hi,
As a new person,where is there a good place to start buying your uniform and things ? I want to be authentic,but don't want to break the budget either !! Which sutler in the ones posted on the web site would have good,accurate uniforms and such ? I know training camp is coming up and would preferre my own uniform.

Is this Dennis by any chance?

As a sutler of authentic gear, let me be the first to say..... don't buy anything without checking with your NCOs first. Make sure anything you buy is appropriate for the unit. To be honest, asking "who makes the most authentic......." will lead to a number of peoples OPINIONS. If you were to ask me for example, I obviously would reccomend the gear I sell. It's more important to do the research and see what gear best replicates the original for your impression. You may want to read the CPH 101 thread in the CPH folder, one of the lessons there is to not fear the loaner box. The bigest mistake most people make wen they start is running out and buying everything they THINK they need. Most units give a year or two to put together the basic kit, use that time to do the research and work with your mentor. Bear in mind, often you do get what you pay for, there is a reason some vendors charge $90 for a sack coat and others charge over $200. ALso bear in mind that with wise shopping and deciding what is necessary and what is optional you can save money by not buying unnecessary stuff and get the beter necessary stuff. Watch for used gear as well, you can often buy nearly new good stuff for about what you pay for the cheaper stuf new.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2008-03-24 19:32:40 --

First, make a list of all the things you think you will need.
Second, cross out half of them.

My personal opinion:  Don't skimp on the shoes.  Get good ones from the get-go.  Same with a cap/hat.  The first to keep your feet happy, the second to take care of one of the most obvious things people will see about your kit.

Stay within your budget, buying good used gear if available.  Get advice from more than one member of your unit (if you aren't a member of one yet, get one.  Trust me on this.)

I've got a number of items that I thought I needed/wanted.  They've mostly stayed in my closet.  Do not impulse buy.  Ever.

Dennis,

In the angling world, an old saw goes something to the effect that fishing lures are designed to catch fishermen moreso than fish. This applies to a great amount of items for sale under the banner of CW reenacting gear.

Many fresh fish (that would be newbies still wet behind the ears) purchase a fair number of items that they'll rarely use, or never really need, thus wasting money, and at the same time buy into the notion of false economy by spending far too little for items that they'll use and use often. Bernie's point about shoes dovetails well with this latter notion.

Don't fear used clothing and equipment. In my formative years, hand me downs and used items were the norm, so I didn't have to get over that notion of wearing someone else's used clothing.  In these modern times, it may seem a bit odd to buy a used jacket or accoutrements, but once you gain a good idea as to what a quality item is all about, your "good stuff eye" will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of brand name vs gear that is simply made right by folks who don't have their name in lights on a marquee somewhere.

You may balk at the idea of paying over $100 for a shirt, or nearly $300 for a jacket (higher in some cases) and lose your religion at the price of some smaller items, but a bargain hunter who knows the real deal when he sees it can find a good deal here and there.

That being said, I've owned, used, and still own a fair amount of gear from a fellow for whom Robert retails(I assume he still does), and most of that was purchased before this maker was a common household name. It's good to get great stuff before the maker becomes "discovered." That isn't as difficult to do as it may seem.

Bernie's advice about shoes is timeless. Ten to fifteen years ago, we used to have a nice list of items for the new fellow to purchase first, as well as items he could wait a while to buy.  Fitted items tended to be high on the priority list, with shoes, drawers (imagine that), socks, headgear (a period term), and spectacles being in the first cohort. If your feet hurt, then you aren't having much fun. Just as an infantryman takes care of his feet, so should a reenactor. Oddly enough, a weapon was one of the purchases which could be delayed for a while, as most folks who have been in the hobby for a spell possess a number of firearms, and with the way the Euro is boosting the cost of muskets....well, ouch! The day of the $199 Italian made Enfield is gone.

Simply put, there's a heck of a lot of crap out there, so don't step in it, and pay attention to the advice of your unit NCOs when it comes to avoiding getting skinned on sutler row. Back in the dark ages, a new fellow wasn't allowed to go to the CW version of "The Mall," without supervision. No joke.

Fellas, he's with the Sixth Ohio.  Had to make sure it was him.  I'll steer him in the right direction.

Thanks!

Quote :

Ken Cornett wrote : Fellas, he's with the Sixth Ohio.  Had to make sure it was him.  I'll steer him in the right direction. Thanks!

Ken,

Including our litle requirement about signing posts, I'm sure!

Welcome aboard.  

Yep!

Ken,

Good. I hate to see folks get took.

Charles,

Yep I still get my stuff from Nick. I just try to be as neutral as possible since I'm a mod here and not self promote too much.

Robert, I just directed a few boys your and Nick's way for some Type II forage caps.  

Thank you kind sir! I've got about every size in stock and ready to ship too (I may be out of 7 3/8).

Actually, these will probably go straight to Nick since I doubt they are in my neck of the woods (We get credit for sales in our geographic region). Have them contact me if they d any help though.

I just ordered my forage cap from Nick yesterday, confirmed the payment today and if all goes will I'll have it by our own spring training weekend.

I am a household name?

Nick Sekela

Quote :

Histcloth wrote : I am a household name? Nick Sekela

Nick,

Only in some households!    

Quote :

Histcloth wrote : I am a household name? Nick Sekela

Remember:  That can mean either that you are famous or infamous.

Bernard:

One of my objectives was to make harder to get things or things that have never been done before, more readily available. Over the course of time, I have unwillingly become some sort of public figure.

The greatest fuel for whatever infamy there may be seems to have come from those that WANT to be public figures.

My goal is pretty simple and hasn't changed. If someone wants to turn it into a negative, then they should team up with Michal Moore and do a movie on sutlers.

I would also add that there have been several individuals over the years who have offset a lack of technical skill with strong word of mouth publicity or a manufactured image. What is surprising is the resistance to a sober analysis of products and a desire to protect a mythical image. The products don't always speak for themselves in this hobby.

I recently spoke to one of the organizers of some of the largest events this hobby has ever seen. He brought private investors and donations from big name corporations. We had large scale spectator attendance, and tremendous growth in the hobby. He stated very plainly that despite the fact that he never made money, he was villified as being the worst thing that ever happened to the hobby. We now have events with attendance so poor that they are cancelling from the low numbers, AND every bit of it now comes out of our pocketbook. We really showed him.

In looking back on my 34 years in this hobby, infamy is an indication that someone is trying to change things. Those who scream the loudest or throw the largest stones are the ones who WANT to be the ones who change things and by using their methods, they are admitting to themselves that they can't. In many instances, they resort to being downright mean, saying hateful things and spreading scalrous rumors.

I have brought highly sophisticated, state of the art equipment to this hobby. If you could somehow blow away the smokescreen of infamy, you will see a group of people with their hair standing straight on end.

Nick Sekela  

--Last edited by histcloth on 2008-04-16 03:08:14 --

Quote :

Those who scream the loudest or throw the largest stones are the ones who WANT to be the ones who change things and by using their methods, they are admitting to themselves that they can't. In many instances, they resort to being downright mean, saying hateful things and spreading scalrous rumors.

Hey, I think I know one of those types!    

Quote :

Histcloth wrote :  In many instances, they resort to being downright mean, saying hateful things and spreading scalrous rumors.

Nick,

Which is the type of thing we've done our best to avoid on this Forum. Funny thing is, some people seem to really enjoy a train wreak.  

I was trying to figure out what "scalrous" meant until I realized it was a neologism created from "scandalous" and "scabrous," which, when you think about it, really covers a lot of internet communications.  I like it.