Found A Proper Hat For My Wolf & Klar 44

[quinn]

By way of appology for this post I might suggest that Texans place a tad more importance on hats that some other folks. Thanks.

The year that the first shipments of the new S&W 3rd model 44 reached the Wolf & Klar shelves in Ft. Worth, Texas, a new hat maker opened itts doors 40 miles east in Dallas. Resistol hats would become (and remain) a staple of Texas ranch life.

When I ran across this vintage Resistol at a flea market recently I though it was a perfect match for my latest Wolf & Klar addition--a 4" blue shipped in 1930. The gun shows some holster wear and dings but wears its original finish. The 3rd Model 44 originally built exclusively for Wof & Kar became know as the Wolf & Klar mode. Neither gun nor hat spears to have led asendentary life.

 

[huthike]

Nice combination! Love that gun.

 

[Model19man]

By way of appology for this post I might suggest that Texans place a tad more importance on hats that some other folks. Thanks.

The year that the first shipments of the new S&W 3rd model 44 reached the Wolf & Klar shelves in Ft. Worth, Texas, a new hat maker opened itts doors 40 miles east in Dallas. Resistol hats would become (and remain) a staple of Texas ranch life.

When I ran across this vintage Resistol at a flea market recently I though it was a perfect match for my latest Wolf & Klar addition--a 4" blue shipped in 1930. The gun shows some holster wear and dings but wears its original finish. The 3rd Model 44 originally built exclusively for Wof & Kar became know as the Wolf & Klar mode. Neither gun nor hat spears to have led asendentary life.

Very nice! I did not know that Resistol started in Dallas. I went to the Resistol factory in the 1980's to buy a couple hats. By then they had moved to Garland apparently. I still have my two Resistol hats, straw for hot weather and a 7X beaver for cooler weather. I need to find a nice revolver like yours.

 

[bruce5781]

Great match,, Randy !!

Sent from my SM-G781U1 using Tapatalk

 

[M_conrad_0311]

Looks like a great combination. What's next? Leather, maybe a sticker or pocket folder?

 

[7.62match]

I remember my grandfather having a collection of hats like that when I was a kid, wish he would have had the 44 wolf & klars to go with them.

 

[gmborkovic]

Is that the hat that LBJ wore? Nice gun too.

 

[Inusuit]

The OP's Resistol is that company's version of the Stetson Open Road. I have a Stetson OR and so did LBJ.

 

[Grayfox]

I've heard of guns getting new shoes, but hats is a first.
I like it!

 

[22hipower]

That hat is perfect with the gun. Only thing I might add are some ruby eyed steer head W&K pearl grips for the gun. Part of a future Symposium exhibit?

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Kinman]

My Dad's father liked to affect the western look even though he was from Minnesota. He always wore a Stetson OR which for whatever reason as far back as I can remember was referred to as a "Daddy Warbuck's" or "Big Daddy" hat by my Mother's Northern Idaho logging, farming family. Grandpa also wore zip up the side western shoes/boots and western cut suits often, my Mother's family called him a dime store cowboy and although used horses for logging and field work had no use for cowboys in general and referred to anyone that affected that particular look as a "goat roper." Don't get me wrong folks did ride horses, there just wasn't the open prairies to lent to living off a horse for a living. My uncle ran the family homestead and carried 100+ black angus cattle, all fenced in and fairly easy to handle on foot. Most folks wore work boots, work clothes and such. My grandfather wore a gray J.C. Pennys fedora broke down fore and after whether he was driving a logging truck, working as a mechanic or going into town, never saw him in anything else until later in life when he would wear a mechanics cap while working under a vehicle. No baseball caps...

 

[Model19man]

Is that the hat that LBJ wore? Nice gun too.

No, LBJ always wore a Stetson hat. They were or are a company based in Texas too.

 

[gmborkovic]

Kool hat and at least no Ray-Ban aviators.

 

[quinn]

No, LBJ always wore a Stetson hat. They were or are a company based in Texas too.

To the best of my knowledge, Stetson is and always was make in Philadelphia.

The few times I got to cover LBJ as a Texas reporter he always wore the "open boad" style of hat. This was also the style wornd by the Texas DPS at that time. This example of that style was made by Pilgrim Hats which sold through Sear Roebuck & Co. in the 30's and 40's. The first year Highway Patrolman (pre 28) with it has King action mods.

 

[gmborkovic]

What does "Resistol" mean? It aint a guys name. Or place its made.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Stetson hats are made and have been made in Garlin, Texas. The open Road 6x lists at $235. But there is a better model a $695. Personally I like a little more brim, and a little less LBJ.

Ivan

 

[LPD256]

Randy:I'm thinking Ft Worth PD Detective circa 1954. John B. Stetson 20X Paradise Premier, Oliver Ball dog ear holster, and a 5 screw M&P in .38 special.

 

[quinn]

OK, I stand corrected. If I read correctly Stetson closed their factory in the mid 1960's and licensed a company in Missouri to make the Stetson line. At some point it appears that Resistol took over manuracturing the Stetson brand (under license?). In looking at new hats for sale, Resistol lists "Stetson" models in theri product line. But if you search Stetson, there is no mention of Resistol. Ain't marketing interesting?

In reading the Resistol web site, the name Resistol cam from the claim that their hats 'resisted scalpoil".

 

[Muley Gil]

Resistol and Statson are now part of Hatco, located in Texas.

 

[Model19man]

Stetson hats are made and have been made in Garlin, Texas. The open Road 6x lists at $235. But there is a better model a $695. Personally I like a little more brim, and a little less LBJ.

Ivan

Pretty sure you mean Garland, Texas.

 

[Kansasgunner]

I'll throw my hat into the ring. Stetson Open Road purchased in the early 50's in Hutchinson, KS, it had price sticker with store's name in the sweatband when I bought it. 38/44 Heavy Duty shipped 1940 in an order of ten guns all with Humpback hammers for the city of Fort Smith, AR, Lewis Police Special holster and an unmarked sap.

 

[Kinman]

This is my 6X Stetson called "The Gun Club", its long lost its shape and has adapted itself to me. The major reason the sweat stains are so dark year around is because of the black powder smoke. Most of the guys wear felt will develop that staining. I'm told there is a company that can revitalize the proper look through careful cleaning...Its my hat.

 

[BC38]

Never even occurred to me that a gun needed a hat...

 

[Muley Gil]

Never occurred to me that a gun needed a hat...

I ALWAYS wear a hat while shooting. It keeps the sun out of the eyes and if shooting those new-fangled semi loaders, it can deflect hot brass.

 

[BC38]

I ALWAYS wear a hat while shooting. It keeps the sun out of the eyes and if shooting those new-fangled semi loaders, it can deflect hot brass.

Yeah, I'm usually wearing a ballcap when I hit the range myself, if for no other reason than just as an eye-shade (like you suggest).

But the idea of a specific hat as an ideal pairing for a particular gun just never even occurred to me.

But to each his own.