Greatcoat

30th_il · #1 10-28-2006, 05:16 PM

I am looking for a size 46 greatcoat. Anybody have any suggestions as to a good sutler to buy from? I have no problems with a used greatcoat either.

johan_steele · #2 10-29-2006, 08:55 AM

What level of authenticity are you looking for and how much are you willing to spend?

http://www.regtqm.com/ or http://www.umvmco.com/
are fine for an affordable upper end mainstream side of the aisle.

http://www.bridgemicro.com/msullivan/catalog/index.htm? Chris Sullivan has a consignment page where you can often find real gems at major cut prices.

http://www.cjdaley.com/ CJ Daley... what more can be said than you get what you pay for and for what you pay you do get museum quality.

Good Luck

texascavcadet · #3 10-29-2006, 09:46 AM

These are some excellent sutler's. -

www.mercurysutler.com
www.blockaderunner.com

Good Luck!!

30th_il · #4 10-29-2006, 09:20 PM

I was going to get this for those colder days while shooting N-SSA events. So I suppose absolute strict authenticity isn't needed but I sure don't want it looking fake. It seems that $175-225 seems to be the going rate. Are there sutlers to definetly stay away from (you may want to e-mail me directly with you reply so as not to get these certain sutlers upset)

johan_steele · #5 10-30-2006, 08:35 AM

For the price range you are talking about work w/ Regimental QM, Upper Mississippi or Jarnagin.

I & others I know have had some bad experiances w/ Fall Creek & Coon River.

Regimental QM & Chris Sullivan are the only Sutlers I have heard of w/ no complaints of one form or another.

Good Luck

AZReenactor · #6 10-30-2006, 09:36 AM

Another suggestion I would make is to order a kit from Charlie Childs and either sew it yourself or pay someone to assemble it for you. In the end you will have a high quality authentic reproduction in the price range you are looking at or less. One thing to keep in mind regarding greatcoats, all should be machine sewn with hand finishing and it is really the raw materials that mark the major differences in quality. There are a lot of greatcoats being sold that aren't nearly as great or as warm as they could and should be. A lot of your high end vendors are buing (or bootlegging) their kits, materials, or even patterns from Charlie Childs and you can't go wrong with most anything he is offering..

brett4733 · #7 10-30-2006, 10:35 PM

I would have to echo some of the advice above...
Both the Dailey and Childs coats are unsurpassed! In fact, you'd have to have an original to do any better.
Just make sure you do your research before buying anything! Trust me, I know from experience. If you have to spend a little more to get a nice piece, it will all be worth it in the end. Any really decent reproduction should be constructed of a material that should last just about forever.
And, if it were me writing the check, I'd go for a Federal infantry pattern greatcoat. The one I wore for two winters while working in costumed interpretation, five days a week, eight hours a day, showed almost no wear, despite my best efforts...
Cheers and Fairwinds,
Brett Silver

ole · #8 10-30-2006, 10:39 PM

Okay. I'm hijacking the thread. Sue me. Did the Confederacy have an equivalent gummint-issue greatcoat?
Ole

johan_steele · #9 10-31-2006, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ole

Okay. I'm hijacking the thread. Sue me. Did the Confederacy have an equivalent gummint-issue greatcoat?
Ole

yes... the link to CJ Daley has a picture of a repop of one of the standard issue CS coats.

The CS also issued both Brit & French military pattern overcoats. Some CS states also issued a circular on how to convert a blanket into an overcoat; even being kind enough to issue the men enough thread to do the job.

ole · #10 10-31-2006, 09:55 AM

Thanks for the info, Shane. Watched "Gods and Generals" yesterday (to help with the need for a nap). And the Union troops were wearing greatcoats. I'm sure it was cold, but would they have been assaulting a position wearing their coats? The rebs weren't wearing coats.
Ole