shipping, Catalena Hatters will make it 100% new in any size you want, and you'll still be ahead. Like this 40-dollar Borso that turned out to need everything:
  4. Bob Smalser

    The Open Road Guild

    Dunno about where you are, but there's a protocol for such things around here. As a logger in a region with both, I wouldn't want a real cattleman to poke me in the eye for putting on airs trying to look like something I'm not. ;) But otherwise, I've come to love the cattleman's crease...
  5. Bob Smalser

    The Open Road Guild

    Here's a similar collection. I've worn fedoras for almost 50 years but since discovering this site, have been trading out for all Open Road styles, as since I retired I'm rarely in something other than work or casual clothes. Clockwise from top left: Stetson light tan beater to wear on...
  6. Bob Smalser

    Question about 1911 Campaign Hat cords

    Call Stratton and see if they'll make one for you from a 100% beaver hood. They used to do that for special orders, and they were nice felts. Otherwise Stratton's service felts today are largely cardboardy junk. http://www.strattonhats.com/ You also find vintage officer's hats...
  7. Bob Smalser

    Question about 1911 Campaign Hat cords

    What I find interesting is nobody I ever knew in the real Army ever called one of these a "M1911 campaign hat", as they were part of an integrated uniform and load bearing equipment change listed in the old field manuals as the "equipments of 1910", and if the hats had a model or "M"...
  8. Bob Smalser

    Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

    It may not be a hand-woven Optimo, but if the wind blows it into the bush hog, the tears shed will be proportional. ;)
  9. Bob Smalser

    Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

    Pan-a-lite straw Open Road style. As new. $12.23 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370184652504
  10. Bob Smalser

    Famous Hat Wearers of the Past!

    And a Winchester Model 12 30" nickle steel trap gun with a ventilated rib, which weren't common then.
  11. Bob Smalser

    Question about 1911 Campaign Hat cords

    I'm hardly an expert on vintage campaign hats, but I wore a campaign hat in the boy scouts back in the 1950's and later ran an outfit with drill sergeants who wore campaign hats. All of these hats had oblong brim eyelets to pass a strap through to adjust either as a neck band or a chin strap...
  12. Bob Smalser

    Question about 1911 Campaign Hat cords

    The cords adjust by holding the ball and pulling on each acorn. And the neckband or chin strap is looped onto the cord, this one on an earlier style hat.
  13. Bob Smalser

    Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

    Another Dobbs Fifteen, probably excellent. Seller unsure whether the sweat is 21" or 22" in circumference. For $18.50, I'll take the chance. ;)
  14. Bob Smalser

    Stitch Awl Tutorial - Sweatband Installation

    It's simple, it just takes some practice. Even with fixing your mistakes, the stitch awl is a heckuva lot easier than making all those lock stitches using traditional needle and sewing palm. The needle has a grooved side and a smooth side. Always insert the needle so the grooved side has...
  15. Bob Smalser

    Was horsehide used to make sweatbands in vintage hats?

    I wouldn't be too hasty. Just because Jeffery found that information somewhere doesn't mean it's 100% correct over so long a period. His primary references are old Sears catalogs, old print ads and Stetson's employee newspaper. It's surprising that more factory records didn't survive. And...
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