How to Identify a Stetson Cowboy Hat
The Stetson hat is commonly associated with cowboys. These hats were originally created by John B. Stetson who specifically designed the hat both to resist rain and create an air cushion that keeps the head warm. The hat is also designed to serve as a bucket when necessary, which caused the hat to earn the nickname the "10-gallon hat." The Stetson hat is now produced by a subcompany of Hatco called Stetson Hat Co. The hat is worn throughout the world and is sometimes seen as a symbol of America outside the United States.
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Instructions
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Measure the dimensions of the hat. Stetson hats have an approximate 6-inch high crown and a 7-inch brim, though it varies from company to company.
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2
Look for the name “Stetson” stamped on the inside of the hatband.
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3
Examine the material of the hat. Stetson hats are made of a variety of furs that are designed to be durable enough to resist adverse weather. The furs are also selected to protect the wearer from UV rays and keep the head cool. Sometimes the Stetson hat is made of straw.
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4
Look at the color of the hat. Stetson hats have colors that range from white to black, beige to dark brown and tan to gray.
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5
Check the hat for a crown, which is the top part of the hat. The bottom part of the hat is called the rim. The crown is where the head goes inside the hat. The Stetson crown usually has three depressions: one in the center and one on both the left and right side of the hat. Some hats have an oval depression with a dome in the center of the depression.
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Look at the shape of the rim. The rim is usually big. Sometimes only part of the rim curls upwards, while other times the entire rim curls upwards.
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Find a strap that encircles the crown of the Stetson hat. This band sometimes matches the color of the hat, while other times it contrasts it. The strap can come in beige, white, brown or black. The strap sometimes has studs or is braided.
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Tips & Warnings
Stetson hats are often worn in the West. The hats have helped people in the frontier survive. The Stetson hat is also worn in the frontier by those who identify with the cowboy motif. The hat is often seen as a symbol of the American West.
Hollywood films often use Stetson hats. The white and black hats are used to identify the good guys and the bad guys, with the good guys wearing white hats and the bad guys wearing black hats.
Sometimes, the Stetson hat has a few eyelets on the side of the hat, which are metal circles that provide ventilation.
Those who own Stetson hats can shape the hat however they like. This can make the hat difficult to identify at times because the hat may not have the same original shape.
References
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