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chatrbug wrote : Is anyone interested in stores Ive bought patterns from? Ive had some good, some not so good.

That might be an excellent discussion for the Civilian Folder. Especially if you have purchased a lot of civilian patterns.

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Gregg Hensley wrote : I've bought from so many sutlers I can't remember them all. No offense, but it totally blows me away that Blockade Runner is spoken of in good terms...I guess I'm still in the mindset of the "other" forums. Now, don't get me wrong, most reenactors seem to think they're the WalMart of the reenacting world and they aren't worth your money. I've bought loads of items from them, and been well pleased with the service and quality. I've owned 2 pairs of brogans, both BR purchases, both still being worn. No complaints here. I've bought uniform items from C&C including my favorite butternut britches. My pards are starting to avoid me now, as they have over 4 years of service, with not a tear, or a washing either

I've seen the Blockade Runner bashing too.  If a company sells mainstream gear, why does that make them bad?  They are just offering a product that there is a demand for.  Sure, stuff from BR, RQ, FC and C&C aren't on the same level as CJ Daley or Skillet Licker, but there are people out there that want the mainstream product.  Alot of people, otherwise it wouldn't be called "mainstream".  So Hoorah to folks that offer the products that the public wants, at a fair price, with good service.  
(BTW, Aint nothin wrong with Wal-Mart either, when you need diapers and formula, and still have to put gas in your car)

And, kudos to the mods here for wanting to compile a list of the best ones out there.

I joined my unit in October.  That gave me alot of time to shop around.  I'm forced to be very frugle in life.  I have a family to support on one income after all. So, I took my time.  But, there were times I wasn't sure what about the seller I was looking at, so I did alot of comparing, and made my decisions, and got lucky alot of times.

I know there are others out there, like me, who live on a budget, but still want to enjoy this hobby, and have the best gear that they can afford.  Therefore, having a source where they can see who offers the best deals, service etc. is fantastic.  You got to other places and hear nothing but how crappy everything is, but if their stuff was all crap then they wouldn't still be in business would they.  That only applies in the Resturaunt business (Denny's) lol.

So indeed I speak highly of Blockade Runner.  If you want a top five based on price, service delivery time, and quality I'd go with....

1) Blockade Runner
2) Regimental Quatermaster
3) Fall Creek
4) C&C
5) don't have a five yet.  Haven't dealt with Jarnigan, and the ebay stores I've bought from are good  but don't think they should make the list just yet, so I'll have to add #5 at a later time.

As for The blockade Runner, check the measurements on their "A" or Common Tents. They'll for a few $ add a sod cloth and they're pretty close to QM specks. Compare them to Yakima, I did. Compare the prices. Guess How I know that? Nobody questioned my tent when I did QM duties at McDowell. (BTW, find a stand of young black birch trees. They are about 2 inches in diameter and make great poles. Cut to proper legnth, with a "v" notched in the uprights. Shellack the ends to make them last longer.) This is another topic for discussion but...You'll never convince me that all common tents were hand sewn, never. I know there's no surviving example, in any form. I site common sense. There's a long list of things the Army is machine sewing, especially items with strait seams, including shelter tent halfs. With the ammount of tentage and fly's that would be needed for an army to go into camp for an extended period of time, like Camp Curtian, around Washington City and in the winter, you'll never convince me there were a bunch of ladies sitting around tables, sewing that amount of canvas by hand. With the amount of double seams needed and the actual size, I just think it would have been physically impossible to produce the amount of tents needed in the time allowed for all of the new men coming into the army and for that first winter camp in '62. Ask someone you know who's made one, how long it takes to make a shelter half. Then, do some math. Now, me, down off my soap box.  

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-05-15 06:57:38 --

I just ordered from Regimental Quartermaster and am happy with them. I havent received my order yet, but called yesterday as my husband needs his drawers by memorial Day! She replaced the back ordered items (pop guns for my boys.. replaced with plain wood rifles) for the same price since I really wanted them to have something to play with.

As for patterns... I have bought patterns for every one of my family, and used all but the ones for my husband so far. I have bought from several people, there is one in particular that I wont buy from due to every time I order the patterns are on backorder.

Ok here I go, i know you have been waiting for my 2 cents.

Blockade Runner- They ok but have had problems with them mixing up orders (wanted a sz 48 and they sent size 42 jacket) or calling their "customer service" and they act as if they do not even know their own product line. My buddy and I have repeatedly been told "we will get back with you on that question". Their stuff is not that bad on a CS mainstream level (jeans) but I do say their prices are creeping a little higher than I would like to see.

Reg't Q'Master- They tell you like it is and I like that. I have been in there and the guy has steered me to the campaign items they carry when he knew i wanted accurate and actually they told my friend not to buy something from him at Olustee and go across 'the row" and buy it from Ej Thomas since it is a better item. Their rifles are ok but I have found from looking at their "defarb" ones are James River Armorys "2nds" comparing them to something that cam fresh out of the JRA shops.


Fall Creek- NO NO NO. My fiance ordered a book from them a while back and they said it was in stock. They debited the account and no book for 3 months. Called, emailed, left messages for 3 months and nothing. Finally she gets an email that says the item was BO'ed and was in the mail. They sent it to wrong person 120 miles north of us with all her credit card info. Luckily the person was not a crook  and they sent it on to us and at least FC picked up the bill for the reshipping.


C&C Sutlery- I dont know much about them, if they were at Bridgeport AL last month. I think it was them that had a CS frock coat that actually was not too terribly bad. Other than that I dunno.

Ebay- Not really into ebay mainstream stuff cause I found some of it to be even below par of the other mainstream vendors.

Jarnagin- I have had good customer service with them. My only concern is the prices getting higher and higher as if to put tthem on a price level with Daley, Sekela, EJ and the rest.

Folks,

Thanks for the responses.  It will help me in deciding rules for a possible vendors folder.  I will close discussion here for now.

By the Grump...I have done a shelter half and I definitley cannot see a bunch of women doing all of those buttonholes and surely not the grommets.  

--Last edited by Ken Cornett on 2007-05-15 15:39:27 --