Need help identifying CW Confederate SC Shell Coat

[Kbye1]

Hi there,
I came across this interesting civil war shell coat with South Carolina Van Wart Son & Co. buttons with brass crescent epaulettes. I was hoping to see if this was definitely confederate.

Any help is appreciated!!!
Best,
Katie

 

[1867crete]

For a start could you send close up of the button holes, the button back marks and the inner collar. And some pics of the insiding lining? It appears post war militia but want to hear the experts chim in VERY nice coat none the less!! Thanks for sharing !!

 

[UCVRelics]

Hi there,
I came across this interesting civil war shell coat with South Carolina Van Wart Son & Co. buttons with brass crescent epaulettes. I was hoping to see if this was definitely confederate.

Any help is appreciated!!!
Best,
Katie

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We can get @Package4 to weigh in but I will tell you its not CW period.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

It isn't CW for sure, but there may be a connection.

My first thought would be some sort of band jacket from the 1880's to early 1900's, but the crude looking done overcast/whipstitched insignia on the collar suggests otherwise. It could possibly, be a privately tailored UCV jacket with the insignia added at a later date by its owner. Slim possibility, but possible from pics and info is here so far.

 

[Kbye1]

It isn't CW for sure, but there may be a connection.

My first thought would be some sort of band jacket from the 1880's to early 1900's, but the crude looking done overcast/whipstitched insignia on the collar suggests otherwise. It could possibly, be a privately tailored UCV jacket with the insignia added at a later date by its owner. Slim possibility, but possible from pics and info is here so far.

Thank you so much for your help! This helps greatly appreciate You!

 

[Package4]

We can get @Package4 to weigh in but I will tell you its not CW period.

Yes I concur with all of those who say that this is not a war date product. A couple of things stand out to me, the braid on the sleeve is cotton, Southern kepis and coats are almost exclusively metal braid. US coats and kepis the same, but there are very few instances of late war gold, red and blue cotton braid on US headgear. The stars are so amateurishly sewn, most likely on purpose to add some supposed realism. I do not think they are original to the coat, someone of that rank would grab one of the company tailors, usually a man in the ranks whose civilian job was that of a tailor and have them sewn in minutes. A very simple whip stitch is almost invisible and an experienced tailor would have them sewn on in less than 5 minutes.

I suggest that this is a late 1800's military school jacket that may have been utilized as a reunion or even early reenactment piece.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Yes I concur with all of those who say that this is not a war date product. A couple of things stand out to me, the braid on the sleeve is cotton, Southern kepis and coats are almost exclusively metal braid. US coats and kepis the same, but there are very few instances of late war gold, red and blue cotton braid on US headgear. The stars are so amateurishly sewn, most likely on purpose to add some supposed realism. I do not think they are original to the coat, someone of that rank would grab one of the company tailors, usually a man in the ranks whose civilian job was that of a tailor and have them sewn in minutes. A very simple whip stitch is almost invisible and an experienced tailor would have them sewn on in less than 5 minutes.

I suggest that this is a late 1800's military school jacket that may have been utilized as a reunion or even early reenactment piece.

Whew! Good to know my call wasn't all bad.

It is a lovely shade of gray though that most likely wouldn't have been seen on a woolen cloth but, I love it.

 

[Van Wart Son & Co]

I haven't done much research about the actual fabric part of the jacket. Although the buttons you mentioned are civil war era. Van Wart Son & Co was my ancestor's company, and it went bankrupt in 1877 because it was paid in Confederate dollars for supplying weapons and buttons. My ancestor sold off all of his properties, trying to keep the company afloat after the war, but it never recovered. They made buttons for South Carolina, and Georgia. There may have been other states in small amounts, but not to my knowledge. Those buttons could be sold separately for about a hundred bucks a pop (for a fairly quick flip). I've seen some go for over $200. Sorry, I couldn't help you on the fabric side of things.