Posted on Apr 25, 2015
SSG Flight Medic
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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"?
Posted in these groups: Cavalry collar insignia Cavalry4276e14c Uniforms
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MAJ Senior Observer   Controller/Trainer
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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!
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MAJ Senior Observer   Controller/Trainer
MAJ (Join to see)
>1 y
Tell Trent I sent you!
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MAJ Senior Observer   Controller/Trainer
MAJ (Join to see)
>1 y
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
Cpl Mark McMiller
>1 y
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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1SG James A. "Bud" Parker
1SG James A. "Bud" Parker
9 y
Damned good response, Major Hoiland!
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CPT Company Commander
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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.
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SPC Treatment Medic
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
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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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
>1 y
Worked for me!
BLUE SPADER! HOOAH!
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SPC Treatment Medic
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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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SSG Flight Medic
SSG (Join to see)
>1 y
I like that idea. I'll have to look around.
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SPC Treatment Medic
SPC (Join to see)
>1 y
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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