Cap Pouch authenticity question

[RyanBWeddle]

hey guys :
i have a question on cap pouches:

what type of fur goes in it and how is it attatched? mine came with fake fur inside of it , like the stuff you can buy at wal-mart, I pulled it off and it was superglued on the inside.

also i heard that most cap pouches hada a small hole for a nipple pick is this true?

I'll be having more questions later . thanks.

Nothing from Walmart ever was used in original Civil War accoutrements...
NOTHING. People need to stop mentioning Walmart here!!!
QUIT MENTIONING WALMART!

For your questions why don't you do some research? Do a 'Google' search...
I'm sure you can find some info if you do some research for yourself.

This shouldn't be the place to start your research... Read some books, articles, etc. Then ask...


From the 1850 Ordnance Manual:

CAP POUCH: (black bridle leather,) length and depth 3 inches; width 11.25
inch-inner cover, with end pieces-flap, made of the same piece as the back,
with a button hole strap at the bottom-brass button, riveted under the bottom of the pouch-2 loops, sewed to the back, 2. 5 inches long, to admit a waist belt, of 2 inches-lining: a strip of sheepskin, with the wool on, 1.5 inch wide, glued with fish glue, and sewed to the back, at the mouth of the pouch.

[Charles Heath]

Here are two excellent books you and your chums will no doubt greatly appreciate over time:

The Columbia Rifles Research Compendium, and the article by John Tobey starting on page II.18 answers your questions and more. This is just one article of many chock full of useful and easy to implement information aimed at fine tuning the impression.

Civil War Cartridge Boxes of the Union Infantryman by Paul D. Johnson will also add to your knowledge of CW era accoutrements.

Similar articles and books are available for scabbards, shelter halves, canteens, and other issue items.

Charles Heath

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Rob,

I'm just curious, who made your cap pouch?

Ryan,

You are correct..... Some people in this forum need to stop mentioning stores like Walmart, JoAnn fabrics, K-mart, etc. etc... These places should never be considered for anything.

[SCSecesh]

You are correct..... JoAnn fabrics, . . . etc. etc... These places should never be considered for anything.

Interesting broad statement! I have found a 100% cotton drill at Joann's that more closely replicates some period drill than anything I've seen to date from the hobby side of fabric production! The Irish linen for shirting I stumbled into was very good as well if you were willing to drop the $$ on it. Both fabrics compare favorably to period pieces. While finding two pieces in a store full of cloth is not a "bonanza", it certainly was a find!

[bluebellybugleboy]

Rob,

I'm just curious, who made your cap pouch?

Ryan,

You are correct..... Some people in this forum need to stop mentioning stores like Walmart, JoAnn fabrics, K-mart, etc. etc... These places should never be considered for anything.

pard:
to be honest it was bought as a christmas present last year by my uncle, and if your wondering .Also in our area JoAnn fabric stocks many period fabrics, including linen, calico, and a for a small time there linsey woolsey .

respectfully yours,
Robert Young

[CaptainUCSB]

Curt,
Dont you think you jumped down his throat a bit quicky? True his question may not have been the most educated question posted on this forum, but for somebody trying to make his first jumps to authenticity it was a perfectly good question.

Something that often gets in the way of mainstreamers/farbs moving in the realm of authenticity is the attitude of authentics/hardcores. The attitudes of the hardcores in my area delayed my authenticity for at least a year. I knew they looked good and I wanted to be a part of that, but they were jerks to me whenever I asked even the easiest questions or even when I walked by.

Thanks to Don Smith for being the one in the group to actually take an interest in me, rather than putting his nose up in the air like everybody else in that group did. If he hadn't, I'd still be running the fields yelling "yee-haw" with my farby crap on! (OK, I never yelled "Yee-haw")

As for the generalized statement against modern stores, I dont have much to say. Just realize that it was a very GENERALIZED statement.

[dusty27]

Patrick ed al,

Curt doesn't need defending here. GENERALLY speaking, modern retail operations are not the first, second or third source for material for the more authentic side of the hobby. On a website that tries to cater to this side of the hobby, mentioning this type of source is going to be looked down upon.

Another point I'd like to make here, again, is that many of the questions here asked by the "new" guys can be answered using other sources on the net, asking pards within the unit, or using the search feature on this or other fora.

I would like to reiterate what Curt has said, new guys should be doing a lot more reading here and research in their libraries.

[sivart]

“New guys” So what when are you not considered a new guy? Is there a test? I think everybody is a new guy to something, as we all don’t know everything about this hobby, or everything about anything

"New guys" is defined by the join date and number of posts made on this forum. New guy is in reference to this forum, not to reenacting.

I have to agree with Patrick. We authentic minded reenactors need to be nicer and more understanding to out brethren who have not seen the light. Telling them not to ask questions that you deem inappropriate will not help us in any way. In fact that is a way to deter people from asking questions, and if you cant ask how will you learn?

I'm not saying to not ask questions. What I am saying is do some research into your question elsewhere and if you still have questions, come on here with some knowledge of your subject matter, not "what kind of fur is in cap boxes?"

As a test, when I saw the original post, I put "Civil War cap boxes" into a Google search and found out in seconds that original cap boxes had/have wool inside, not "fur".

The poster could have done the same thing.....

Sure he could have done more research, and I am not saying he still shouldn’t but c’mon, do we really have to complain about it, wouldn’t it be easier to just to answer his question? Maybe he doesn’t have access to everything that is needed to do research. Because if he is a “new guy” chances are he won’t have the reading material available to him that some of us have amassed. And you can’t find everything on the Internet. (Well not yet)

As many have said here before, he could go to the library to get research material. And you can find quite a bit on the internet if you take the time.

I’m sure that when you started reenacting, you just didn’t all of a sudden know everything, I can guarantee it. And you probably don’t know everything now.

I don't presume to know anything, then or now. I do know how to do research, however, which I enjoy and I like to pass on things that I have learned.

This forum is as much here for experienced and “newer” authentic reenactors alike. So lets just all try and get along, and not rip peoples heads off if they make a comment that you deem inappropriate.

Anyone can use the forum. I just wish they would read more and learn before asking some questions. The "ripping peoples' heads off" comes from the frustration of explaining this concept so many times.

Dusty

[CaptainUCSB]

I will only respond to one thing you said: he can ask a pard in his unit?

First of all, can we please stop using the term pard? It sounds ridiculous and isnt authentic at all.

Second, if he is a member of a farby unit in Canada, do you really think his "pards" will be able or willing to answer any of his authenticity questions?

[SCSecesh]

JoAnn fabric stocks many period fabrics, including linen, calico, and a for a small time there linsey woolsey .

respectfully yours,
Robert Young

I've never seen their Linsey woolsey, the calico is not very good and doesn't look like anything I've seen from the period. There are a few small quilting shops around that often carry printed fabric patterns that can be traced back to the period mills, but you have to look. Even some Smithsonian patterns around. Be careful with the linen as well, much it has rayon or some other synthetic in the make make-up and/or if very loosely woven, with a number of the slubs far beyond what I've seen to date. If the linen isn't about $12-$14/yard, I'd be somewhat suspect!