|
|
Post by paranger on Jun 15, 2020 7:00:30 GMT -7
In the spirit of helping others avoid some of the newbie mistakes I made when I first began, I have enclosed a link to the sutler list from the Fort Frederick Market Faire, which was unfortunately canceled this year due to the pandemic. I sometimes get the impression that people unecessarily limit themselves to sub-optimal (and often over-priced as well) kit from the "big" vendors with a larger marketing budget. That is not to say that you cannot get some quality items from places like Townsend or Crazy Crow (and I have). However, equally often, their wares are not PC, are sometimes cheaply made, and yet are often not inexpensive, either. There are lots of sutler lists out there, and this one is certainly not all inclusive, but neither is it a bad place to begin. Most of the sutlers listed have links to their websites or at the very least contact emails. friendsoffortfrederick.info/sutlers2020.htm |
|
|
|
Post by brokennock on Jun 15, 2020 7:20:29 GMT -7
Thank you. I could not agree with you more. I tend to look to Crazy Crow as a very last resort, and often more for materials for projects than finished goods. I am pleased with my "Trekker" boots from them though.
I have been very happy with items from The Quartermaster General, Turkey Foot Trading, and I'm looking at some items from Smoke and Fire.
I will definitely peruse the list provided, and the sites of the sutlers therein.
I was very pleased with some shirts I bought from One Blanket Trading, including a caped hunting shirt he made me with a cape that reverses to hunter orange. He seems to be no more. Wish I could reach him just to find out where he got the orange material if for nothing else.
|
|
|
|
Post by paranger on Jun 15, 2020 7:26:58 GMT -7
Thank you. I could not agree with you more. I tend to look to Crazy Crow as a very last resort, and often more for materials for projects than finished goods. I am pleased with my "Trekker" boots from them though. I have been very happy with items from The Quartermaster General, Turkey Foot Trading, and I'm looking at some items from Smoke and Fire. I will definitely peruse the list provided, and the sites of the sutlers therein. I was very pleased with some shirts I bought from One Blanket Trading, including a caped hunting shirt he made me with a cape that reverses to hunter orange. He seems to be no more. Wish I could reach him just to find out where he got the orange material if for nothing else. You bet. Always like to hear about vendors with whom people have had a good experience. I will add that Vinny Spiotti at Bethlehem Trading Post falls in that category for me. You may know him from his regularly featured articles in Muzzleloader Magazine? |
|
|
|
Post by lenapej on Jun 15, 2020 10:29:53 GMT -7
Thanks for sharing, many of those I did not know about, I have bought from Fort Downing, Burnley & Trowbridge, and Wm Booth Draper, and would recommend them all.
|
|
|
|
Post by brokennock on Jun 15, 2020 14:59:58 GMT -7
Thank you. I could not agree with you more. I tend to look to Crazy Crow as a very last resort, and often more for materials for projects than finished goods. I am pleased with my "Trekker" boots from them though. I have been very happy with items from The Quartermaster General, Turkey Foot Trading, and I'm looking at some items from Smoke and Fire. I will definitely peruse the list provided, and the sites of the sutlers therein. I was very pleased with some shirts I bought from One Blanket Trading, including a caped hunting shirt he made me with a cape that reverses to hunter orange. He seems to be no more. Wish I could reach him just to find out where he got the orange material if for nothing else. You bet. Always like to hear about vendors with whom people have had a good experience. I will add that Vinny Spiotti at Bethlehem Trading Post falls in that category for me. You may know him from his regularly featured articles in Muzzleloader Magazine? I hear a lot of good things about Bethlehem Trading Post, and check their website now and then. One of the things I've run into with some of the better suttlers that people recommend from dealing with them at events,,,, poor websites. Often times descriptions are lacking, pictures are poor and/or few, and ordering isn't straightforward. Bethlehem's isn't the worst, but given the reputation of their wares, could be better. |
|
|
|
Post by artificer on Jun 17, 2020 2:13:46 GMT -7
One guy not on that list is Carl Giordano, Tinsmith
www.cg-tinsmith.com/#!
I have quite a few of his tin oil bottles and other items not easy to find at other places. Sometimes on the special or unusual stuff, one has to wait a while, but it has always been well worth the wait. Best to contact him to see if he has what you want in stock and/or how long it might take for him to make it.
Gus
|
|
|
|
Post by artificer on Jun 17, 2020 2:23:13 GMT -7
P.S. My first trip to Fort Frederick was in 1981 or 82 when they were doing the weekend event "Military through the Ages." They had small battles from the FIW through the UnCivil War. I was doing a Confederate Marine Drummer back then and we were attached to Archer's Brigade.
However, when our guys began coming back from the Sutlers, more than one came up to me and said, "Ah, NOW we know where you got some of the neat mess and camp gear no one else has!" This because I was using 18th century and War of 1812 stuff I already had. So it kind of let things out of the bag on me. Grin.
|
|
