Hardtack supplier

[Rachal]

I have been looking on the net for a couple of weeks and cannot find a supplier of hardtack other than Bent's. Who else is manufacturing it these days? We were issued some at Olustee that looked like the old Mechanical Bakery hardtack, but I cannot find a contact for them anymore. I would rather not have to bake some myself, as it never looks quite right and I was pleased with what we were issued there. Any help? Thanks.

[DamYankee25]

You could always make it yourself, it's pretty simple, flour, water, salt...hardtack.

[Rachal]

I've done that before, and like I said in the original post, I wasn't happy with the looks of it. I do a lot of school presentations and I would prefer to have some that looks more like the real thing. I could buy it a piece at a time from the sutlers, but that seems to be a waste of money compared to buying it by the box. Thanks anyway.

[44thGa]

Try G.H. Bent. I think they have been in business since before the war.

www.bentscookiefactory.com

[GaWildcat]

The Gentleman was looking for someone other than Bents....

[Rachal]

Thanks, Bobby. While I like Bent's product, it doesn't hold up as well as the other style. I can't remember eating an intact piece of Bent's that has been in my haversack for more than a couple of hours. Far too fragile. Looks great, but way to fragile.

[bob 125th nysvi]

home baking their own I think Brents is it as far as commercial is concerned.

A suggestion for you though. I also do school presentations and when dealing with 80 students I really don't want to finance a piece of hardtack for each so what I do is prepare (or use a sutler version) of a full size one as a visual aid. I then make a batch with each cracker pre-scored into 9 sections before baking so the students can have a taste.

That way I have my visual yet a home made batch (@ 24 crackers each) will cover a couple of hundred students.

[Marc]

The Mechanical Baking Company used to make hardtack. I goggled them and appears they do not exist anymore ar least from a supplier standpoint.

[TheQM]

Thanks, Bobby. While I like Bent's product, it doesn't hold up as well as the other style. I can't remember eating an intact piece of Bent's that has been in my haversack for more than a couple of hours. Far too fragile. Looks great, but way to fragile.

Thomas,

If you think the Bent's crackers are too soft, just put them away for six months or a year, in the plastic bags, they come in. Trust me, they'll be hard enough to suit you!

Off subject, but it's my guess, the Army wanted to supply the troops with fresh Bent's hardtack; (Or other brands.) but often issued old, moldy and/or wormy hardtack instead. The Army still hasn't figured out "First in-First out" inventory control.

[Union Maid]

i dont know but where do you do reenactments? my sister bakes a ton of hardtack and she was thinking of doing commercial. but course we are in florida.sorry