BLACK HILLS PINCH FRONT WESTERN HAT

SPECS

Brim: 3 1/2"
Crown: 5"
Band: None, but a perfect candidate for one our favorites.

In the 1972 movie The Cowboys, John Wayne plays an aged, ill-tempered cattle rancher who needs to drive his herd 400 miles to market in Belle Fourche — nestled in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Left with none of his usual help to make the trek, he's forced to hire a crew comprised of a dozen schoolboys — as inexperienced as they come, but determined to become competent trail-hands.

The journey is fraught with danger, blood, sweat, tears and laughter. Along the way, the boys become — in many ways — men, and Wayne's character recovers — in just as many ways — a healthy dose of the boys' youthful optimism and compassion.

It's a great flic — worth a watch, for sure.

Wayne's hat in the movie inspired our Black Hills, but we'd also like to think the essence of his character's integrity, toughness and fortitude have permeated the brim and crown, and can be drawn on in times where the wearer is in need of such characteristics. We haven't tried it out yet, but we believe it's more than likely true.