The Official Stetson Nutria Quality Thread

[glider]

Stetson and any other company is in business to make a profit. I suspect that nutria came into production of hats in an attempt to cut cost from beaver fur. It obviously didn't work because a nutria hat is fairly rare.

 

[One Drop]

Stetson and any other company is in business to make a profit. I suspect that nutria came into production of hats in an attempt to cut cost from beaver fur. It obviously didn't work because a nutria hat is fairly rare.

I thought Nutria was used by Stetson from very early on, is that not the case? They had various quality grades like Nutria Quality and Real Nutria, if I'm not mistaken, from their first century of operations. They seem to be far more common than later in the 20th century.

 

[RossRYoung]

Nutria was very common, across several different quality designations, dress/western weights, and decades. It started to ween off by the late 50s/early 60s when just ‘Nutria Quality’ (most likely a blended felt) existed in their Western offerings.

 

[glider]

If it was in fact a cost cutting measure it really doesn't matter when it started. Hell, now they're trying to sell, and are I guess, Buffalo fur felt.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

If it was in fact a cost cutting measure it really doesn't matter when it started. Hell, now they're trying to sell, and are I guess, Buffalo fur felt.

I don’t see it as cost cutting but rather offering various price points. Staple, No. 1 Quality, 3X, 4X, 5X, 7X etc. are all for price points as well as being better suited for their intended uses. Rabbit, hare, nutria, beaver, and other furs are all useful for hat making, and sometimes the cheaper furs make the best hats (thinking of rabbit and Borsalino fedoras).

 

[MikeinRome]

Late 40"s to early 50's Stetson Nutria Quality, rescued from eBay. 3 inch brim, 6 inch open crown. About to send off for cleaning and replacement ribbon.

The same Nutria Quality hat after being cleaned and new ribbon at Paris Hatters.

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Boss Raw Edge, Kettle Finish, Real Nutria. Dates to second half of the 1930's. Lot Number 7434. Has 4 1/2 inch brim with about 1/4 inch edge binding on underside of brim only. Has 7 inch open crown. Both the 6-cord ribbon and edge trim are 2-tone. The photos make the hat look grayish, but it's actually a very light brownish.

 

[RossRYoung]

Awesome one Mike, and a block # not commonly seen! I still gotta share my BREKF, though mines about a decade newer than yours. Great find

 

[MikeinRome]

Awesome one Mike, and a block # not commonly seen! I still gotta share my BREKF, though mines about a decade newer than yours. Great find

Thanks, Ross. Can't believe my luck and that I got it at what I think was a bargain price. The seller pics showed what looked like some rather bad moth bites which turned out to be so insignificant that I could hardly find them, but I think they scared away some other bidders.

 

[MikeinRome]

Awesome one Mike, and a block # not commonly seen! I still gotta share my BREKF, though mines about a decade newer than yours. Great find

I'm not sure if I've seen a Boss Raw Edge as late as yours, and didn't know they were still making them that late.

 

[RossRYoung]

I'm not sure if I've seen a Boss Raw Edge as late as yours, and didn't know they were still making them that late.

Me either, I was hoping it was 30s but it’s definitely early to mid 40s. I’ll post it today in the 3x thread. Here’s the catalog that confirmed the date (along with the size tag and lack of LOT #)

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...fitters-stockmens-catalogs.51482/post-1854662

 

[MikeinRome]

Stetson Nutria Quality hat being auctioned on eBay now. Has 2 inch brim and 5 inch open crown according to the seller.

 

[MikeinRome]

About 1952 Stetson Nutria Quality. Has 3 1/2 inch brim and 5 3/4 inch open crown. Has a detached OPS tag behind sweatband.

 

[One Drop]

Stetson Boss Raw Edge, Kettle Finish, Real Nutria. Dates to second half of the 1930's. Lot Number 7434. Has 4 1/2 inch brim with about 1/4 inch edge binding on underside of brim only. Has 7 inch open crown. Both the 6-cord ribbon and edge trim are 2-tone. The photos make the hat look grayish, but it's actually a very light brownish.

I don't now how I missed this, that's an incredible example of a real grail Stetson.

 

[MikeinRome]

You're right. I was incredibly lucky to win the bid on this hat, and for much less than I was afraid it would take, but I was ready to bid to the Moon for this one, which I never expected to have a chance to own.