THIS ISSUE IS CLOSED.
One-hundred fifty years ago an American hatter from New Jersey began renting a small workplace with money borrowed, a few tools, and traded fur. His vision was to design a hat for the rough and rugged cowboys and pioneers of the American West. This hat had to be different though; it had to be better. He knew these Americans valued quality and integrity. And with the opening of the John B. Stetson Company, Mr. Stetson himself made sure these cowboys got the quality hat they deserved.
The John B. Stetson Company officially opened for business in 1865. Before Stetson’s classic design, cowboy hats were mostly an assortment of hats from other places and built for other purposes. But nothing was made exclusively for the cowboys until John B. Stetson created his masterpiece of form, fashion and function. These days, it’s hard to imagine the Old West without a Stetson hat. A cowboy wearing his Stetson hat soon became a lasting image of the Old West.
Today, America Remembers is proud to honor the 150th anniversary of Stetson’s proud tradition with the Stetson 150th Anniversary Tribute Rifle, in an exclusive edition of only 150 Tributes. The edition is officially licensed by the John B. Stetson Company. For this historic Tribute, America Remembers selected a Winchester 94 Rifle, a western classic for more than 100 years. Each Tribute is decorated in 24-karat gold on the elegantly polished and blued receiver.
An Iconic Western Masterpiece
In our search for the perfect canvas to honor this special occasion, we looked no further than the Winchester Model 94. There isn’t a gun collector or fan of American history that isn’t familiar with legendary Winchester rifles, and for many of us today, our image of the exciting days of the Old West revolves around the cowboys, lawmen, and outlaws wearing Stetson hats and carrying their trusty Winchester rifles. Along with Stetson, it’s a name as well-known as Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Geronimo, Billy the Kid, or Annie Oakley. Settlers and cowboys on the frontier, lawmen and outlaws alike all coveted Winchester rifles.
The Model 94 is a classic Old West lever-action rifle, and is still produced more than 100 years after its introduction to the Old West. Each working rifle is in caliber .30-30 with a 20-inch barrel. After its introduction in 1894, Winchester predicted that “no repeating rifle will appeal to the eye and understanding of the rifleman as this will.” After more than 100 years of success, it appears their prediction was right on target.
Working closely with Stetson, America Remembers has created an elegant presentation firearm in the tradition of the finest Old West presentation firearms. Craftsmen commissioned specifically for this project by America Remembers decorate the elegantly polished and blued receiver of each working rifle in 24-karat gold with a blackened patinaed background. Our goal for this Tribute was to create a museum-quality firearm worthy of a place of honor in your collection.
Stetson: A Legendary American Brand Since 1865
Few stories epitomize the American dream more than the Stetson story. With only $100 to his name, John B. Stetson rented a small room and purchased $10 worth of fur for his first few hats. After a year of hard work and sacrifice, the now famous “Boss of the Plains” hat was created and the Stetson name began its long journey toward becoming the recognized symbol it is today.
The son of a Master Hatter, John B. Stetson learned this trade in his dad’s hat shop. The young man soon headed west, eventually crossing paths with a group of prospectors, and had an opportunity to put his learned felt-making skills to good use. After fashioning waterproof tents with these skills, he used this same skill to craft the wide-brimmed felt hat we know today.
Following interest in his design, Stetson made his way back to the East Coast where he opened the John B. Stetson Company in 1865. Utilizing his first design, Stetson found this quickly became the hat of choice for his clientele – the hard-working men throughout the west. Real cowboys came to appreciate the practical aspects of a Stetson hat and it was said that the hat, “kept the sun out of your eyes and off your neck. It was an umbrella. It gave you a bucket to water your horse and a cup to water yourself.”
The right side of the polished and blued receiver features artwork in lustrous 24-karat gold with a tribute to Stetson’s most well-known hat, “The Boss of the Plains,” which is displayed in gold. Also featured are three cowboys branding a calf while another cowboy leads a roped calf to the branding fire.
The left side features the John B. Stetson brand elegantly designed and surrounded with scrollwork. The text, “John B. Stetson & Co. American Manufacturer of Legendary Hats,” is featured between the years “1865” and “2015” to commemorate the 150-year Stetson tradition. Above “1865” is “Philadelphia, PA,” where Stetson first got its start, and above “2015” is “Garland, TX,” where Stetson hats are currently produced.
Both sides of the walnut forearm and shoulder stock are decorated with artwork and handsome western scrollwork. The shoulder stock features the Stetson coat of arms and “STETSON” engraved in the wood. The forearm features an elegant design honoring the 150th anniversary of the John B Stetson Company framed with handsome scrollwork.
A Handsome Tribute Honoring Stetson’s Distinguished Western Heritage
The Stetson 150th Anniversary Tribute Rifle handsomely honors Stetson’s distinguished Western heritage. Only 150 Tributes will ever be produced in this edition. Please don’t hesitate to reserve your Tribute today, as the edition is strictly limited. We will arrange delivery of your working firearm through a licensed firearms dealer of your choice. As always your Tribute comes with our 30-day guarantee of satisfaction. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your Tribute after your personal inspection, you may return it in original unfired condition for a complete and courteous refund. Please order online below, or to prioritize your order and confirm availability, call us toll-free at 1-800-682-2291.
You won’t find as many working cowboys on the plains these days, but there are plenty of Stetson hats. Sometimes it seems there are more than ever before. You can find them on cattle ranchers, country singers, rodeo stars and rock and roll singers. Even after 150 years, the Stetson name remains an American symbol of quality. No matter how many decades and centuries pass, history will never forget that a man named Stetson created a western legend. This museum-quality firearm will take you back to the legendary days of the Wild West, and will be a handsome addition to any collection of fine presentation firearms.
John B. Stetson is a registered trademark of John B. Stetson Company and is used under license to America Remembers®. Made in U.S.A.
