Seriously, we were advised by several agencies to discard all leather items that went underneath the storm surge.  The surge was salt water laced with a mixture of chemical run off and sewage.  In a matter of days it sprouted a growth of brown, green, black and yellow mold.  The black mold was the worst of the bunch.  Black mold was growing in the houses that were left.  If you ever need to know how to kill off mold growth in a house, get back with me.  We now know how to do it. Anyhow, all leather was tossed.

Curtis,

To add insult to injury---  I can now count two pairs of perfectly good near to new period leather shoes that were Katrina casualties.  The first pair I wore on the Chalmette Battlefield, four months after the storm.  The second pair I wore exactly one year later, same site.  Soles on both dissolved in about two months.    

I am considering wrapping my feet in cloth and pasteboard for the next Battle of New Orleans........  

--Last edited by Spinster on 2007-12-21 17:31:22 --

Terre, you need more than rags and cardboard.  I know the country is weary of Katrina complaining.  However, there is still plenty of noxious stuff in the ground here bouts.  There has not been enough rain to leech it out, plus staph (or however you spell it) is very much a big time concern.

Santa just dropped off one of my presents.......a Richmond Arsenal painted cloth and leather roller buckle belt from Don Smith at the Trans-Mississippi Depot! A darn fine piece of work...perfect for that mid-late war supply deprived Confederate look. It's the little things that bring a smile to a man's face!

A little elf told me that there's something else on the way from Tim Welch at L.D. Haning, too!  I am a lucky man.

Here's to hoping that your stocking also has some neat stuff  

--Last edited by mstuart on 2007-12-24 13:39:28 --

Here is a list of current and former leather accouterment makers I came up with, off the top of my head;  Forgive me if any of the names are spelled wrong or if I missed anyone. If you have anymore to add, please chime in;

Chris Schreiber
Luther Sowers
Nick Duvall; Duvall Leatherwork
Lukas Berg; Elk Creek Saddlers
Nick Sekela; Historic Clothiers
Robert Serio; Missouri Boot and Shoe
Jim Lammers; Cedar Creek
Tim Welch; L.D. Haning
Jim Owens; Owens Accouterments
Bill Lomas and Joe Zilley; EJT Mercantile
Tom Czekanski; Czekanski Leatherworks
David Jarnigan; C.D. Jarnigan
Cary Davidson; Buck and Ball Depot
Don Smith; Trans Missippippi Depot
Hank Kluin; F. Burgess & Co.
L.S. Hanes; Richmond Depot
Shiloh Leatherworks


Regards;  

--Last edited by FlaYankee on 2008-01-30 09:46:22 --

Deleted by poster.  

--Last edited by oldkingcrow on 2008-02-13 15:58:13 --

Chris,

Good point, I always cary a few extra caps though for two reasons, I can be a bit butterfingered at times wen geting one out and there is usually someone nearby who needs a few at some point.

Chris and Robert;
When I make rounds, and pack them according to the original procedures and various articles, I just use the 12 packed in the tube. In the past I have for some reason ran out of caps before rounds!  I do throw about 5 or 6 extra in there, now but still come close to running out and having to bum a couple off my pards when "hotly engaged".
I have read accounts of soldiers with no cap pouches or absolutley no leather accouterments to hold their cartridges period. Instead carrying them in their pockets and such. To me that can be a little dangerous, and a bit of a pain. (but authentic
Kindest Regards;

OK, YOU'RE STANDING IN FORMATION FOR MORNING ROLL. WHO LOOKS AT THE GUYS LEATHERS IN FRONT OF AND BESIDE YOU AND THINKS, "THAT STUFF'S INDIAN?" OR, "THAT STUFF LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME FROM THE NY ARSENAL." I THINK MOST GUYS KNOW OR CARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE MATERIAL CULTURE AS THEY DO ABOUT LEARNING THE NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF A 1860'S ARMY.

BILL, YOU'RE RIGHT, I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH EXTRA STUFF I HAD UNTIL I DECIDED TO GET RID OF THE THINGS I HADN'T USED FOR TWO OR MORE YEARS. AND, I'M STILL NOT FINISHED CLEANING OUT THE CLOSETS. YES CLOSETS, PLURAL ON PURPOSE. OOPS, CAPS LOCK IS ON. NOT YELLING REALLY.

I have a pair of bootees that have been so wet so many times if I don't grease them every month, they mold.

Dave,

I have two wardrobe steamer trunks, a blanket trunk, a large domes steamer, and a small domed steamer and we still have more stuff than those will hold.

"OK, YOU'RE STANDING IN FORMATION FOR MORNING ROLL. WHO LOOKS AT THE GUYS LEATHERS IN FRONT OF AND BESIDE YOU AND THINKS, "THAT STUFF'S INDIAN?" OR, "THAT STUFF LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME FROM THE NY ARSENAL." I THINK MOST GUYS KNOW OR CARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE MATERIAL CULTURE AS THEY DO ABOUT LEARNING THE NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF A 1860'S ARMY."
   
I tend to disagree. The majority of the reenactors in my unit do care about what equipment, its authenticity and quality, research, the fine details and work that go into a good set of leather accouterments. However I have seen some American or Indian stuff that is extremely terrible in appearance and quality and was very noticeable in formation.

Kindest Regards;
Harold  

--Last edited by FlaYankee on 2008-01-31 12:56:51 --

I prefer Nick Sekela's work. I own work by Butch Meyers who is second to none. If you don't have any of butch's stuff, I'm so sorry for you! But I also own leather made by others and its all top shelf.   If I have to order today, it would be from Butch or Nick.

Ronnie Hull
Shreveport

Hi,

My name is Barry and I am a Leather-Oholic!  

It started about twenty years ago with small stuff, cap pouch, belt, you know....used stuff I could get cheap.  I moved up from there...brogans from Robert Land.  Next thing I knew, it was boots from Bob Serio!  I could not stop!

I got into cavalry and it only got worse.  Saddles, bridles, the whole thing!  A Mac from Border States, next I needed a fix from Glen Pier Depot for an Atlanta Arsenal Saddle!  I had a family to feed, what to do?  Sell the dogs to medical research?  

Now my 15 yo son is getting into it.  How can I stop him?  He does not want suttler row boots!  He knows the secret, one piece vamp!  My God, it goes from one generation to the next!  Help us!

Genetics??????