The workshop closes when the last cap ships — Baltimore, est. 1958
5 reasons men are claiming the last 500 caps this workshop will ever make — and paying nothing for the cap itself
It isn’t a discount code. It isn’t a season sale. The caps are free — you cover shipping, and that’s the whole deal. Here’s why Walter Ashford is doing it, and why the final 500 are nearly gone.
#1. After 68 years, the workshop is closing — and these are the last caps it will ever make
Walter’s father opened this workshop in Baltimore in 1958. Same name on the door, same bench inside. When the final 500 caps are gone, the lights go off — for good.
Nothing goes to a liquidator. Nothing gets packed into storage. Only 37 of the final 500 are left, and once they ship, that’s the end of it.
#2. Hand-cut. Hand-stitched. Hand-shaped. — and you feel it the moment you put one on
This isn’t the stiff, cardboard-brimmed cap from a mall rack. Every cap is cut, stitched and shaped by hand at the bench, the way it’s been done here since 1958 — proper lining, seams that sit flat, a brim that holds its curve.
There were only ever 500 made in this final run. Put one on and the fit tells you everything before you’ve even looked in the mirror.
#3. These caps sold for $79.95. Yours is FREE — you cover the shipping.
This is the part people don’t believe until the box arrives. The caps themselves are free. You cover shipping and handling, and nothing else — no trial, no membership, no charge that shows up next month.
Walter would rather see his last caps on men who’ll wear them than hand them to a liquidator for pennies. That’s the whole reason.
#4. Wear it for 90 days. If it’s not the best cap you’ve owned, we make it right.
Even with the workshop closing, the guarantee stands: 90 days, on every cap that leaves the bench. Doesn’t fit the way you like, not the color you expected — email us and we sort it out.
A man shouldn’t have to gamble on a free cap. So you don’t.
#5. There is no restock. When these 37 are gone, they’re gone.
This isn’t a “sale” that quietly comes back next month. The bench stops, the door locks, and no more caps get made — ever.
The men who claim these last 37 will own something that can’t be bought again at any price. That’s not urgency talk. That’s just what closing means.
“Every cap on those shelves came off the bench behind me. My father built it in 1958. I wasn’t going to let a liquidator decide where his last caps end up.”
Walter’s father opened the workshop with a pair of shears, a Singer sewing machine and a sign he painted himself. 68 years later Walter is still at that same bench — same machine, same jars of buttons on the shelf — shaping the final 500 caps the workshop will ever produce.
He isn’t a brand. He’s one man finishing what his father started — and he decided the last caps should go to men who’ll actually wear them, not into boxes.
Walter Ashford
Founder & maker, Ashford & Sons — Baltimore, est. 1958
“Okay — so what’s the catch?”
Fair question. Walter’s accountant asked the same thing, a lot louder. His answer:
“My accountant says I’ve lost my mind. Maybe. But a liquidator offered me pennies to haul these caps away in garbage bags, and I said no. I’d rather you have one for free and think of this workshop every time you put it on.
You get the cap free, you cover the shipping that gets it to your door, and that’s the end of it. If you never buy another thing — you still keep the cap. There’s nothing left to sell you anyway.”
- No subscription. Nothing to cancel, ever.
- No recurring charges. One shipping charge, once.
- No hidden trial. Your card is charged for shipping once and that’s the end of it.
- No catch on the product. These are the same $79.95 caps — not seconds, not samples.
Real reviews from real customers
I’m 64 and I’ve worn flat caps my whole life. I figured a free cap would feel cheap — it doesn’t. The stitching and the weight of it are better than caps I’ve paid good money for.
Richard T.
Verified buyer
Ordered the herringbone for myself and a second one for my brother. Shipping was the only thing I paid. Both arrived well packed and the fit is spot on. Shame the workshop is closing.
Gerald M.
Verified buyer
My wife saw the cap and asked what it cost me. She didn’t believe the answer. It’s the first thing I grab off the hook every morning now.
Donald K.
Verified buyer
The final collection
Wool herringbone, leather, corduroy, linen, denim and cotton drivers — every style the workshop still has, in one collection. Pick your cap, cover the shipping, and it ships from the last shelf.
- ✂️Hand-cut, hand-stitched, hand-shaped at the Baltimore bench
- 🏷️Every cap was $79.95 — now FREE, you only cover shipping
- 📦Only 37 of the final 500 left — no restock, ever
- 🔒90-day guarantee on every order
- 🛠️Same bench, same Singer machine, since 1958
Frequently asked questions
Is the cap really free?
Yes. The cap itself costs you nothing. You only cover the shipping that gets it to your door.
So what exactly do I pay?
Only shipping and handling per order. No product cost, no subscription, no trial that converts, no second charge later.
Why would Walter give his caps away for free?
Because the workshop is closing and the only alternative was a liquidator. Walter would rather see his father’s last caps worn by men who appreciate them than sold off in bulk for pennies. Once they’re gone, the workshop closes for good.
When will my order arrive?
Orders are processed in 1–3 business days. You’ll get a tracking link by email as soon as it ships.
Who actually makes the caps?
They come off the bench at the Ashford workshop in Baltimore — the same bench Walter’s father set up in 1958. Every cap in this final run is hand-cut, hand-stitched and hand-shaped there.
What are the caps made of?
The final collection includes wool herringbone, leather, corduroy, linen, denim and cotton styles. Each product page lists the exact materials of that cap.
How do I pick the right size?
Each product page has a size guide. And if the fit isn’t right, the 90-day guarantee covers you — email us and we’ll sort it out.
Can I claim more than one cap?
Yes — add as many as you like to your cart while they last. Shipping is calculated per order, so claiming several at once is the most efficient way to do it.
What if my order arrives damaged or wrong?
Email us with a photo and your order number and we’ll put it right at no cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Yes. You’ll receive a tracking number by email, and you can follow it any time on our order tracking page.
What is your guarantee?
90 days, on every cap. If you’re not happy with it, contact us and we’ll make it right.
When does this end?
When the last of the final 500 caps ships. There are 37 left as of this week, and there is no restock coming — once they’re claimed, the workshop closes.
68 years of caps. The last 37 are on the shelf — and they cost you nothing.
Pick your cap, cover the shipping, and own the last of them. When these ship, the bench stops for good.
Tracked shipping
Every order ships with tracking you can follow
90-day guarantee
Not right? Tell us within 90 days and we fix it
Secure checkout
One charge, no subscription, no surprises
Est. 1958
Hand-made in the same Baltimore workshop for 68 years