I agree completely! I started out with a C&C uniform myself and found I loved the hobby, so I started to move up in authenticity. I like the idea of everything being correct on my person and strive for this, but I understand and accept that others may not, as you said, want people examining their drawers .
If a person wants to do the casual camping with a musket that is fine, as long as they are willing to come out and participate in the hobby. We are all in this hobby because of a common interest in history and ,whether you be Hardcore or Mainstream, we should stick together because of that.
__________________ Your most humble servant, Chase A. Pinkham
Well your very young...and probably have less disposable income than other older history buffs. For those...what is a few hundred extra dollars?
I believe...if one has that little extra money to buy a Chris Daley..or a Ben Tart made uniform... do it.
And isnt it just a better investment anyway? There is a hot market for used QUALITY accouterments and uniforms.
The 'entry level' uniforms will get you into crummy events only.
I mean would you rather do a powder burner on a junior high baseball field or camp upon the ground of a Gettysburg or a Shiloh...and educate the people that flock to these legendary fields?
Ive been there...I participated in those crummy events...looking back on us reenactors in photos taken in the early 80's...I think...man we looked like s----.
Now,today I am probably too old...and certainely too fat to be considered very authentic...but I believe in the authenticity cause...and promote it as the only way to truly engage in this hobby.
Just my 2 cents.
Phil aka VS
Last edited by VS on the belt plate; 06-05-2006 at 04:26 PM.
Such strong opions - Sir, I hope and yours are able to stay open minded and progress to the level you want to be at, while honestly and strongly stating you opinion and accepting the rest of us for who we are.
Take the best care you can of whatever equipment you aquire. You will find with many items, that the quality of materials and workmanship, and therefore useful life, usability, and resale value, increases with the degree of authenticity.
However, not always. I have a Cav saddle at home to demonstrate the fact. In focusing on authenticity, fit and comfort were neglected and the horse now has a scar on his back. Treat yourself accordingly. The horse will be getting another, less authentic, but better fitting saddle with modern ortho pads placed under the "issued" blanket. From a distance our image will not change, for a knowledgeable person visting our picketline, discepencies may be noted. The quality of our experince will improve.
As a note I have met & learned much from many wonderful re-enactors who are truly hardcores David May, Terry Sorchy, Chris Sullivan, Elizibeth Clark etc. All wonderful people interested in learning and teaching. I have also had the unfortunate task of meeting men who called themselves hardcored who were so in their minds only and IMHO were interested only in lording what they considered their status over others; people who would find a reason to look down their noses at others anyway.
The piece of advice I would give to anyone who is just getting into the hobby is to listen and look around and most importantly LEARN. It is important to take every opportunity to learn and listen. Men like those I listed and many others are willing to share their research and their knowledge and those are the true hardcores; the men & women who share & encourage the striveing towards more knowledge.
Those who don't & who actively discourage such... are ****ed fools.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
I mean would you rather do a powder burner on a junior high baseball field or camp upon the ground of a Gettysburg or a Shiloh...and educate the people that flock to these legendary fields?
Ive been there...I participated in those crummy events...looking back on us reenactors in photos taken in the early 80's...I think...man we looked like s---
Phil aka VS
Very nice that some have the opportunity to camp in the national parks... out here in the Golden West, our national parks are more suited to Indian Wars reenacting.
I will say without an iota of shame that I have burnt plenty of powder in city parks and junior high athletic fields, and helped educate many people, including schoolchildren, who will never have the chance to go to Gettysburg or Shiloh. These aren't crummy events for me. They're the opportunity to share something that I love, and something that I know about. What does it matter that my uniform cost $150 and not $1500... or in the case of my Confed outfit, that I hand sewed it myself, for a very low cost indeed?
Huzzah for Mrs. Clark and the rest mentioned. I know Mrs. Clark personally... she lives in Idaho Falls. She has been nothing but helpful and encouraging to me and the reenactors of my acquaintance.
And huzzah to caring for your equipment, wherever you got it and however much or little it cost. When you're ready to upgrade or taper off (as I am doing right now), you'll be proud to pass it on.
Think you got a good point on the fact that many cannot get to the fields mentioned. Maybe by coming to these 'crummy events' a schoolkid in Tallahasee or Peoria will become interested enough in the war to GET to those places some day. That is good.
If a man's repro uniform is free or 1600 bucks is not really relevant as long as it is correct as we in the 21st century can make it.
This debate on authenticity has been a long one...and will never be settled.
I have been to Gettysberg once - on my way to the National Fire Academy. I would love to be able to go to events at such places.
The last event I was at was at a place with a great deal of history, including some CW. Wood Memorial Cemetary/VA Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. And I got to rub elbows with reenactors from "1774" to active duty Air Force. The educational opportunites were everywhere.
Althought my rather "delicate southern sensibilities" were startled by the man cooking and serving meals in a loin cloth, shirt, and frilly apron. (Excuse me while I giggle behind my fan and pretend to be shocked).
I have enough trouble when the waitress has piercings. A loin cloth? I think I'm going to hurl.
Ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
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Such strong opions - Sir, I hope and yours are able to stay open minded and progress to the level you want to be at, while honestly and strongly stating you opinion and accepting the rest of us for who we are.
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