[Hesster1977]

Have a 77 Bandit. Working on getting the CB and Antenna, but need a hat recommendation to hang on the antenna.
Anyone using and could recommend a hat SIMILAR to the $$$ Beaver Stetson that Burt wore in the movie - w/o spending $300+ dollars?

[Hesster1977]

I did find one.

[TAKerry]

Can you share?

$300 is more than I would want to spend as well, however my son was looking at a quality fedora awhile back and it was a tad bit over $200. I suppose the going rate for a hat now. TSC sells them for about $40 but all of the ones I have seen are black.

[Hesster1977]

I did a deep dive on the Web yesterday, compared selections side by side with Burt's Hat in the Movie, and was looking at something "close", and under $100. Finally settled on:

"Winslow Shapeable Wool Felt Outback Western Style Cowboy Hat by Silver Canyon × 1", Putty / Large, $71.49, Discount OM-15#P4JR3K, -$10.72, Subtotal, 60.77, MI State Tax $3.65, Total $64.42 USD "


Hoping that the color "Putty" is close to the "Bone" color of Burt's hat. And, I know the Silver Hat Band is unique to Burt's Hat, BUT - there are similar bands for sale, so I will probably buy one of these, even though they cost almost as much as the hat. At some point, so what, only a few of us obsessed crazies would know the difference.

Just something to hang on the antenna, and hope it doesn't get ripped off at a car show, but if it does, it is a lot less than the real thing at $750 - $900 from Texas Hatters.
https://shoptexashatters.com/silverh...djustable.aspx
https://www.wildcowboy.com/Solid-Bar...Band-SSHBB.htm
https://shoptexashatters.com/BANDIThat.aspx

[77 Canamman]

I have two antennas for my car. The correct AS antenna, and a shortened version to hang the Stetson on. With the normal antenna, there is no way anyone sitting in the car would be able to reach it.

[Hesster1977]

So you shortened the whip?

And could you take a close up pic of the metal band on the hat?

It is not available anywhere, but maybe something that could be made to look like it.
The 2nd attached is a pic of your hat you posted, but tough to see any detail on the band. It looks a little different than the band in the pic of Burt

[77 Canamman]

I shortened one of them. I have two. I rarely use the short one, because I don't hang the hat from the antenna often.

The band on my Stetson is identical to Burt's, and was recreated and sourced by Tim Phillips, who worked with Burt, and now is a Bandit impersonator. The lighting does make it appear different, but after close inspection they are the same.

thebandittim@aol.com

https://www.thebandittim.com/

[Hesster1977]

"band on my Stetson is identical to Burt's, and was recreated and sourced by Tim Phillips"

Yeah - that makes sense, no one sells the band, not even Texas Hatters who sells the Hat Replica. So I will take a crack at doing just that - recreate and replicate using some stainless or aluminum.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by Hesster1977

"band on my Stetson is identical to Burt's, and was recreated and sourced by Tim Phillips"

Yeah - that makes sense, no one sells the band, not even Texas Hatters who sells the Hat Replica. So I will take a crack at doing just that - recreate and replicate using some stainless or aluminum.

I would reach out to Tim and ask him if he has any, and if he will divulge where he had them produced. He is a nice guy.

[77 Canamman]

Some photos of my Stetson..

[Hesster1977]

Great Pics! That band is not something that I could even come close to making, it does look just like the one he wore, just not as "oxidized".

Seems Burt wore a number of different hats, but it may be a little "murky" as to what the exact hat was that he wore in the first Bandit Movie. Is the style RCA or Stampede, and is the color is Bone, or Acorn? Who knows. Julien's Auctions sold a number of his hats, but not exactly like the one he wore in the movie. See attached.

Cool article from "BAMF Style":
https://bamfstyle.com/2020/07/04/smokey-and-the-bandit/
"The Bandit’s signature cattleman’s hat in khaki beaver felt has been referred to as a Stetson, though I believe that’s more colloquial shortcut than a confirmed ID; instead, I believe the hatmaker was Manny Gammage, whose custom company Texas Hatters dressed the heads of celebrities from Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Dolly Parton to members of the British royal family, according to the Austin Statesman. Texas Hatters continues to offer the “Bandit”, inspired by the hat created for Reynolds.
The hat is finished with an oxidized sterling silver metal band, marked at regular intervals around the band."


From Texas Hatters:
"The RCA was the style chosen by Manny Gammage, for Burt Reynolds, as Bandit, in the cult classic "Smokey and the Bandit" and the sequels. The image of Bandit is a screenshot, as we did not receive an autographed photo of him in these hats. The silver band is not currently available through us."

[Hesster1977]

My Bandit and I hit the first major Car Show of the year Saturday at Mt Clemens on Main Street. Got there at 6:45 and it was soon packed.
Had the Hat done for some time to use as a prop, and hung it on the look alike Antenna. Stamped a pattern on the "silver" band and attached it to the hat, and put a Styrofoam insert with a hole in it inside the hat to capture the antenna whip so it would not fly off in the wind.

Lots of great comments.

Thanks again to "77 Canamman" for the references and input!

Took home a 1st place trophy in the "GM Street Machine" class

[TAKerry]

Looks good, congrats on the win. I like the hat but with a crowd around I would have had to keep it on my head. If my wife saw it on the antennae and she wasnt there I would be in trouble!!!!