What would you liked to see reproduced?

[Mississippian]

Gents,

I was wondering what the cph cavalry community would be interested in having reproduced in the way of tack and accoutrements. I ask because I have a relative who owns his own saddle and leather shop and he has displayed an interest in making gear in the past. And if he thought there was a decent market he might be persuaded to make some things.

Will MacDonald

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

Period Civilian rigs and good Texas trees...

[cdelew]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

British Universal Pattern Saddle.

-Christopher Delew

[Outrider]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

What Zack said....

[Ken Knopp]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

What would I like to see reproduced?......More young cavalry reenactors in the ranks that can ride and cavalrymen with better hats.

Ken R Knopp

[rbruno]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

Good one Ken.
Good accurate civilian saddles trees in various patterns. Also the good Texas trees that were mentioned. Every discussion we have on here about saddles and tack usually ends with the question "Ok, now who makes the correct trees?" That is where it usually ends.
Also, a good, quality, well balanced, proper shape, good steel, sabers. We all carry them, but to carry a good one is very hard to find short of an original. I can't afford that.

[Mark J.]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

1-Correct saddle trees --for the guys who like to rig 'em themselves
2-Sew-it-yourself kits for halters, bridles/headstalls, reins
3-Components for do-it-yourselfers: (skirts, sweats, rigging, hoods, belts) hardware, period dyes, oils, waxes, stirrups,thread, etc.
4-GOOD patterns with proper notes, instructions, photos of originals and footnoted references cited

Outfitting Cav is expensive for the newbie; finding correct hardware is difficult, and the patterns are scarce, proprietary, or non-existant. Yet learning how to hand stitch leather is cheap and guys can get profficient with a little effort. CORRECT Horse gear in kit-form is something I've not seen offered before.

I think that would beat out trying to develop a product line, build up inventory and move it out the door...

-Mark Jacobsen

[TexCavly]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

Patterns would be an excellent thing.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

I could help out with iron tack hardware if the one or the other is in need.

[Doughboy]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

On that note what would guys be willing to pay for a stitching horse? I am planning on making one for myself and wonder if anyone else would be interested in one

[GrumpyDave]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

Authentic events instead of Add Junks

[Ken Knopp]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

"Authentic events instead of Add Junks" .......

Yes, I have to agree. However, its easy to say that but a bit more difficult to execute. Our own events? ....we have em and good'ns.
Like you Dave, I am an oldtimer. I wish we could draw six thousand authentics at every event (what a thrill that would be!) but then, upon reflection, by many standards of days gone by, the Manassas and Shiloh 150th was far more authentic than the 125th and certainly the 100th. Progress? Yes, by many measures but to be sure, not nearly enough by our own measurement.
As often discussed here, sometimes an adjunct is a great way (and often the only way) to carve out our own authentic niche at the circus. Moreover, we often find it has great success on many levels including maximizing our personal and collective authentic experiences inside a larger "period" (such as it is) atmosphere and, projecting "our" approach to the masses which raises the bar of the event and often leads to evangelizing the great unwashed.
I too, wish there was a better way. The perfection of Heaven is in the hereafter but for the hobby here and now, "life is what we make it".

Thanks to all of those in this hobby and on this forum who put out the massive and "thankless" effort to make AC events and the adjuncts. YOU make it possible for all of us to have fun.

Ken R Knopp

[Mark J.]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

For what it's worth; In my opinion the concept of adjuncts is a brilliant one; an event within an event...Who would have thought 20 years ago that a group with a tight focus could "use" a mega event as a controlled environment to cocoon an even more authentic atmosphere for living history and experimental archaeology? Perhaps a positive form of parasitism: The "host" provides additional "insulation" from modern anachronism (albeit imperfectly), while the AC movement "inoculates" the "mainstream" culture from within...

Pure Inspiration.

[Mark J.]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

Oh yeah--- a low cost stitching vise would be a great thing to market. I have a simple one made from 3 short pine slats, hinged by a wing-nut tightened bolt that saves me a HUGE amount of frustration on sewing the flat, long stuff like halters, headstalls, girth straps, etc.

Another idea for a marketable item: a company saddler's kit: needles, thread, awls, stitch-count wheels, knife, skiving knife, instructions....everything to get a trooper started in the sewing business.

[Spinster]

Re: What would you liked to see reproduced?

For what it's worth; In my opinion the concept of adjuncts is a brilliant one; an event within an event...Who would have thought 20 years ago that a group with a tight focus could "use" a mega event as a controlled environment to cocoon an even more authentic atmosphere for living history and experimental archaeology? Perhaps a positive form of parasitism: The "host" provides additional "insulation" from modern anachronism (albeit imperfectly), while the AC movement "inoculates" the "mainstream" culture from within...

Pure Inspiration.

You mean......What Cleburns, Mudsills, First Minnesota, and the AOP did with the same environment and depth of research back in the early 90's and prior?

Long Hobby With A Short Memory Mess....... ;)