new to reenacting

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

well, first you need to find a unit. You have to choose north or south, or you can do a civilian impression. If you choose to be a soldier, then you find a unit you like and join them, some units are not well orgainzed so its best to find a unit that is orgainzed well. Then when you have the money, ask someone in the unit (an officer would be best choice, or someone that has been there for a while) for a list of things you will need. Be prepaired to spend 1000 or more. When you look for items, look for the quality stuff if you want to do it for a long time, if you dont know what that is, then have someone from the unit help you find the stuff. some benefits you can get from reenacting are a tax break, new friends, and you learn tons. You would have to look up the forms but it falls under volenteer somethin or other. But reenacting isnt easy and it is how things would have been back then, so be ready to take a step back in time, but i really enjoy it, and i hope everyone else dose too.

on another note, DO NOT buy anything until you find a group. sutlers are in business to make money, they dont care if you buy the wrong thing, so be aware! but I respect sutlers cause they keep us going! A place that i really like is www.fcsutler.com

Pvt. Gale
N.W.15th Arkansas

GeoMcClellan · Sergeant Major Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 71

Sweet Lord, man, Farb Creek? Avoid them at all hazards!
Here's a list to get a person really started and started good

www.skilletlicker.com
www.cjdaley.com
www.missouribootandshoe.com
www.haversackdepot.com
www.benderhats.com

Through authenticity can we REALLY get a step back in time. When using items from Farb Creek one looks like a re-enactor. When using detailed and researched items one looks like a Soldier of the past. And even then your time tripping is more potent. When I was a farb it was hard to go back in time with comfortable clothes, uncomfortable shoes, only leathers and a canteen in battle, a floppy forage cap, sleeping in a big tent on a tarp and a quilt with more stuff than I could carry... it all felt like I was camping in funny clothes.

When I went authentic I had clothes that were both comfortable and uncomfortable (hard to describe), shoes that were a delight to wear, full trappings into battle or on the march and it never hurt my shoulders, sleeping with no more than a gum blanket, wool blanket and scarf with the open sky above me; weather be damned... now that's when you really feel a connection, a spark. Through research, reading, detailing, learning how to sew, &c. one can rekindle the past in a way that people at Farb Creek cannot do for you.

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

Sir, I take that personally. I happen to have great respect for the owners. My respect for you is non existant, you are a very mean person and I wouldnt *beep* on your teeth if they where on fire. Your mother must of not held you enough you where a child.

Pvt. Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

GeoMcClellan · Sergeant Major Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 71

How was my post mean? I simply pointed out that Farb Creek is intollerably incorrect historically and cannot be a reliable scource for much of anything at all. My list of vendors is far from a complete list of the better vendors out there but each is a *beep* sight better than Farb Creek. The owners of Farb Creek may be nice but they are out to get a cheap buck. Historical accuracy is something they do not truly value. Their research is watching a movie and then getting the sewing machine and cheap wool. A true vendor with your best interests in mind is one who researches the fabrics, finds a scource for them, sees how items were sewn and replicates that, &c.

GeoMcClellan · Sergeant Major Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 71

Oh; and for civilian; www.cornerclothiers.com

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

read their main page

Pvt. Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

GeoMcClellan · Sergeant Major Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 71

What about it? If they make poor quality stuff for 28 years then it's still poor quality 28 years down the road.

N.W.15thAR · Captain Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 167

How is it poor quality? My Uncle has had his gear and everything from them since they started and it all looks about new. You must be rich.

Pvt. Gale
N.W. 15th Arkansas

GeoMcClellan · Sergeant Major Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 71

Cheap leather, cheap wool, paterns from a 1950s movie, lack of attention to historic detail; you name it.

Savez · First Sergeant Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 25

C & D Jarnigans is another good sutler.
http://www.jarnaginco.com/

Save your money and buy a little at a time. I suggest buying the gun first (because it is fun to shoot and people are more apt to let you borrow a uniform and accoutrements than a gun), then shoes (or you will settle for farby shoes and look dumb)and then your cartridge box and stuff. The better quality and better researched stuff is expensive but you owe it to those men of the past to be as correct as possible. I might suggest buying your pants before the jacket also. Again, it is easier to borrow a jacket than it is pants. Research and Research. An unusual source that I suggest would be artists Don Troiani's books (link below). He is one of the foremost Civil War uniform experts out there. Many reenactors will tell you not to go by paintings but rest assured his are very accurate.

http://www.historicalartprints.com/hap/cmd?CMD=BROWSE&parent=30&catid=5

southern_belle61 · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:58 am Post subject:

I think all of you guys have a point. I am also new to reenacting but I know that you need to research the things you but BEFORE you buy them. No matter where they come from no matter what other people tell you.

bucktailre-enactor · First Sergeant Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 24

anther great dealer is ss-sutler of gettysburg. their web site is www.ss-sutler.com

funfossils · Corporal Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 1

How old do you have to be to do a reenactment? Question