Folks know this hat from the famous tintype of Billy the Kid, taken at Fort Sumner while he was living on the run as a wanted outlaw. The shape seen in that photograph wasn't likely the result of a hatter's plan or a carefully chosen style. Like many felt hats of the frontier, it probably began with a more open crown and earned its character through hard use—pulled on in a hurry, slept on as a pillow, caught in the weather, and handled day after day. That worn-in shape became part of the photograph, and in time, one of the most recognizable hats in Western history.
To stay true to the hat in the tintype, this one is hand styled from 10X fur felt with a finished crown of about 4½ inches and a hand-shaped 3-inch brim. Instead of forcing clean, even lines, it's shaped with the same slightly crooked, trail-worn character that made the original so distinctive. It looks like a hat that has been lived in, not one that just came off the shelf.
This isn't a hat tied to a broad Old West style or a ranch tradition. It's a faithful recreation of the hat preserved in Billy the Kid's famous tintype, with its worn, unplanned character left intact. Whether you're a collector of frontier history, a student of the Old West, or simply appreciate historically accurate hat making, this piece stays true to the photograph that inspired it while carrying forward the honest craftsmanship behind a hand-shaped felt hat.
- Inspired by Billy the Kid's famous tintype
- Hand styled from 10X fur felt
- 4½-inch finished crown
- Hand-shaped 3-inch brim
- Hand-finished
We've done our best to stay true to the hat in the photograph, leaving the rest to time, wear, and the person who puts it on.
