C & C Sutler ???

[7thWisconsin]

I disagree with you a little. You're right on customer service, I've never heard a bad thing about C&C's customer service but their quality....... I won't put any of the vendors down, they serve a purpose and for those with a tight budget you do what you have to do and not putting that down either, I certainly don't have a bottomless bank account. BUT, I've seen over and over new guys buying not so good quality stuff. Then they quickly learn more and see the difference and want to try out some of the campaigner stuff and realize they spent good money on stuff that won't fly in a truly authentic event so now that have to go shopping again. I've said it over and over, buy good quality from the start, it's cheaper in the long run. One of my old units, the captain who was a great guy and good recruiter but let's just call him frugal, would direct new recruits to the C&C CS starter kit so they wouldn't get sticker shock and I do get that. But half our company ended up looking like a 60s Disney movie. We were an ANV unit and when they'd learn more and see the guys who worked hard on their impressions in good quality Richmond clothing and gear realized they had work to do. At least the ones who cared anyway. @celtblood are you shopping for new gear?

Actually I do agree with you, especially in the case of the Confederate impression. I think it's easier to get by for a longer period of time with a Federal starter kit than a Confederate. There are just so many doggone visible differences in Confederate uniform state to state and over the course of the war that a starter uniform just can't account for. Not being a Confederate reenactor, I'm gonna guess that if you did start with their gear you'd be supplementing it pretty quickly should you take an interest in participating in more history heavy events.

 

[bdtex]

Which one is Robert Hodge, and which ones are supposed to be the bad uniforms? I'm honestly trying to figure this out, thanks for the help.

Tin Cup hasn't been here for 6.5 years.

 

[HatEnjoyer]

Which one is Robert Hodge, and which ones are supposed to be the bad uniforms? I'm honestly trying to figure this out, thanks for the help.

Hodge would be the one on the far right I'm assuming. Definitely the most authentic uniform in the photo. The others are a little too "costumey"

 

[7thWisconsin]

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Although the inclusion of the phrase "I'm assuming" says it all. Bob Hodge was the soul of the campaigner ethos back in the late 1990s early 2000s, major contributor to "Confederates in the Attic." He has, however backed down from some of his more confrontational positions as he's gotten older (as have many of the rest of us!).
Somebody said about 40 years ago, "nothing ever wears out in this hobby; it just gets authentic." There's a certain amount of truth in that. A marginal kit get a lot better when it has taken on the lived in look.

 

[9th US Regulars]

I bought the C&C Union budget package. They definitely worked for me as a beginner. The pants were much lighter in weight than the more authentic ones I later obtained from Wambaugh and White. But they were comfortable, particularly when it was a hot day. But then at Cedar Creek, the butt crack split wide open. Thankfully, it was not super noticeable. Most of that gear has now been relegated, as when looking at them alongside my better quality gear, you can notice it for sure. But I can't complain about their stuff.

Heh. I split mine too when I slipped off a rock! Easy to stitch it closed though.