Sutlers

[Bfd807]

Have any of y'all ever used Crescent City Sutlers? If so what was your experience with them and how is the quality of their products?

Thank you

 

[thomas aagaard]

I don't know them.
But look like typical mainstream gear...

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I've never used them, last time I looked at their website their uniforms looked farby and cheap, like Pakistan made stuff.

There's some other great sutlers out there I go with first.

 

[kbaxley45]

I agree with both posters. Avoid buying uniforms, hats, brogans, and your accoutrements from there for reasons explained already. The staff is very friendly and responsive to questions via email in my experience.

 

[Bfd807]

Thank y'all very much. Being new I do not yet have the eye yet that some of the more expireinced have.

 

[Bfd807]

Is there anything I can do to make lower quality gear a bit more presentable? I know replace it with better, but at this point in time that is just not an option. I plan on replacing with better as soon as school lets up and i can breathe again, unfortunatly that will be in 10 months. I wont ever grt it to look authentic but if I could get it looking a bit better I would be happier, as would everyone else that doesnt have budget issues.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Is there anything I can do to make lower quality gear a bit more presentable? I know replace it with better, but at this point in time that is just not an option. I plan on replacing with better as soon as school lets up and i can breathe again, unfortunatly that will be in 10 months. I wont ever grt it to look authentic but if I could get it looking a bit better I would be happier, as would everyone else that doesnt have budget issues.

As far as making it more presentable, it really depends on what you've got. If its your accoutrements I really wouldn't worry about it and would say just live with it until you can get better stuff. Uniforms, that's a whole other story as where most of them are concerned there really isn't anything you can do about it other than replacing them, so I'd say not worry about it and wait till you can afford better more researched garments, and replace that first. Bad accoutrements can be lived with a lot longer than bad un-authentic style uniforms, provided they don't fall apart under heavy usage lol. So just live with it until you can do better, others "in the know" will understand, we've all been where you are.

The key things you should do are:
1. Research, research, research, and even more research.
There's a whole world of good data out there for a new reenactor to latch a hold of, but be careful as there's also a bigger world of bad.

2. Find a good unit that's done good and proper research in their impression.
This is very important, you need to have done enough research on your own to tell the difference. A good way for a newbie nowadays in my experience is to look at trousers. If a company is all outfitted with "Frontier Classics" or other brand of all cotton usually striped trousers, that are really 1880's and 1890's style, they not putting research into their impressions very well, or just don't care so to speak. A good unit will walk you through the process and set you straight, but you should still research. Nothing can substitute good research, and a lot of units that don't do research are filled with good people, you should just look for a unit that is more dedicated to their impression.

3. Compare photos and prices of goods from different sutlers. If the uniforms and accoutrements look the same and are similarly priced, (with anywhere from $2 bucks to $20 bucks difference) they are probably the exact same manufacturer and imported.
Its easy to spot some of the cheaper stuff that way, for example imported Union uniforms tend to have a rough texture, very dark blue almost black and will turn purple, whereas good quality American will have a smoother appearance and be a richer dark blue that looks blue, (check out Wambaugh and White, their uniforms are top of the line). But again nothing substitutes research.

Most sutlers are alright folks, even the ones that import everything, but there are some that import uniforms, and make their own, along with making or having other goods made specifically for them that are good quality, (there's one or two that comes to mind for me), and while good quality American made stuff is a bit pricier, its worth it, if you outgrow it will hold its value at the numerous resale groups on a certain social media platform, imported stuff won't. You'll also be a lot more comfortable, the better stuff fits way better, and the material difference is a game changer. I learned the truth of that after I made the switch, everyone was marching in the bad stuff in 99 degree humid heat, I had the right material uniform with my jacket buttoned all the way and hadn't sweated a drop when everyone else was drenched and nearing a heatstroke, still happens lol. Our ancestors weren't stupid in their clothing choice, much less material choice, they knew what they were wearing lol.

At the end of the day, you should find someone in the know to guide you in the right direction and keep you on that path, and do your own research. It take time and patience, but its worth it, and it actually gets you a lot closer to our CW ancestors than without, so pick yourself out some memoirs and copies of diaries from the war, read them, and check out what they had to say with a good author's book or two. Its actually quite rewarding.

 

[kbaxley45]

Agreed with the last post. You can't polish a turd...I've tried with lower-quality stuff and it just didn't work. If money is an issue, here are some suggestions:

1) Ebay - look for 'campaigner grade' stuff. Now, sometimes the seller may not be all that honest. If there's a doubt, you can post the listing in this forum or talk with your unit members about it to make sure the item is what it says it is.

2) If you have a Facebook account, the "Campaigner Quality Trade Blanket" is a treasure trove of great, mostly used, but not abused uniform and leather items.

3) If you or someone you know can sew, consider ordering kits from Wambaugh, White, and company. For the price that some of those sutlers sell their completed items, you can have a uniform that consists of authentic materials and patterns.

 

[Bfd807]

WOW Thank you!
Have started researching but still at the infancy stage of it. Researching my family history and letters from both sides of the conflict. I have found a good group that has been around for a while. Getting to know some of them, but dont want to be a pest there or here either, so have been splitting my stupid questions between the two groups. Thanks for putting up with the new guys questions that have probably been asked multiple times.

 

[Tailor Pete]

Is there anything I can do to make lower quality gear a bit more presentable? I know replace it with better, but at this point in time that is just not an option. I plan on replacing with better as soon as school lets up and i can breathe again, unfortunatly that will be in 10 months. I wont ever grt it to look authentic but if I could get it looking a bit better I would be happier, as would everyone else that doesnt have budget issues.

I've always thought the upgrading of generalized gear was a good idea until I broke down the costs. If you're going for an authentic impression, you're in essence paying 1 1/2 times the amount than if you simply start out with high end gear.

But to answer your question, hand sewing over machine sewn button holes, along with replacing (where appropriate) machine top stitching with hand stitching goes a long way.

Also, if you have no other option but to start inexpensively, only purchase the essentials to start off with. Keep everything fairly plain in appearence, and shy away from equipment of a late war style, unless your unit participates as such.

Finally, check with others in your unit for cast off 'veteran' equipment. Another good source is eBay, where you can find some screaming deals on authentic equipment from a variety of high-end makers.

These are all ways to save a few dollars while building your first impression. Good Luck!

 

[kbaxley45]

WOW Thank you!
Getting to know some of them, but dont want to be a pest there or here either, so have been splitting my stupid questions between the two groups. Thanks for putting up with the new guys questions that have probably been asked multiple times.

If your group is serious about on-boarding you correctly, then I believe they would appreciate any questions you can send their way before making a potentially expensive mistake I threw lots of questions at the leadership in my unit when I first started, and still do. Don't worry about bugging them. Just make sure you take suggestions to heart and start looking in the recommended places for nicer gear at a lower price.

 

[Package4]

I've always contended that the first thing people see is your head, therefore my first major expense would be the best piece of headgear I can afford, from one of the few good hat suppliers. I can tell a farb a mile away by his or her headgear. I find it easier to deal with the sack coat and trousers (assuming from your avatar that you are a yank) from lesser quality suppliers and as @Tailor Pete says replace machine with hand stich. @Rusk County Avengers gives great advice as well.

Look at the Library of Congress website and blow up their pictures to look at uniform detail, little things can make a mass produced machine stitched garment acceptable. The trouser vent can be done at home, but should be done, instead of a general hem at the bottom of each pants leg.

Get the coat out into the sun so that it gets a little weathered, but if you are going to leave it out, rotate it.

Look at original pieces and see how they faded and leather creased, veteran infantryman almost always had a bend to a corner of the outside flap of the cartridge box. I make the assumption that they bent the corner up for easier access. @kbaxley45 advice about bugging your group is very sound, they would prefer that than having someone with the wrong uniform, musket and general kit.

And most important, learn and have fun, best of luck!

 

[Tailor Pete]

I whole heartedly agree with @Package4. Headgear of the proper fit and manufacture is SOOO much easier to purchase now, than it was even ten years ago. Add to that, the increase in scholarship online (CivilWarTalk being a prime example) and there is little excuse for sub-par headgear.