Shoulder boards attached with hook & eyes

[KeystoneGuard]

Gents,

Been doing some research (nothing better to do in PA when its snowing) and found that some officers preferred to use hook & eyes to attach their shoulder boards. This would make sense so that they could be easily taken off and on, especially for those who had the dress epaulettes. What I would like to know is how common and versatile it is for re-enactors portraying officers to have these. I've found that the Quartermaster Shop sells them with the clips. I may be worrying over nothing but it seems to me that they would have a better chance of falling off during an engagement . Any comments or suggestions would be great!

Thanks in advance!

[Memphis]

Shoulder boards? Are you doing a modern naval impression?

[Bummer]

I had an original ID'ed Artillery Captain's commercial sack coat with shoe strings stitch attached to each corner of the shoulder strap and a small circular eyelet stitched in the coat's shoulder where each corner was to be--the strings were threaded through and tied in a bow inside the shoulder. Was a neat arrangement. Perhaps this could be done? I have not seen an original hook and eye arrangement (not that they maybe didn't exist) but I have seen this method which is just as easy.

[KeystoneGuard]

I have one coat (officer's sack) I wear for both of my officer impressions and what I'm looking for is an authentic/easy way to switch the boards (General to Captain) without having to spend a lot time sewing them on. Any reasonable suggestions would be great.

[Bummer]

Try the shoelace method metioned above--authentic and very easy.

SW~

[harley_davis]

Sir,
I have a QM Shop frock that used I switch from Captain to First Lt. with the hook arrangement. I can not speak to the correctness of the arrangement. However, I can speak to the effectivness. It does work....sorta. When you install your straps, you need to pull outward on the material to "lock" the hooks into the eye (actually more of a bar than an eye). Even then, as you put your coat on, they will occassionally fall off. If you are important enough to have an orderly (or a wife), they can help with that. Once on your shoulders, the straps are generally secure but be aware that I have had them come off in the field. What I did was to stitch them in each corner with a couple of quick stitches which eliminated the falling off. So, yes, it does work but it aint the perfect answer. I did not know about the shoe string method mentioned above and that sounds like a much better way to go frankly. I may try that one myself.
I remain, respectfully,

[TimKindred]

Comrade,

Forgive me for being so forward, but why are you bothering with shoulder straps on a blouse? Seems to me that more than half of the images I've seen of officers with blouses show either with no rank or reduced rank.

As a general officer, you don't need any rank. Everyone around you knows who you are, and depending upon your efforts in the field, so do those above you, for better or worse

As a Captain, if you are portraying one from, say, mid 1863 onwards, then odds are you'd have reduced rank or no rank visible.

It would be far easier to have two pairs of pants than removable shoulder straps. Dark blue w/ a gold welt for your general impression, and plain or light dark blue for field use (as officers were allowed to purchase enlisted trousers for use on campaign).

Respects,

[KeystoneGuard]

Tim,

I understand where you are coming from.

From the pictures I've seen of Barlow in the field (which are very few), he has on shoulder boards with his sack coat and jr. officer's shell. As for the use of "subdued" rank, I have never tinkered with it and would be open to suggestions on how to make it or where to purchase it.

On the subject of the trousers I have both pairs as you stated and concerning trousers for General Officers the U.S. Regulations have this to say:

1468. For General Officers and Officers of the Ordnance Department--of dark blue cloth, plain, without stripe, welt, or cord down the outer seam

However as we all know officer's bought their uniforms and veered from the regulations. But another thing concerning the shoulder boards, Barlow had an ego and it seems he wanted his rank known to the world.

[KeystoneGuard]

Harley,

Thanks for the insight. I think to that the shoe string method would be more practical and safe too. I don't want to search the country side for a lost board, ha ha.

[Union Navy]

Because naval officer uniform regulations changed 4 times during the war, I often have to change straps between 1861 regulations (single anchor for Lieutenant-commanding) and anchor-and-oak-leaf straps (for Lieutenant Commander after July 1862) and none (for undress uniform epaulettes 1861-1863 as in the avatar above). Since the 1861 dress uniform specifies hook-and-eye for the collar closure, they must have been in use at the time. I use small black hook-and-eye attachments. The hooks are sewn onto the strap corners and the eyes on the uniform - they hardly show when not in use. As mentioned above, make sure the eyes are farther apart than the hooks to put tension on the attachments. I have yet to lose one, though I have to check the attachments frequently to make sure they are not coming loose.