Posted on Apr 25, 2015
The Cav Hat: Anyone know an economical way to buy a Stetson?
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I'm a medic attached to a squadron out of the tenth cavalry regiment, and I just earned my spurs. As a spur holder I'm planning on getting a Stetson for all official cav functions, my only issue is the price I'm seeing some that are close to two hundred dollars, as a pfc I make enough to support my family but two hundred dollars on an optional piece of uniform just won't work. Anyone on here have a more economical way of buying the "Cav Hat"?
Cavalry
Uniforms
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 23
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SSG (Join to see), congratulations Trooper on earning your spurs! Unless you've grown up around Western wear and horse tack, I know there is a certain amount of sticker-shock that comes with pricing and shopping for that Cav Trooper hat! Notice, I didn't say Stetson! There's a reason for that. You're a Trooper in the 10th at Carson. I know of a great hatmaker up in Greeley who will custom-make you a Cav hat, put your name on it, the date you earned your spurs, and your Regimental Crest for right around the same price as a Stetson off the rack. You go into his shop, he custom measures your head, the hat is uniquely yours! Forever! His name is Trent Johnson and he has made hats for everyone from lowly cowboys to Vladimir Putin and both Presidents Bush. I'm not a Cav guy, but I'm a horse guy, and I own two hats made by Trent.
Here's his website: http://greeleyhatworks.com/
He doesn't have pics of his Cav stuff on his website, but shoot him an email, and he'll send you some pics. This guy rocks! Check him out!
Here's his website: http://greeleyhatworks.com/
He doesn't have pics of his Cav stuff on his website, but shoot him an email, and he'll send you some pics. This guy rocks! Check him out!
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MAJ (Join to see)
Oh, I did fail to mention, Trent will let you put something like 20% down, and gradually pay on it each month until you're complete. Since I'm seein' the budget thing is a factor, just thought I'd mention that. Of course, just get your proud Aunt PV2 (Join to see) to spring for it and don't worry about the cost at all! That would be your smartest course of action! ;-)
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Cpl Mark McMiller
Just because it says Stetson on it, doesn't necessarily make it good quality. Most of the stetsons you see in stores are 4x or 5x. The x number is supposed to be the percent of beaver felt -- the more beaver felt, the better the hat -- with the rest of the felt usually coming from hare. So a 20x hat should be 20% beaver felt; 30x is 30%; etc. However, some hatters have skewed that quite a but, so you should ask the hatter what percent beaver felt they use. The minimum amount of beaver felt for a good quality hat, in my opinion, is around 20%. The ultimate hat would be a true 100x; a true 100x is 100% beaver felt. You can pour water on a 100% beaver felt hat all day long and it will not lose its shape. In fact, once it is shaped, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to change it. The hat will literally last for years and years. Stetson makes a 100x hat, but for the price you could easily have a custom made 100x made by most hatters. I have two 100x natural (no dye) custom made hats. The reason I have two is because two weeks after I got the first one, I wore it on New Years eve to the Rockin' Rodeo nightclub in Tempe, AZ. Some assclown sprayed the crowd with champagn at midnight. Champagn stains cannot be removed from a felt hat without ruining the hat, so I bought another; fortunately my friend, hatter J.W. Brooks, gave me a great deal. I've had the hat since 2004 and it still looks brand new.
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Put in a 4187 to go to an infantry unit. We don't have these type of problems. (Joking)
But besides setting some money to the and save up for it. Our you could see if Ebay has some. I agree it is a bit much for an item you may not wear much.
But besides setting some money to the and save up for it. Our you could see if Ebay has some. I agree it is a bit much for an item you may not wear much.
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SPC (Join to see)
No jokes aside. Seeing as he's a fresh medic, he should be out with the infantry. That's how fresh medics become great medics
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PFC Davis. Find your local E4 short timer that is disgruntled with the unit. Offer him a nice case of beers or a good liter of hard alcohol for the Stetson. Then buy your maroon cord and your all set. Cheapest way of obtaining the goods.
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SPC (Join to see)
That's now I got my hands on mine as a PFC without having to shell out massive money. Turned a 200$ purchase into a 60$ purchase and a hangover.
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What ever you do, spend the money to get it shaped! You do not want to look like Run DMC.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Rundmc_2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Rundmc_2.jpg
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MSgt (Join to see)
Since your in Colorado find an old cowboy. Many of them can shape it anyway you want.
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1SG James A. "Bud" Parker
This is a few of us in the AC Hangar at Can Tho AAF in Vietnam in 1972. Photos like this are priceless because we wore the Cav Hat. "If you ain't Cav, . . ."
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The only suggestion I have is to
1. get a temporary used hat online, go as cheap as you can without going below unit standards. Or, just wait (see 2 below)
2. Save your pennies for a personal one in the future. Every time you drop $4-5 on a mocha coffee drink or get a pizza because DFAC food sucked at lunch that day, think about that stetson. You can have a monthly amount pulled from your account and sent to savings. If you can even afford $25/month, you will have enough to afford one by the Holiday Dress inspection season.
1. get a temporary used hat online, go as cheap as you can without going below unit standards. Or, just wait (see 2 below)
2. Save your pennies for a personal one in the future. Every time you drop $4-5 on a mocha coffee drink or get a pizza because DFAC food sucked at lunch that day, think about that stetson. You can have a monthly amount pulled from your account and sent to savings. If you can even afford $25/month, you will have enough to afford one by the Holiday Dress inspection season.
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SSG (Join to see)
I might have to do both thank you SSG. There might be an old one around the aid station. I'll definitely be looking forward to the real thing though.
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Yes these suckers can get rather pricey. A good beaver felt one is going to run in the $200 range. Save up for it but get the real deal - once you break in your stetson it will make more sense as well as hold up better. Ware it with pride and then pass it on to the next generation.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
If you find a beaver felt hat for $200, most likely it contains a very small amount of beaver and a majority of hare. A factory or custom made 100% beaver felt hat (100x) runs about $900 retail; you might be able to find one for around $700; and is the highest quality hat available. A decent quality hat would have at least 20% beaver felt and usually runs about $450 retail. Anyone telling you the $200 hat they are selling is good quality is either lying or doesn't have a clue.
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SPC David S.
You can find a 5X one around $200. Yes the 20X + $300 and up to $1200. Not sure if its legit but on ebay you can find them. $500 hat for $149 makes me wonder.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serratelli-20X-Beaver-Felt-E5-Abilene-Cowboy-Hat-NEVER-WORN-/ [login to see] 32?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item487d776a64
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Serratelli-20X-Beaver-Felt-E5-Abilene-Cowboy-Hat-NEVER-WORN-/ [login to see] 32?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item487d776a64
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Stetsons and Cav Hats
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Do what I have done many times. Cut out the middle man in the buying equasion and write a letter to Stetson Hat Company asking them to help you. Include hat color, cord type, and hat size because they may just send you one completely free like that did me once in Vietnam! Good luck, my friend.
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MAJ (Join to see) has provided the best answer that I've seen so far, but as far as financial advise goes the only thing I can offer is to recommend that you build up to it. A couple hundred dollars is a decent chunk of change for a PFC, but something like setting aside 50 dollars a pay check shouldn't be outside the realm of possibility. Of course I'm not in your shoes and don't know your financial situation, but I just recommend that you save up for it and get something quality made that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You can live without a stetson for a few months or so until you can afford it. Congratulations on earning your spurs! I never made an attempt to earn my silver spurs and while I wouldn't consider it a regret as that's too strong of a word, I do feel something similar to it.
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SSG (Join to see)
I wasn't given to much of a choice I was sponsored by my team leader and then voluntold by my psg that I was going. Once I've started something I refuse to quit that's all that kept me going. it was rough, but after earning them I realized what an honor it was to be nominated. I'll be earning my gold with this unit too
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SGT (Join to see)
I have my gold spurs so that contributes to my feelings of not having much to regret. Speaking medic to medic here what you've done is exactly they type of thing that sets you aside from your peers in a positive way. Medics aren't expected to earn their spurs, so the fact that you have shows your line guys (I assume you're a line medic) that you're more than just their doc, your a guy willing to go the extra mile to prove yourself worthy of fighting alongside them. All I can say is keep it up and that these are the types of things that your line soldiers notice.
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SSG (Join to see)
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I have a Stetson that hasn't left it's box in 5 years, so I definitely understand your hesitance to buy something you won't wear often. However, I would still save your money and buy the real deal. Every time I've tried to cheap out on something, whether it was military equipment or in other areas of life I've ended up with replacing it with what I should've bought in the first place.
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