I am trying to get into Civil War re-enacting. I am also on a shoestring budget, so I can't afford all the "museum quality" stuff the stitch-counters insist upon (like $250 hand-sewn cartridge boxes). The single most expensive item I have is my musket, a P1853 Enfield, type II, that I bought from International Military Antiques for $240 (and which, lucky me, turned out to be a shooter once it was cleaned up), and which I had re-worked by Todd Watts at The Blockade Runner to remove the Nepalese/Gurkha markings and re-marked to look like a British-made gun. He also fitted a properly defarbed repro bayonet to it. I have about as much into it as I would a NON-defarbed Italian replica, and was able to spread the cost out (I originally bought the gun in April). I should have it back some time next week.
The rest of my equipment - M1861 cartridge box, later-war belt and arrowback plate, Enfield scabbard and frog, and shield-front cap pouch, all came from such places as Regimental Quartermasters and Butternuts & Bluecoats. It's all foreign import stuff, though of fairly decent quality and within my limited budget, but the **** police and stitch-nazis would have a field day with it.
I have NO uniform pieces, nor other equipment. What should I get next? I'm trying to portray a Union soldier, and want to do MOSTLY western theater.
I have priced out the "museum quality" uniform stuff, and, like the equipment in the same category, is beyond my means. I am pretty handy with a sewing machine, and can hand-sew as well, so I think I could make a uniform for far less than it would cost to buy one ready-made, and have the satisfaction of having done it myself. Problem is, what patterns to buy?
Somebody gave me the McCall's "Civil War Men's Uniforms" pattern pack, and I wasn't going to say "thanks, but no thanks", but I'm pretty sure it isn't 100% authentic. I'm wondering, could it be altered to be reasonably authentic, and if so, what would I need to do? What other SPECIFIC patterns could I buy that would be better?
Sure hope somebody on this forum can be more helpful than the Authentic Campaigner crowd. Lots of good info there, and a few decent people, but the moderators seem to have little patience with newbies like me, and keep going back to "you-would-be-better-off-buying-from-our-approved-vendors", which, as I've mentioned, I CAN'T AFFORD!!!
Some vendors that should interest you. IMO these are all quality vendors, no made in India trash as you can end up w/ from some of the Sutler row places. Avoid places like Fall Creek & Coon River like the plague. W/ a uniform you get what you pay for.
Suggested Vendors
Leathers & non uniform gear including brogans & tinware
__________________ 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
You're in the same pickle that most new re-enactors get into. Mostly, those who can afford to buy the stuff are a little long in the tooth to get into sleeping on the ground. Join the crowd.
I'll suggest that you copy your post and drop it into the reenactor's forum on this board. It might get you more attention.
We have a wealth of reenactors and every one of them will fall all over themselves to help you (well, give you advice). Unfortunately, I'm not one of them, but there are many who are standing in your shoes and know where to find the best deals and how to ease your way into authenticity.
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
Is an old thread that might be useful. Don't jump right into purchasing something. If I might suggets looking for a unit, talk w/ them and see if they have some used gear for sale. Often that is the fastest and least expensive way to get involved.
As to the McCalls... they sell them at Wal Mart, does more need be said? Donate it to your local theatre.
Chris Sullivan @ Stony Brook may well be your best bet for good quality and affordable.
Good Luck
__________________ 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
Ditto what Johan said. Especially about those patterns.
Visit different units and ask if you can fall in with them. Some of them have loaner uniforms. You already have your musket, which is the hardest thing to borrow. (I'll never lend MINE out again!) You'll find that different units have different personalities, and it's best to find the one you fit in with before you buy much.
You'll learn more around the fire with your pards than you ever will in books or on the Internet (with apologies to my pards on this board!)
Only thing is, there ARE no units near where I live that I could borrow from! I am trying to find enough people who are interested in forming a new unit, but so far, no dice.
Wasn't there a "standard issue" Federal uniform, that would fit into pretty much any unit?
And again, IF I can find CORRECT patterns, I'm pretty certain it would be far less expensive to make my own uniform piece-by-piece (a good winter project, along with rolling and packing musket cartridges). So I need to know who, if anybody, publishes them and where to get them.
I'm not a reenactor, but a couple thoughts as someone who's a be-realistic nut type.
1) Get stuff that looks right. The goal is not to die of pneumonia, the goal is to portray what you chose to portray accurately.
2) Do not assume that expensive and high quality have any relationship, they don't. You get what you pay for...and be sure you're not paying people to rip you off.
3) It is better to be 80% authentic with a couple areas that are off by a button then be morbidly obsessive about some aspects and totally disregard others.
4) This is a hobby. It is meant to be fun. But you're also signing up to be accurate, so try not to be too bothered by the stich counting accuracy nazis. The ones who are jerks should be avoided as jerks.
5) I believe there was, but it might still be hard to hunt one down now.
6) A good story for why you have something unusual, if it doesn's stretch believability too far, is a good way to justify something odd. Odd things did happen!
7) Listening to me ramble will do you no good, so I'm ending this list.
I wish you the best of luck, both in finding/forming a group and representing to the highest level of accuracy that doesn't require sacrificing your health or your rent money.
::trails off, humming Battle Hymn of the Republic.::
__________________ Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less. - Robert E. Lee
The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just. - Abraham Lincoln
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I am trying to get into Civil War re-enacting. I am also on a shoestring budget, so I can't afford all the "museum quality" stuff the stitch-counters insist upon (like $250 hand-sewn cartridge boxes). The single most expensive item I have is my musket, a P1853 Enfield, type II, that I bought from International Military Antiques for $240 (and which, lucky me, turned out to be a shooter once it was cleaned up), and which I had re-worked by Todd Watts at The Blockade Runner to remove the Nepalese/Gurkha markings and re-marked to look like a British-made gun. He also fitted a properly defarbed repro bayonet to it. I have about as much into it as I would a NON-defarbed Italian replica, and was able to spread the cost out (I originally bought the gun in April). I should have it back some time next week.
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