My gear.

[Dave Hull]

I got two caps from Russell, a Type II Hoff & Company reproduction and a pre war McDowell manufactured by S. Rush & Co in Virginia, which can be used for either side early war. Both caps are of exceptional quality. I do not know where he got his dark blue fabric, but it is spot on. He did a great job reproducing the labels, especially the S. Rush & Co label, which was barely recognizable and as far as I have seen, the only Virginia cap label still around today.

I did have him tweak the McDowell slightly from standard production and had him do a Dark Blue reproduction of Stonewall Jackson's famous cap, minus the gold trim of course.

If you place an order for a cap from Russ, expect some of the finest quality work, excellent customer service, a guaranteed fit or replace promise and a generally great guy to chat with.

I have spent a good deal of time looking at various cap men's work, over the last few years. There are some true artists out there. Russ is one, Greg Starbuck's caps are spectacular as well, Dirty Billy and Nick Sekela make great caps as well. Don Smith, D.F. Smith on FB, has some nice caps as well, when he is not making WWII stuff.

At Cedar Creek this year, I agonized over a Starbuck Richmond Howitzer cap, until such time as the one in my size was grabbed by another. I believe I marched past his tent four time over the course of the weekend, looking over my shoulder as my wife hit the various ladies sutlers.

You are off to a great start Bud, keep up the hunting and pecking for those used equipment deals. Lots of stuff out there for slim guys at great prices, just stay patient. Keep your eyes peeled and you can probably walk away with a 55 for a steal and in my opinion, that is the weapon that other all others want to grow up to be. My 42 is a great weapon, weighs about half as much as my 55 and once the nipple was broke in, fires as fast as I can load for as long as I have ammunition. In spite of all that, the 55 is my go to, unless you have to march a long distance, then it is a no brainer, 42 for the win.

 

[yankee hoorah]

I got two caps from Russell, a Type II Hoff & Company reproduction and a pre war McDowell manufactured by S. Rush & Co in Virginia, which can be used for either side early war. Both caps are of exceptional quality. I do not know where he got his dark blue fabric, but it is spot on. He did a great job reproducing the labels, especially the S. Rush & Co label, which was barely recognizable and as far as I have seen, the only Virginia cap label still around today.

I did have him tweak the McDowell slightly from standard production and had him do a Dark Blue reproduction of Stonewall Jackson's famous cap, minus the gold trim of course.

If you place an order for a cap from Russ, expect some of the finest quality work, excellent customer service, a guaranteed fit or replace promise and a generally great guy to chat with.

I have spent a good deal of time looking at various cap men's work, over the last few years. There are some true artists out there. Russ is one, Greg Starbuck's caps are spectacular as well, Dirty Billy and Nick Sekela make great caps as well. Don Smith, D.F. Smith on FB, has some nice caps as well, when he is not making WWII stuff.

At Cedar Creek this year, I agonized over a Starbuck Richmond Howitzer cap, until such time as the one in my size was grabbed by another. I believe I marched past his tent four time over the course of the weekend, looking over my shoulder as my wife hit the various ladies sutlers.

You are off to a great start Bud, keep up the hunting and pecking for those used equipment deals. Lots of stuff out there for slim guys at great prices, just stay patient. Keep your eyes peeled and you can probably walk away with a 55 for a steal and in my opinion, that is the weapon that other all others want to grow up to be. My 42 is a great weapon, weighs about half as much as my 55 and once the nipple was broke in, fires as fast as I can load for as long as I have ammunition. In spite of all that, the 55 is my go to, unless you have to march a long distance, then it is a no brainer, 42 for the win.

Could the 42 work for the whole war?

 

[johan_steele]

Could the 42 work for the whole war?

For CS yes, for US... to a degree. late war the 42 was relegated to rear echelon troops as there were enough more modern arms for those on the front lines.

 

[yankee hoorah]

For CS yes, for US... to a degree. late war the 42 was relegated to rear echelon troops as there were enough more modern arms for those on the front lines.

ok, what would be THE best weapon to carry?

 

[Dave Hull]

ok, what would be THE best weapon to carry?

For Federal the 55 or 61 will serve well through the entire war. The Regulars were issued 55's before the war began and used used them throughout the war. The 61 was the probably the most numerous issued weapon among Federal Troops. Depending on the unit the 53 Enfield was the second most issued weapon of the war and was employed by both sides, although in smaller numbers among Federal troops. Another option would be the Austrian Lorenz which was the third most issued weapon during the war.

If you plan on doing both sides, the P53 Enfield is a great choice. In addition to be a more economical weapon on the used market than its Springfield counterparts, I have found the P53 to be a more reliable weapon than the 61 with blank ammunition. From what I understand, the 61's propensity of misfiring powder only, does not carry over to live firing the 61. Reports vary on the actual performance head to head on the Enfield and Springfield, but both appear to have been fine weapons when firing actual bullets.

My personal order of preference for reenacting weapons would be as follows:
1-55 Springfield
2-42 Springfield
3-53 Enfield
4-63 Springfield (Late war Fed only)
5-Austrian Lorenz


99 Slingshot
100-61 Springfield

 

[MRB1863]

Very interesting posts! Thank you all for participating in living history events. You all help keep our history alive!

 

[mikekj]

Yes sir.

Hope to see you there.

This is my first Battle of Aiken visit.

 

[yankee hoorah]

Hope to see you there.

This is my first Battle of Aiken visit.

You'll like it is your unit attending?

 

[mikekj]

You'll like it is your unit attending?

I'm not in a unit yet, I'll be attending as a spectator.

 

[yankee hoorah]

I'm not in a unit yet, I'll be attending as a spectator.

If you want to get on the field the 17th NYVV
would be more than happy to let you join.
You can PM me.

 

[Diplogeek]

I'm a little late to this party, but you've picked really great vendors, and your stuff looks solid. Nicely done. I'm all for buying used stuff when it's available- keeps you from having that total new guy look, and it's usually less expensive than new.

 

[yankee hoorah]

 

[Allie]

Pardon my ignorance, I don't know the first thing about uniforms. But isn't that jacket with the red trim new for you? Is that artillery or something fancy?

 

[johan_steele]

Pardon my ignorance, I don't know the first thing about uniforms. But isn't that jacket with the red trim new for you? Is that artillery or something fancy?

It's a Zouve jacket. Combined w/ red pantaloons it was the uniform of French Colonial troops of the era; they were troops known for exceptional elan and discipline. They were among the best troops in the French Army and were widely copied by American militia units.

 

[Allie]

It's a Zouve jacket. Combined w/ red pantaloons it was the uniform of French Colonial troops of the era; they were troops known for exceptional elan and discipline. They were among the best troops in the French Army and were widely copied by American militia units.

Oh my goodness, so it is. I didn't recognize it lying flat. Zouaves are the most fun.

 

[johan_steele]

View attachment 62711

What I can see looks good. The only thing that stands out as off is that cup and it may well be the picture. Stainless steel is something that stands out as wrong to those of us who are a little nutty... ok a lot nutty. Some of that can be taken care of by filling it up w/ coffee and leaving it over a fire for a good long time or by painting the outside w/ lamp black but the reality is that a good tin cup isn't that expensive.

 

[yankee hoorah]

What I can see looks good. The only thing that stands out as off is that cup and it may well be the picture. Stainless steel is something that stands out as wrong to those of us who are a little nutty... ok a lot nutty. Some of that can be taken care of by filling it up w/ coffee and leaving it over a fire for a good long time or by painting the outside w/ lamp black but the reality is that a good tin cup isn't that expensive.

I got one, it's in the garage. It's like 30 or so years old and was a gift.
I didn't want to go all the way to the garage to get it, unfortunately.

That zouave coat is for 17th NYVV that I did for Bentonville.

Does that problem with the
tilting photo happen to anyone else?

 

[Republican Blues]

Sweet get up! definite Zou Zou pluck in this image!

 

[Brendan]

Does that problem with the
tilting photo happen to anyone else?
View attachment 62740

Have you considered that maybe you're just sideways, and what's left to you is up to the rest of us? Take off your cap, see which way it falls. Wherever it lands is probably the ground, so that's where you should be standing. I've seen far too many reenactors go through all this trouble to get their gear correct, only to show up at an event orientated sideways, marching up into the sky, and throwing their whole unit into disarray in the process. It's a real impression killer. Don't be that guy.

 

[yankee hoorah]

1st SC vol African Descent.

As of now I need leathers, and a dress coat. I would also need a nice firearm as I get older, this is my Enfield Snider. Its post war.