The Dream Hat.....

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Most of you guys know I'm obsessed with hats, I have a closet full and still look for them constantly. I have very few vintage ones because I wear a 7 3/4 which was apparently a rare size back 40 or 80 years ago. Thankfully there are still a few of the old hat companies still around and they still produce some really nice vintage style hats.

My holy grail is a Dobbs Gamebird, I've hunted one literally for years. They came in three colors Mallard (green), Grouse (brown), and Teal (blue). I'd like to have all three but one would certainly please me. They updated the style over the years, varying widths of brim and band. The classic is the earlier, with the wide brim and little gamebird pin on the side.

Anybody else have a holy grail hat they've always looked for?

[Rick Losey]

Same fat head size as me, i gave up on old hats. I do have a near perfect condition silk top hat from the mid 1800's that suvived in its very well build leather hat trunk. Just thought it would look good sitting in this 1830's house. But it is several sizes too small to wear.

[Daryl Corona]

Any old Stetson or Woolrich fedora style hat. But my go to hat is a Filson tin packer hat for most hunting situations. If it gets really cold and windy I just stuff a wool scarf in the hat and presto! Now you have a waterproof, windproof, really warm hat. Can't have enough hats with brims that cover you 360. I confess, I'm also a hat horder.

[charlie cleveland]

i too like old hats..would like to have one of the old canvas hats that them old time quail hunters wore.dont know proper name but know what they look like i wore one for years but at last it musta plum wore out or wife canned it one.. destrey them are truly some sharp hats you posted..if you ever find them and there s an extra think of me... charlie

[Rick Losey]

i too like old hats..would like to have one of the old canvas hats that them old time quail hunters wore.dont know proper name but know what they look like i wore one for years but at last it musta plum wore out or wife canned it one.. destrey them are truly some sharp hats you posted..if you ever find them and there s an extra think of me... charlie

a jones cap?

[Dean Romig]

I can picture you in one of those hats Charlie but I dunno Charlie... I think your beard might cover up your nice necktie.

[Brian Stucker]

We bought those jones caps back in the 60's which were khaki/tan colored and worked pretty well out here in California for the warm fall opener. They added a jaunty look to an otherwise dowdy outfit.

After we'd finish up, the hats would come off and everyone would laugh at the next guy's hat hair. Wish I had my old hat....bet it still smells like citronella.

[Phillip Carr]

Destry,

I will keep my eye out for them here in the Southwest. I am always hitting antique shops, estate sale, etc.

[Don Kaas]

When I was in college in New York City, I was walking down my block towards Fifth Ave. on West 10th St. It was a cool late autumn afternoon. The street was quiet almost empty. Two ballet students were walking down the sidewalk in front of me, arm in arm. They suddenly parted. Then, just as quickly, the girls came back together their arms rejoining. The cause of their parting was something sitting in the middle of sidewalk. I took a few steps, bent down and picked it up. It was a brown Stetson Gun Club hat. I looked at it for a second, dusted it off and placed it on my head. It fit perfectly. I wore it all that winter. Sometime in the early spring, I went to listen to some jazz at Bradley's on University Place. I left it at the bar late that night. I went back in a light snow the next morning. The street looked clean and beautiful but the hat was gone. I loved that hat. I was proud of it. I miss it still...

[Bill Murphy]

Do you have pictures of the ballet students? The hat wouldn't have fit either me or Destry.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Kaas,

What size hat do you wear? I'll keep an eye out. I just picked up a Stetson Open Road in a 7 3/8 but already sold it.

Charlie,

What size hat do you wear? And I mean measured size, like 7 3/8 or 7 5/8 etc.


DLH

[charlie cleveland]

i wear a 7 3/4... charlie

[Destry L. Hoffard]

Charlie,

You got the same problem I got.

DLH

[Don Kaas]

7 3/8ths

[Bill Murphy]

I'm one of those rare and coveted big heads like Destry. Maybe some day he will find a hat that is perfect for me but not for him.