Field Grade Wool

[SackCoat]

What is "field grade" wool in regards to reproduction sack coat descriptions? Is this another name for correct "wool flannel" or just another type of blanket grade wool?

Joe Musgrove
26th Missouri

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I can't exactly answer that, as it appears to be a modern term and not of the period. A correct fatigue blouse (sack coat) was made from approximately 8 ounce indigo wool flannel with a visable diagonal twill, and is vastly different from kersey or blanket wool. There is a plethera of sources for good reproduction material, to include Wambaugh, White, & Co., County Cloth (sometimes), Ben Tart, Jarnagin, etc, etc. I avoid any terms that weren't part of the vernacular of the period such as clothing records, government contracts, and correspondance. If you get a fatigue blouse from one of those sources (or at least the material), you'll be getting closer to what "they" had

[SackCoat]

Thanks, have a contract sack coat from Wambaugh which is a great product.

Actually I'm looking at options for new recruits but something better than the cheap blanket wool sack coats out there.

Joe Musgrove
26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry

I can't exactly answer that, as it appears to be a modern term and not of the period. A correct fatigue blouse (sack coat) was made from approximately 8 ounce indigo wool flannel with a visable diagonal twill, and is vastly different from kersey or blanket wool. There is a plethera of sources for good reproduction material, to include Wambaugh, White, & Co., County Cloth (sometimes), Ben Tart, Jarnagin, etc, etc. I avoid any terms that weren't part of the vernacular of the period such as clothing records, government contracts, and correspondance. If you get a fatigue blouse from one of those sources (or at least the material), you'll be getting closer to what "they" had

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Thanks, have a contract sack coat from Wambaugh which is a great product.

Actually I'm looking at options for new recruits but something better than the cheap blanket wool sack coats out there.

Joe Musgrove
26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry

Well, for cost savings, I would recommend a kit from Wambaugh and White, but you'll not find any "bargains" in a correctly made fatigue blouse. In my mind, the flannel is either right or its wrong.