Blanket

[Beltplate53]

I am going to purchase a new blanket. Is there a difference between the $135 and $80 one that justifies the more expensive one?
Thanks,
Tim.

 

[johan_steele]

Thickness & weight of the wool. If you plan to use it for real go with the spender option.

 

[Beltplate53]

Yes, it will be used in the field.

 

[johan_steele]

Yes, it will be used in the field.

As an example I have an older high end "Abe Thomas" blanket & it is almost literally twice the blanket as the paki manufactured wool offerings.

I'm not really sure of the place to buy a good blanket anymore. I use the above mentioned blanket with an 1880s vintage saddle blanket on cold season. I would ask the weight of the wool and go with the heavier weight.

 

[Grayrock Volunteer]

S&S and Nick Sekela both offer a quality Federal issue blanket (I assume that's what you are interested in). Charlie Childs also has a good Fed blanket if he gets them back in stock.
Any of those blankets should run $100 to $150.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Spend the money and get the one with the least man-made garbage.....Otherwise, you're throwing your money away.....You can always find a "cheap" blanket for sale at a reenactment for purchase later.....there's a reason they are for sale at reenactments!!

 

[Beltplate53]

The blankets I saw were the Sekela one and another made by Woolrich. The Sekela one lacks any spec's and the Woolrich is 85% wool , 15% nylon. Being that I live in the snow belt, I know that 100% wool is preferred as that is what I have in a winter jacket. ( it weighs a lot)

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

The blankets I saw were the Sekela one and another made by Woolrich. The Sekela one lacks any spec's and the Woolrich is 85% wool , 15% nylon. Being that I live in the snow belt, I know that 100% wool is preferred as that is what I have in a winter jacket. ( it weighs a lot)

I have a Woolrich Artillery blanket 85% wool.....I paid $75 for it new several years ago.....I am VERY happy with it!!

 

[johan_steele]

The blankets I saw were the Sekela one and another made by Woolrich. The Sekela one lacks any spec's and the Woolrich is 85% wool , 15% nylon. Being that I live in the snow belt, I know that 100% wool is preferred as that is what I have in a winter jacket. ( it weighs a lot)

I know people that are using both & both speak highly of them. I've slept in down to 10-15 with my above mentioned combo while wearing my clothes plus greatcoat and while not exactly cozy slept ok. There were several guys using the cheap paki made blankets from the typical mainstream sutlers and they were miserable. A blanket is one place I will not skimp.

 

[D.H. Hill]

I bought mine for ~$20. It is 100% wool, and of decent weight. It was ex-Swiss surplus so there was a white stitched swiss cross to remove but that was not difficult.

 

[Craig L Barry]

Gum rubber blanket. Enough said. Warm and dry is tough to beat.

 

[johan_steele]

Gum rubber blanket. Enough said. Warm and dry is tough to beat.

This cannot be stressed enough. A gum blanket or two is a must. In cold weather I put my gum blanket down underneath, saddle blanket then me in my clothes & great coat with my abe thomas on top of me and a poncho on top of that. I also wear a pair of fingerless gloves and a sleeping cap. While not always fully comfortable I'm rarely painfully cold.

 

[Craig L Barry]

Hence the wool blanket is the less important part of the equation...Wet usually accompanies cold and the Stones River anniversary is at the end of December. So here in (Tennessee) we are out in it and I have never been cold or in need of as much as an additional piece of gear like a great coat when equipped with a gum blanket and a wool blanket. I can often even do without a wool blanket most of the year as many soldiers had to do out of necessity. However, I could not do without the waterproof gum rubber blanket for one night.

It is the most important and versatile piece of field craft imaginable. Soldiers were well known for discarding great coats and blankets but in contrast were extremely protective of their gum blanket. One soldier (anecdotal) wrote a curse on the untreated side of his directed at whomever might attempt to steal it from him. I am also convinced they have the power to affect the weather in both a positive and negative way. If I have a gum blanket with me out in the field it rarely rains, when I don't it always rains.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I lay my gum blanket on the ground first, rubber side down, then throw a quilt and 2 wool blankets over it....That is my bed.....I use my haversack and coat for a pillow, and wear a night hat.....This is in summer conditions (I get cold easily).....In winter, I do the same, only I wear a greatcoat and mittens.....

 

[Package4]

Two gum blankets a must one under and one on top with two wool blankets, easy to hoof in and out of events. Sleeping cap is a must as well. You can't go wrong at S&S, I'd get one quality blanket and then one less expensive on eBay or reenactors forum. Overcoat for early Spring, Fall and Winter events.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Most times Im doing the campaigner style thing... so one has to determine what is necessity, and what is just extras.... Majority of the time its one blanket and an oil cloth or gum blanket depending on the impression.... Gum blanket on bottom.. blanket on top... lay on one edge.... roll both over you... If only one item to select of choice... gum blanket..

One thing many may not realize is that gum blanket will hold your body heat in... even as thin as it might be.. it doesn't breathe like a wool blanket will...

Just as an example... at the 150th BGA Gettysburg our brigade bivouac in the field with an all night scenario on "Culps Hill" that Saturday night... It rained heavy and incessantly most of the night... completely soaked to the bone... ground and blanket also already saturated... just used the soppy blanket as a makeshift pillow and put the gum blanket over me.... was still wet... but I didn't get cold...

 

[Package4]

I strongly suggest 2 wool blankets and two gum blankets for year round re-enacting, like Frederick14Va says, the rubber or gum blanket will hold in body heat. We were to do a Ft Frederick '62 scenario just West of Hagerstown, MD this weekend and with the temps forecast to be in the high 30's to low 40's at night they will come in handy (event cancelled due to Joaquin). Those that have done the hootenannie at Cedar Creek know that temps have been as low as 28 degrees and Stones River this year portends to be quite frigid.

Easy to carry in and out, I use a Louisiana copy of a French hardpack with one blanket folded over the top and sides and the other rolled on top. I was luck enough to acquire an original pack that was found in Hanover, PA after Gettysburg and Tim Sheads, at S&S, made copies of it.

Summer events, I use a period coverlet on top and gum blanket below; the other gum in pack because it wouldn't be a re-enactment without rain...........

 

[Republican Blues]

The two gumblankets and two wool blankets is easily done with one addition... a mess mate.

of interest to the this thread is Sherman's order for the Atlanta Campaign, that men were to carry a wool blanket or a gum blanket but not both... (ref is Decision in the West... trying to find the actual order... please be patient.)

 

[Chattahooch33]

The two gumblankets and two wool blankets is easily done with one addition... a mess mate.

of interest to the this thread is Sherman's order for the Atlanta Campaign, that men were to carry a wool blanket or a gum blanket but not both... (ref is Decision in the West... trying to find the actual order... please be patient.)

It gave extra incentive to get to Savannah and the federal supply ships on the water! Get there before it gets cold.

That and you could just steal one from the poor civilians along the way.

 

[Package4]

Keep in mind that the Atlanta Campaign was May to September 1864 so one blanket and a shelter half was all you would need. May 1864 was unseasonably warm......