Equipment Vendors: New and Used

New Equipment

NOTE: We have listed several vendors for each item in case that one vendor is out of stock or is backed up with orders.

Some items may be picked up at events from our local sutlers, but take an experienced, knowledgeable reenactor with you to help you find quality items. If you are buying gear during the "off season", it is just as easy to get it straight from these sources.

Hats

Jersey Skillet Licker
Dealer for some excellent clothing and hat makers. Good source for forage caps, short wait time.
1-800-431-1862

Greg Starbuck
Possibly the finest forage caps and kepis in the field.
P.O. Box 30958
Savannah, GA 31410
(912) 352-2381
Email: ofj@g-net.net

Historic Clothiers, Inc. (Nick Sekela)
The gold standard for Federal uniforms and accoutrements.  All of the highest quality.
P.O. Box 28
Butler, NJ 07405-0020
(973) 283-0800 

Chris Semancik
c/o Kate Semancik
Excellent M1858 Federal forage cap. If you don’t want to wait, S&S Sutler in Gettyburg carries their caps as well.
5619 Carroll St.
Baltimore, MD 21207

Tim Allen
Fine slouch hats.
1429 Becket Road
Eldersburg, MD 21784
(410) 549-5145 

T.P.&H Trading Company: Tim Bender Hats
Felt slouch hats and other civilian hats
121 Carriage Drive
Birdsboro, Pa 19508
Phone: 610 582 0327 (Telephone calls accepted between the hours of 6am and 9pm eastern time zone)
e-mail: tph_trading@msn.com

Dirty Billy’s Hats
Wide selection of  hats, both military and civilian patterns. Avoid brown colors. Ensure you ask for period liner and fur felt for slouch, Hardee, and civilian hats. 
430 A Baltimore Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-3200
Mail Orders
(410) 775-1865
7574 Middleburg Road
Detour, MD 21757

Clearwater Hat Company 
Limited selection of civilian hat patterns.  Ensure you request period liner.
Box 202
Newnata, AR 72680
(501) 746-4324

Uniforms

Preferred Vendors:

Historic Clothiers, Inc. (Nick Sekela)
The gold standard for Federal uniforms and accoutrements; can make virtually anything on request.  All of the highest quality. 
P.O. Box 28
Butler, NJ 07405-0020
(973) 283-0800

C.J. Daley Historical Reproductions, Inc.
Schuylkill Arsenal sack coat, mounted services jacket, mounted pattern trousers, drawers, etc. Also excellent quality. Sometimes a long wait if not in stock.
PO Box 133
Chewsville, Maryland 21721
Retail location
141 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg PA
301-766-7112
E-mail: tailor@cjdaley.com

Jersey Skillet Licker
Dealer for some excellent clothing and hat makers; excellent customer service. Items in stock vary, but always worth checking. Also carries shelter halfs, canteens, boilers, pocket knives, etc.
1-800-431-1862

The Camp Randall Quartermaster: John Wedeward
High quality historically accurate sack coats.
1900 Pleasant View Drive
Stoughton, Wisconsin  53589
608-873-8503
Email: weed@madtown.net

Joe Blunt
Owns all the old Covais patterns.  Excellent clothing. 
P.O. Box 81023
Chattanooga, TN 37414
(423) 698-8685
Check on current address—also have this one:
J. Blunt Clothiers (Joe Blunt)
P.O.Box 130983
St. Paul, Minnesota 55113
Email: mudcatsgt@aol.com

Stoney Brook Company: Chris Sullivan
Offers both commercial grade and museum grade trousers. Foot pattern in stock, mounted pattern on request. Trousers contain 15% synthetic fiber but wear like iron.
169 West Fifth Street
Oswego, NY 13126-2505
(315) 343-1557 

County Cloth
Uniform kits (including for mounted pattern trousers), cloth, blankets and saddle blankets, wide selection of notions and materials as well. 
1397-C Georgetown St. NE
Paris, OH 44669
(216) 862-3307
Email: cntyclth@bright.net

S&S Sutler: Tim and Debbie Sheads
Carries items by the better makers, all ready to ship. Good source for shirts.
45 Steinwehr Ave
Gettysburg, PA 17325
717.338.1990

Acceptable Vendor:

C&D Jarnagin Company
Good customer service. Standard reenactor grade, but well constructed clothing. Are striving to improve patterns. New federal trowsers are not bad. Consider buying without buttonholes finished, and hand finish yourself.
PO Box 1860
Corinth, MS 38834-1860
Phone (662) 287-4977
Fax (662) 287-6033

Leather Gear And Accoutrements

(Sword belts, holsters, cartridge boxes, cap pouches, and carbine slings)

Preferred vendors:

Trans-Mississippi Depot Co.
c/o Don Smith
Don produces all kinds of leather accoutrements, highly authentic and excellent quality. Buckles and plates from Hanover Brass—the gold standard.
209 W. Spur Drive
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
(928) 649-1395

Butch Myers
Some of the most historically correct leather gear around. Only source for correct Smith cartridge box. Expect a 4-6 month delivery time so order early.
6507 Horsepen Rd
Richmond, VA 23226
804-288-9380

Historic Clothiers: Nick Sekela (see Uniforms)
Occasionally makes cavalry accoutrements. Top notch officer sword belts and haversacks.  

Acceptable vendors:

C&D Jarnagin (see Uniforms)

Cedar Creek Supply Depot
Jim and Linda Lammers
8500 Lammers Rd
Delton, MI 49046
616-623-3110

Dell’s Leather Works
Insist that they use waxed linen thread rather than modern thread.
Cathy Vertullo - owner
83 First Avenue
Kingston, NY   12401
(845) 339-4916

Missouri Boot and Shoe. (See Footwear)
Request oak tanned leather and hand stitching.

Suspenders

James Miller
Museum quality braces. 
410 North Granada Street
Arlington, VA 22203
(703)522-1586
Email: jamestmiller@hotmail.com

Chris Graham
Not cheap ($25-$57 per pair), but extremely authentic and comfortable.
1420 East Vineyard Road
Hayesville, NC 28904
828-389-6126

Historic Clothiers (See Uniforms)

Footwear

Missouri Boot and Shoe
Proven, reliable source for footwear. In the business for a long time.
951 Burr Crossing Road
Neosho, MO 64850
(417) 451-6100

Mattimore Harness: Tom Mattimore
509 S. Second St.
Laramie, WY 82070
307-745-8460

MJN Boot & Leather Shop: Mick Nesseim
27210 468th Ave
P.O.Box 351
Tea, SD 57064
(605) 368-2922

Socks (Hand Knitted)

Nancy Eddins
Uniforms, civilian clothing, excellent knitted goods (woolen socks, caps etc.)
186 Hayes Circle
Rex, GA 30273
770-389-1470
Email: mrseddins@yahoo.com

C.J. Daley Historical Reproductions
P. O. Box 425
Scotland, PA  17254
(866) 851-1861

Karin Timour
81 Payson Avenue, Apt. 1
New York, NY   10034-2755
(212) 567-0605
Email: Kitmour@aol.com

Joyce DeMatteis
798 Old Savage Rd.
Arlington, Va 22922
(804) 263-6590

Mickey Black
Cotton socks. 
6378 U.S. Route 601
Salisbury, NC 28147
(704) 637-3331
Email: mickey@salisburyemporium.com

Saddles and Tack

Before you buy a saddle, discuss saddle fit with your vendor. We recommend that you have them send you the saddle tree they intend to use so that you can check it for fit before they construct the saddle. Most standard modern repro trees fit the average quarter horse well, but may sit on the withers of a narrower-built horse.

Border States Leatherworks c/o Doug Kidd
Fair prices and quick turn-around time.  He is actively working to improve his product.  Hand sewing, iron dying, hand stuffed leather available upon request.  Excellent US, CS, and civilian bits. Good brass or iron curb chains. 
1158 Apple Blossom Lane
Springdale, Arkansas 72762
Phone: (479) 361-2642  |  FAX: (479) 361-2851

Glenn Pier Depot
Model 1859 McClellan and Confederate saddles. Good product and excellent customer service. Hand sewing available on request.
c/o Karl Pepper
6889 114th Avenue
South Haven, MI 49090
Email: karlpepper@glennpierdepot.us
269-227-3675

Carrico’s Leatherworks c/o David Carrico
Model 1859 McClellan. Good product and excellent customer service.
811 5000 Road
Edna, KS 67342
(620) 922-7222 phone
(620 922-3311 fax

For those who want to make their own saddles:

James Custom Saddle Trees
706-754-9350 OR 706-754-1214

Horse Brushes and Curry Combs

Lederarsenal: Jan Henrik Berger
Excellent reproductions copied from originals. Good source for officers' horse equipments too.
Jan Henrik Berger
Bentingstr. 10
D-49477 Ibbenbüren
Germany
Phone +49 (0) 5451 / 742 95
Fax +49 (0) 5451 / 896 331
Email: J.H.Berger@lederarsenal.com

Tents, Blankets, Haversacks, Canteens, Tin Cups, Etc.

Preferred vendors:

The Haversack Depot
Museum quality haversacks and shelter-halfs. 
PO Box 311262
New Braunfels, Texas 78131
Phone: 830-620-5192
Email: PCAVANAUGH1@satx.rr.com

Jersey Skillet Licker (see Uniforms)
Shelter halfs, canteens, haversacks, etc. Great reproduction skillet, too!

The Arsenal: Eric Hector
Federal haversacks, shelter halfs.
P.O. Box 621
Newport, New Hampshire 03773
(603) 863-6262
Email: usarsenal@aol.com

Heywood Shelters c/o Dan Cheatum
Historically accurate shelter halves, both regulation weight and lighter weight. Fabric needs to be treated with linseed oil or was to be waterproof.
616 Bakersfield Rd.
Carbondale, IL 62901
(618) 529-3038
Email: dancheatum@aol.com

Artifakes
C/O Don Rademacher
Excellent shelter half, haversacks and Hardee hat. 
1608 W. Pearl St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 341-5893

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Excellent tinware and blankets. 
30 West Mifflin St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 267-1799

G&P Mercantile/George Pimentel
M1858 smoothside canteen, tin cups, boilers.
G & P Merchantile
2476 Canterbury Chase
Murfreesboro, Tennessee  37128
(615) 898-0629

Woodburn Blankets
US issue blankets.
Matt Woodburn
235 3rd Ave. South
Franklin, TN 37064
Email: RMWoodburn@aol.com

Otter Creek Tinware
Largest selection of period tinware on market.
26 Carver Street
Brandon, VT 05733
ottertin@verizon.net

Orchard Hill Sutlery
Canteens, blankets, gum blankets, leather items, belt plates, notions. Carries both commercial grade and authentic items.
417 Esperance Road
Esperance, NY   12066
(518) 875-9981

Acceptable:

C.&D. Jarnigan (see Uniforms)
Good tin ware, smoothside canteen, and gum blanket.  Leather not too bad. 

Blankets and Horse Blankets

County Cloth c/o Charles Childs
U.S. Army Regulation blanket, grey with black end stripes & hand stitched "US", 84" x 66"
1859 U.S. cavalry saddle blanket, blue with orange border stripes & hand stitched "US", 75" x 67"
13797-C Georgetown St. NE
Paris, Ohio 44669
330-862-3307
Email: crchilds@bright.net

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Excellent tinware and blankets.       
30 West Mifflin St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 267-1799

Weapons

Navy Arms Co.
Imported reproduction firearms.  Source for Smith and Sharps carbines, .44 cal steel-frame 1860 Colt “Army” revolver. Avoid their leather. 
689 Bergen Blvd
Ridgefield, NJ 07657
(201) 945-2500

Cabela’s
Alternate source for 1860 Colt Army revolver

Shiloh Rifle Mfg. Co., Inc.
Shiloh Sharps are considered the finest reproductions around. 
P.O. Box 279
Big Timber, MT 59011

Lodgewood Mfg.
Period gunsmith and parts o'plenty. 
P.O. Box 611
Whitewater, WI 53190
(414) 473-5444

John Zimmerman
Master gunsmith.  Defarbs guns. 
P.O. Box 1351
Harper's Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-2558

Legendary Arms
Source for standard reenactor grade reproduction light cavalry sabre and heavy cavalry sabre or “Old Wristbreaker.” The heavy cavalry sabre is what was originally issued to the 10th NY. It is longer and heavier (6 lbs) than the light cavalry sabre.

Cold Steel
Reproduction heavy cavalry sabre. Unlike most reproductions this is made of “1050 high carbon steel—with pass the British Proof Test.” Considerably more expensive than other repros for this reason (about $350) but may be a good choice for serious swordsmen.
3036-A Seaborg Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
1-800-255-4716

Ames Sword Company
Nice light cavalry sabre. Reenactor grade blade but better than most “standard” reproductions. 
South Railroad St.
New London, OH 44851
1-800-345-3682

Forms, Stationery and Writing Equipment

Sullivan Press

Fabrics, Patterns, and Kits

For the do-it-yourselfer. Also see Making Your Own Uniform.

County Cloth
Uniform kits, cloth, blankets and saddle blankets, wide selection of notions and materials as well. 
1397-C Georgetown St. NE
Paris, OH 44669
(216) 862-3307
Email: cntyclth@bright.net

Past Patterns
Excellent selection of patterns for those do-it-yourselfers. 
P.O. Box 7587
Grand Rapids, MI 49510
(616) 245-9466

Family Heir-Loom Weavers
Numerous fabrics and ingrain carpets. 
125 O'San Lane
Red Lion, Pa 17356
(717)246-5797

Thistle Hill Weavers
Fantastic variety of fabric 
RD#2 Box 75
Cherry Valley, NY 13320
(518) 284-2729

Tart, Brantley and Benjamin
c/o Ben Tart
Fabric, notions, uniform kits and others. Good supplier for Confederate impressions. Now had correct fabric for Federal sack coats. 
P.O. Box 28
Spring Hope, NC 27882
(919) 478-7668

Hardtack

Bents Cookie Factory
An original supplier of hardtack to the US Government during the Civil War.
My favorite. Flaky texture makes it easier to chew.
7 Pleasant Street
Milton, Massachusetts 02186
P: (617) 698-5945
F: (617) 696-7730
Email: info@bentscookiefactory.com

Mechanical Baking Company
Hardtack in allotments from 1-100. Not as flaky as Bent’s, but holds up better in the haversack.
P.O. Box 513
Pekin, IL 61555-2414
(309) 353-2414

Used Equipment

The Authentic Campaigner
Go to “Forums” and then to “Buy, Sell, and Trade.” Good source for uniform parts and accoutrements. Horse equipments are listed now and then so keep checking back.

Recommended Order of Purchase

Making Your Own Uniform: Recommended Sources for Patterns and Materials

Vendors List

Back to Authenticity Guidelines

You may also download the PDF file "Hints to Campaigners", a set of tips originally published in the United States Army and Navy Journal and edited in 2004 by Mark D. Jaeger.