Has anyone had any experience with the beeehive sloch hats , produced by Dirty Billy, and sold by Fall Creek? I am on a fairly limited budget, and thought that these may be an affordable alternative, made by a reutable hatmaker.
http://www.fcsutler.com/fchats.asp#Civilian

Thank you
Marvin Boyce
Dardanelle, Arkansas  

--Last edited by mboyce on 2008-01-21 22:35:52 --

Marvin,

You may want to ask Billy himself but I believe he makes a couple of different lines, one for the more authentic which sell around $100, and a more economical line which is likely what Andy at Fall Creek is selling. I did notice that the FC version was made from wool felt and the interior was machine done instead of hand finished. Not sure if Billy uses wool felt or fur felt in his better hats.

Dunno....

I guess I'm in the school of thought that headgear should be viewed as an investment. Kind of makes sense to put a few more dollars the first time into a hat that's well-made and of quality materials that will hold up against the elements.

You may want to give Tim Bender a look. Outstanding product and excellent service. Go to http://www.benderhats.com/ .

Don't know if Tim Allen is still in the hat business or not. But he also makes/made an excellent product.

Greg, us Mess No.1 fellas were discussing Tim Allen this past weekend.  We haven't heard from him in a long time.  Can't go wrong with Bender though.  He is first rate!  

--Last edited by Ken Cornett on 2008-01-23 17:08:17 --

Last I heard Tim Allen was retiring from hat making; of course this was several months ago when the announcement hit the AC.

Anyway, I agree that for a wide brimmed hat Tim Bender makes a fine one.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-01-23 16:47:29 --

I recently bought my first Tim Bender hat.  It most assuredly will not be the last.  Not only is it a quality product, but its delivery was prompt.

Without seeing those hats from D.B. I'd guess they're the same line that some may term "floppy" or "Hillbilly." More of a pressed felt hat blank, instead of a more finished hat.  I purchased one several years ago at his shop in Goofysburg and, attempted to "make my own hat." I sewed in a leather band, a liner of shirting cloth, ribbon around the brim edge and the appropriate hat band bow. After the first coat of shellac; I should have stopped. It's a little stiff but, it sheds water tremendously.

Deleted by poster.  

--Last edited by oldkingcrow on 2008-02-13 16:01:04 --

As I am quite familiar with ODB's - Ole Dirty Billy- line of hats, I can tell you that the hat at Fall Creek and a couple of other vendors in the past is a more economy line hat that is not his normal line of goods.  They do indeed use a lesser felt without the same handfinishing that goes into his other hats.  They are a notch above the "hillbilly" hats elsewhere, but they are truly not his usual quality in other hats.  I won't steer you away from Tim Bender, Clearwater, or other fine purveyors of hats, but when it comes to a "one stop shop", few come close to Bill Wickham.  Some others may talk about his irritablity, his customer service, etc., but he does indeed make a great hat.  You can get anything from wool felt, nutria, or beaver, and his usual quantity of styles is immense.  I own hats from most of the quality makers in the business, but for some reason Billy's and Joe Blunts hats and caps are on my head in the field.

I bought one of the economy DB slouch hats when I first got into the hobby and wore it off and on for about a year before it shrank and otherwise became disfigured.  It's now in a pile of "loaner gear" that I'd love to give away because I can't see myself asking anyone to give me money for it.

Buying that sort of hat only really makes sense if you do like Dave and use it as the base for something better (in which case you have to figure in the value of your time), or you just want something to tide you over until you do have the funds for something that will last, or you don't plan on staying that long in the hobby.

The more expensive hats cited above have an advantage not just in authenticity but in durability, which many of us learn the hard way.  In my case the low-end DB hat ended up an additional expense rather than a savings.  This isn't the case with the forage cap that I bought from Dirty Billy -- $95 was way more than I wanted to admit to my wife that I'd spent on such, but it's served me well for more than six years now.  

People will tell you that the hat is the most noticeable part of your impression.  It's certainly one that generally has the most immediate impact on your comfort, which gives you another reason for the extra investment.   So on the whole I'd say treat yourself right and find some other place to save.

Good luck!

I have to echo what Ross said. I own a number of slouch hats that were made by various quality makers. I still like my Dirty Billy "Special" the best. It's been rained on, slept in, and otherwise beat up; but it still retains it's shape.

Nothing wrong with the other makers either, but you don't have to be afraid of Billy's good hats. I would suggest you deal directly with Billy, so you know what you are buying

BTW, the hat I'm holding, in my Avatar, was made by Clearwater; another good source for quality hats.  

--Last edited by Bill on 2008-03-05 13:57:54 --

I have a Dirty Billy slouch that I have had for 11 years, and by far my favorite piece of headgear.  
To get to the question about Fall Creek’s DB Beehive.  I was told by one of the ladies that work the sutlery that they are headgear from "Gods and Generals".  So for that reason I would have to "assume" they are not top quality; however, you need to let your budget dictate.

Jake Nott  

--Last edited by Jake Nott on 2008-08-30 13:43:46 --

I bought one from FC. It is of "lesser" quality than the high end run. I have a Starbuck's Bummers. I got great praise from my more than streamer unit. The DB from FC got even more praise. Several folks wanted to know where I got it and couldn't stop talking about it.

I "campaign" at the events and have slept, sweated, and had it rained on. It hasn't shrunck or discolored in over three months and 7 events. Of course I keep hat stretchers in all my hats when they are home.