Welcome to Virginia City Hatmaker
Handmade in the historic town of Virginia City, Nevada, every hat we make is a work of art, sculpted to perfection and built to last for generations. Design to fit not just the head, but the soul of the wearer, each of our hats are a connection to the past and a piece of history ready to be carried forward.
A hat is more than an accessory—it’s a testament to history, resilience, and craftsmanship. Each piece carries a story, woven from the past and shaped by the hands that create it. At Virginia City Hatmaker, we preserve the heritage of true hat-making, sculpting every hat by hand with precision, authenticity, and a deep respect for tradition. A well-crafted hat is not just worn—it becomes a part of you, reflecting character, experience, and an enduring legacy.
The Craft of Tradition
True craftsmanship stands the test of time. At Virginia City Hatmaker, we honor the age-old techniques of hat making, shaping each piece by hand with meticulous care. Every hat begins as a blank form and is transformed through a process refined over generations—measured, sculpted, and finished to achieve the perfect fit and character. With deep roots in traditional European and American Western hat-making, our methods ensure authenticity, durability, and an unmistakable presence.
Handcrafted Start to Finish
Each hat is sculpted by hand using time-honored techniques and traditional tools.
Custom Fit for Every Wearer
Measured to your head and shaped to your features—for comfort, character, and longevity.
Premium Heritage Materials
Choose from 100x beaver felt, 50x beaver felt, or 10x fur felt —selected for quality and durability.
Design Your Custom Hat
Design your hat customized to fit you. Made by hand, fit to you, with all of your favorite ideas.
Choose Your Shape & Style
Choose Your Shape & Style
Options are endless when it comes to choosing your perfect style of hat. Check out our list of types of hat to get started with the process.
Pick Out Felt Quality & Color
Pick Out Felt Quality & Color
Next, choose your felt quality—100x Beaver, 50x Beaver, or 10x Fur—along with your preferred color. From bold whiskey tones to soft silver belly, every color has character.
*10X is pure rabbit fur felt
*50X is half beaver / half rabbit fur felt
*100X is pure beaver fur felt
Measure Your Head
Measure Your Head
A great hat starts with great fit. Using our measuring guide on The Process page, follow simple steps to take your head measurements from home. We also consider your head shape and facial structure to ensure a flattering, comfortable result.
Make it Yours
Make it Yours
Add your personal touch—select a hat band, include your name and year on the sweatband, and share any custom requests. Then, place your order and let us handcraft something made to last.
Explore Best Selling Styles
The Drover
This is your typical outdoor hat. A style between urban and western, it’s easy to wear for any occasion. It’s great for hunting and fishing, but equally fashionable and classy in the city.
Characteristic features of this hat include a curved 2 ½” brim, 4” crown, and crown back with a 5” open crown. Hat bands vary, and can be tailored to suit individual preferences, with such options as leather, matching felt buckle, horsehair, or grosgrain ribbon.
Channel your inner Indiana Jones!
There are many popular additions and options:
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Stampede
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Pinch front
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Widened front
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Pencil roll
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Bound edge
The Nevada Gambler
A well-known fact throughout the hat making world is that a man of good character selects his/her hat carefully and then makes it his/her own. This just the style of hat perfect for this type of individualistic expression.
Coming standard with a 4” high flat, dented crown and a wide 4” brim accented with a pencil roll, a bound edge, and a matching 1” grosgrain ribbon, you tell us how you would like the brim angled.
The Cattleman
The Cattleman is your typical Texan style cowboy hat. Folks also refer to it as the “Western”. Often seen on ranches and in rodeos, it is the perfect riding hat for both men and women who tend toward the traditional western look.
Specific features of this hat include a 4-4 ½” front-to-back crown crease, equilateral double dents and a thing ¼” grosgrain hat band. The 4”-5” brim can be modified in a number of ways:
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Flat
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Slightly flared
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Curved
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Rodeo brim (sharply angled)
Hat bands can be adjusted to suit individual preference!
The Gus
With a 3 ½” crown and a 4 ½” back crown, this large Old West style hat characterizes western movies throughout time. The 4” brim is slightly curved on each side, dipping slightly in the front and back, while the crown is distinguished by on large central crease accompanied by two front dips.
The brim on this hat is often customized to the individual’s taste, and can be upturned or downturned as desired.
Tear Drop Fedora
As the name implies, this fedora is characterized by a 4” crown with a top that is shaped like a teardrop. This boldly casual yet sophisticated style has been a favorite by all, and will continue to be for generations to come. With its spirited flip of the brim and an accentuating grosgrain ribbon hat band, this alluring hat will surely become your favorite, too.
Want it tailored to you? Please specify in the notes field:
