Quality Frocks and Shells

[mravery]

Hey Guys,

I'm sure this has been asked before..... but which Sutlers/Tailors make the best Union Officer's frocks and Shell jackets?

Based on Material and authenticity?

Much appreciated!

Cheers
Mark

[Kevin O'Beirne]

The question is difficult to answer without knowing more of what you're looking for. That said, the vendor list on the Authentic Campaigner forum is always a good place to start in locating vendors of more-accurate repro goods.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

You'll get as many answers to this as there are styles of officer garments, but for my money based on experience, material, pattern, and authenticity, your best bet is Kissimmee, FL's own Joe Blunt (mudcatsgt@earthlink.net to reach him) for both frocks and jackets, and Nick Sekela (www.njsekela.com). I have the pleasure of owning garments from both of these gentlemen, and they are indeed works of art.

[1stTexas]

I have purchased several garments from The Quartermaster Shop and after some reaserch on the subject, I will remain their customer. Uniforms caps and shirts are what they specialize in . There are a few east coast suppliers also sell their products. You can load their on-line catalog and see for yourself.... They are not cheap but their products are well worth the price. http://www.quartermastershop.com/

I plan to purchase a Confederate frock coat from The QM Shop and it will cost $400 ! The QM Shop will sew on your Union chevrons when they make the garment. However, I must have my Confederate 1st sgt. chevrons sewn on by a local tailor and that will cost $100 more. That is because she must remove the sleeves to sew them on. Confederate chevrons are sewn on individually using 1/2" French blue as mine will be, or black, yellow, sky blue or red tape that is available from Dixie Gun Works. Confederate chevron stripes are spaced 1/2" apart and are 12" long, with the point of the bottom chevron 12" from the cuff.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Ask a hundred folks and get two hundred opinions according to their varying Mental Pictures... ;) :)

IMHO, while beauty is in the eye of the beholder, authenticity is the eye of history.
But on the Sliding Scale of Imperfection, we all fall somewhere. If the
Gold Standard for "Authenticity" is:

1. Period raw materials
2. Period forms, patterns, and models
3. Period methods of construction or production technology

and our varying Mental Pictures call for certain percentages of Nos 1-3 to be present or allowed to be overlooked as absent.... opinions, as with others' mileage, will vary...

CHS

[Slickrick214]

As most people on here said you'll get a hundred diffenent answers to this question. So of the top vendors that I can think of off the top of my head it:

Charlie Childs
Richmond Depot
CD Jarnagins
S&S Sutler

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Athough Scott Hanes of Richmond Depot makes some outstanding CS clothing, he does not currently offer US officer clothing, and Charlie Childs does not either. Both are fine tailors and may offer them via custom order if you contact them, but they don't have any Fed officer clothing listed on their sites.

[Slickrick214]

Athough Scott Hanes of Richmond Depot makes some outstanding CS clothing, he does not currently offer US officer clothing, and Charlie Childs does not either. Both are fine tailors and may offer them via custom order if you contact them, but they don't have any Fed officer clothing listed on their sites.

O I thought they did. So much for that. :oops:

Edit

I had a brain fart there and I got confused. I was thinking of the Schuylkill Arsenal but for some reason I put down Charlie Childs. Maybe thier websites are similar I don't know but I meant Schuylkill Arsenal.