C&C vs Blockade Runner?

[PrivateBrooke]

Looking at Blockade Runner's Jean Wool frock and C&C's "Value Line" Confederate frock...maybe it's the pictures on the internet, but I for the life of me cannot tell the difference. They even have the same awful wooden buttons. BR charges an extra $50 for his, but they look pretty darn identical to me. Does anybody know the difference?

I might order one of the two. The price is right for how little I'll wear the frock, (basically just very early war, parade/"dress," and the odd Western event here and there) and it could be a good stop gap until I can get the Tart Richmond jacket I'm eying, but won't be available for the next couple of events, even if I do order now.

 

[captaindrew]

A friend of mine had a BR frock and it wasn't bad, nicer than the C&C. His didn't have wood buttons, I'm not sure if it came that way or he changed them. I bought a RDII from BR years ago when I needed a new jacket quick and it wasn't bad. In fact I still have it and use it as a loaner. It's in the hands of one of our newer guys as we speak. I would definitely say Blockade Runner's clothing is a step above C&C IMO.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

If choosing between the two, I'd recommend Blockade Runner. Mainstream uniforms, but definitely better quality than C&C.

A friend wanted me to make him a Little Rock/Arkansas frock, he balked at the price I quoted him, (expensive cloth, frocks a royal pain to make), and said he was gonna buy him one from C&C as it was cheap and just as good plus he couldn't tell the difference. Last time I heard he said he wore it once, then after hanging it up in the closet it started shedding apart.

Lot of stitch counting radicals would say don't touch either, but Blockade Runner is alright with jean I guess. But I would always say run away as fast as you can from C&C's junk.

 

[FedericoFCavada]

Paid a premium for fall-front homespun trousers from South Union Mills, waited a whole long time too, and got shoddy, fallin' apart after a couple of events...
Just sayin'...
My federal sack coat from C&C is still doing its job. Same for their Hardee hat.
I'd not get anything labeled "value line" personally, but then some people don't have a lot to lay out... In such cases the key thing to remember is that as a rule "quality is economy" in the long run. Might hurt to buy the higher quality article, but it might save you in the long run... With exceptions, of course!

 

[johan_steele]

The reality of the hobby is that there isn't really any one stop shop. Tinware from Blockade Runner, hats from Tim Bender (retired) trousers from Stony Brook (retired) sack coat from Caldwell (deceased) etc... Like anything research first is key to making good purchases. More expensive quality will generally set you better than right now cheap.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Another sutler of sorts I'd throw into the mix, is S&S Firearms where Blockade Runner in concerned.

Comparing pictures with a practiced eye, I'm pretty sure BR and S&S have the exact same supplier for uniforms. Pattern, appearance of cloth in pictures, and so on look identical to me. Too identical to be coincidence.

I even bought a pair of dark blue Federal pants from S&S and they are pretty sturdy and the actual pattern itself being decent historically speaking, even if like putting on an oven for pants when the temp is above 90. (Needed pre-war Federal pants for a small deal that's yearly, figure I won't wear them enough for them to turn purple, and the cost versus number of current sewing projects for myself was hard to beat.)

For the record, not throwing Blockade Runner under the bus, great folks have bought many items from them, will probably continue to do so as needed. Plus, they're now inactive Youtube channel is a fun watch. They have their own brand of dedication to history and accuracy that plenty of less-than-kind folks say ain't dedicated but ignore them. Everyone is different.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Paid a premium for fall-front homespun trousers from South Union Mills, waited a whole long time too, and got shoddy, fallin' apart after a couple of events...
Just sayin'...

This is interesting news to me...

 

[PrivateBrooke]

Another sutler of sorts I'd throw into the mix, is S&S Firearms where Blockade Runner in concerned.

Comparing pictures with a practiced eye, I'm pretty sure BR and S&S have the exact same supplier for uniforms. Pattern, appearance of cloth in pictures, and so on look identical to me. Too identical to be coincidence.

I even bought a pair of dark blue Federal pants from S&S and they are pretty sturdy and the actual pattern itself being decent historically speaking, even if like putting on an oven for pants when the temp is above 90. (Needed pre-war Federal pants for a small deal that's yearly, figure I won't wear them enough for them to turn purple, and the cost versus number of current sewing projects for myself was hard to beat.)

One of the kids in our unit ordered a NC sack coat from S&S. It's not bad at all, at least once he's done sewing the right buttons on it. Tart has a really nice frock in stock....but $350 for something I'll mostly wear to walk down the street during Remembrance Day is gonna have to be a no from me. (Actually for $123 I might have to try the frock S&S has. lol)

 

[PrivateBrooke]

The reality of the hobby is that there isn't really any one stop shop. Tinware from Blockade Runner, hats from Tim Bender (retired) trousers from Stony Brook (retired) sack coat from Caldwell (deceased) etc... Like anything research first is key to making good purchases. More expensive quality will generally set you better than right now cheap.

If an extra $150 keeps me from collapsing of heat exhaustion at the next event, while I wait for a better jacket I'm buying anyway, then I'm okay with that trade. This doesn't have to last more than a few events.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

A friend of mine had a BR frock and it wasn't bad, nicer than the C&C. His didn't have wood buttons, I'm not sure if it came that way or he changed them. I bought a RDII from BR years ago when I needed a new jacket quick and it wasn't bad. In fact I still have it and use it as a loaner. It's in the hands of one of our newer guys as we speak. I would definitely say Blockade Runner's clothing is a step above C&C IMO.

I'm changing those wooden buttons out regardless of which I end up with. I don't care if it's for three events, I'm not looking like(more of) a dork lol. I've had C&C in the past, and wasn't thrilled with any of it. It's all retired now, relegated to the loaner trailer. I was just asking because $50 is $50, but your word holds a lot of value to me, so I think I'll go with BR.

Honestly it's a nice coat, minus the buttons. Some Federal eagles will change that.