The 10 Gallon Hat

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

 

 

[Blackwater 53393]

A pure 100% beaver felt hat isn’t easily damaged with water. If the hat is allowed to dry, the body will probably see no ill effects. Remember! It’s made from beaver fur. 
 

The liner, if there is one, and the sweat band might be more of a problem, but if the cowboy were to “wear it dry”,  those could also survive even repeated soakings.

 

Some of the cheaper, wool or mixed felt hats are far less likely to survive use as a water bucket.

[Rip Snorter]

For some more of the story, search Boss of the Plains

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Mexican sombreros had braided, usually very ornate, hat bands called galon.  A ten galon hat had a crown tall enough for ten galons, Americanized to "ten gallons".  Kind of like lariat started life as la riata and chaps were originally la chapaderas.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Galòns. In Spanish.

[Rip Snorter]

When you get into it, a lot of terms describing tack are corruptions of the Spanish names.  There's also being thrown in in the "Jug" from Juzgado.  

[Alpo]

17 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Mexican sombreros had braided, usually very ornate, hat bands called galon.  A ten galon hat had a crown tall enough for ten galons, Americanized to "ten gallons".  Kind of like lariat started life as la riata and chaps were originally la chapaderas.

That's the story I've always heard.

[Alpo]

6 minutes ago, Rip Snorter said:

a lot of terms describing tack are corruptions of the Spanish names. 

Not just tack. Vaquero became buckaroo.

 

[Rip Snorter]

Just now, Alpo said:

Not just tack. Vaquero became buckaroo.

 

Yup!  Knew that, didn't think to add it. There is a good little paperback The Cowboy Life  by Michele Morris with lots of info I'd recommend.