Period Correct, Or.....

[The Arapaho Kid]

I haven't encountered this yet, but I've been told that at some shoots the shooter must be period correct in his/her dress.  I understand about tennys and baseball caps and all that and that they are not acceptable.  It is my understanding that suede items (boots, vests etc.) are not acceptable as period dress.  This makes sense because suede was unknown in the 19th. century.  So my question here is:  At little local shoots period correctness is not all that pushed and if someone was slightly out of period correct, no one would make an issue out of it?  However at the big, national shoots, period correctness is pushed and if someone shows up in something that out of period correct someone will say something about it?  I've also heard these tall tales about "Clothes Cops" being at the shoots, just looking for someone out of period correct?

So...may I presume that at the small, local shoots period correctness is not a big issue, but at the big, national shoots it is?

[Camille Eonich]

http://www.sassnet.com/Downloads/ShootersHandbook/SHBv110.pdf


It's all in the handbook.  SASS costuming is not just based on history it is also based on B Western.  You don't have to be historically accurate in any way at any match.  You just have to be cowboy.

CLOTHING and ACCOUTERMENTS
Cowboy Action Shooting™ is a combination of
historical re-enactment and Saturday morning at
the matinee. Participants may choose the style
of costume they wish to wear, but all clothing
must be typical of the late 19th century, a Bwestern
movie, or Western television series.
SASS puts a great deal of emphasis on costuming
because it adds so much to the uniqueness of
our game and helps create a festive, informal
atmosphere that supports the friendly, fraternal
feeling we encourage in our competitors.
All shooters must be in costume, and we encourage
invited guests and family also to be costumed.
Shooters must remain in costume at
all match events: dinners, award ceremonies,
dances, etcetera.

The best way to develop a costume is to first
decide on a character or profession you wish to
portray. (This is also a good way to decide on
your shooting alias.) SASS members have
adopted the personas of bankers, blacksmiths,
lawmen, gunslingers, railroad engineers, saloon
girls, schoolmarms, East Indian British cavalry,
U.S. Army cavalry, mountain men, trail cowboys,
prairie women, American Indians, and
silver screen heroes ... you name it!
Once you have adopted your character, do a little
research. Go to the library and look at historical
photographs depicting your character.
Determine the clothing items you need, and
begin your search.
There are many commercial suppliers of traditional
western clothing and accouterments who
advertise in The Cowboy Chronicle.
The other way to go is on your own. Visit your
neighborhood thrift stores. Look for lightweight
wool slacks with plaid or vertical stripe patterns
or old formals, for example. Men, remove thebelt loops from the slacks, add suspender buttons,
and presto, you have a pair of Old West
trousers. Ladies, take the old satin, silk, or
whatever formal, add a little lace, change a hem
line, add a feather boa, and a hair comb ... voila,
you're a saloon girl.
Another possibility exists with the commercial
costume rental companies. Many of these firms
offer a good selection of authentic western
wardrobes.
Don't want to get that involved in developing
your costume? Well, okay.
Denims of the Wrangler, Levi, and Lee variety
are acceptable. Designer jeans (the ones with
the colored piping and name embroidered on the
pocket) are not allowed.
Contemporary cowboy shirts with snap fronts
are okay, but not even very B-western.
Inexpensive cotton work shirts with button
fronts are available at Sears, Wal-Mart, K-Mart,
and J.C. Penney stores. These are much more
SASS Shooters Handbook January 2005
Eleventh Edition
Copyright, Single Action Shooting Society, Inc. 48
representative of the type of shirt worn in the
late 1800's.
If you know a good seamstress or tailor, many
patterns for Old West clothing are available.
Any large fabric shop will carry cotton goods
adaptable to great western wardrobes.
Visit with the other shooters at your local club.
They have great ideas about how to assemble a
Cowboy Action Shooting™ wardrobe.
OUTLAWED
• Modern shooting gloves
• Short sleeve shirts
• Modern feathered cowboy hats (Shady
Bradys). Straw hats of traditional design
(e.g., Stetson, Bailey, sombreros,) are
acceptable.
• Designer jeans
• Ball caps
• All types of athletic shoes or combat boots
no matter the material from which they are
constructed.
SASS Shooters Handbook January 2005
Eleventh Edition
Copyright, Single Action Shooting Society, Inc. 49
• Clothing displaying manufacturer’s or
sponsor’s logos.
• Nylon, plastic, or Velcro accouterments
Mainly, SASS wants our participants to be safe,
have fun, develop their competitive shooting
skills, and enjoy the rich traditions of the Old
West. We ask you join us in the friendly spirit
of competition and preservation of our heritage

[Silver Creek Slim]

Are you referring to SASS, NCOWS, WASA, or W3G clubs/matches?

Slim

[Advertising]

[The Arapaho Kid]

Are you referring to SASS, NCOWS, WASA, or W3G clubs/matches?

Slim

I'm referring to any match no matter who sponsors it.

[Camille Eonich]

Arapaho, those aren't different sponsors those are different shooting organizations.  NCOWS does not put on SASS events, SASS does not put on NCOWS events, neither puts on WASA events and WASA does not put on SASS or NCOWS events.


Therefore they all haven't different rules about the types of guns you can shoot, the clothes that you wear etc etc.  You best not show up at an NCOWS event in B Western attire.

[hellgate]

Kid,
Most shoots follow SASS Guidelines as provided in Ms Eonich's post from the SASS Shooter's handbook. It would be best to check out the websites of WASA, NCOWS, & W3G for exceptions to SASS rules. The NCOWS is a bit more of a stickler for authenticity than the other groups. I can't comment about the other groups as I haven't shot in any of their matches nor are there any clubs nearby other than those SASS afiliated around here (Orygun). Local clubs are usually more loose about costuming due to inclement weather, new shooters, & the "big tent" concept of SASS allowing for just about any movie/TV character, profession, or historical figure from 1860-1900. I will shoot in real hot weather as a mexican peasant from "The Magnificient Seven", in cold weather as a Confederate Artilleryman, otherwise I might be an Amish farmer in bib overalls with straw hat or a bounty hunter/saddle bum/vigilante from Montana. Most of my stuff is period correct but I get a lot of clothing items at the Goodwill/Salvation Army. Close enough is good enough. I've never run into anyone that I would consider "authenticity police". As for firearms modifications (competition grips), non smoking BP, etc. we could use the occasional equipment police.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Arapaho, those aren't different sponsors those are different shooting organizations.  NCOWS does not put on SASS events, SASS does not put on NCOWS events, neither puts on WASA events and WASA does not put on SASS or NCOWS events.


Therefore they all haven't different rules about the types of guns you can shoot, the clothes that you wear etc etc.  You best not show up at an NCOWS event in B Western attire.

Most of the shoots in this area are put on by the local clubs and I've seen a lot of plain old blue jeans at these shoots. so I don't think they are that critical.  Our big shoot is over in Wenatchie in the summer.  This one is our one national shoot.  I thin here they might be a little more critical about dress?

[The Arapaho Kid]

Ok!  I'm covered on just about everything.  My shirts are authentic Indian Ribbon shirts made by Indians.  Ribbon shirts were worn in the 19th. century.  I have three pair of pants.  Two Levis in a dark brown and a khaki and one pair of Dickies in a kind of a medium  brown duck color.  I didn't remove the belt loops from these because I need them!  I wear a small, light weight belt and it's hidden by my gun leather.  I need this belt to hook up my keeper straps to.  As we men get older, we kind of lose our hips and without those keeper straps, my gun leather slides down.  Strap it on...three steps and it's down around my knees!   Definitely not period correct and very comical!  It was either that...or get another pair of spenders for the gun leather.   I added logger buttons to the pants for my pair of period correct spenders.

My hat is a Stetson Gun Club with the Puggaree band removed and a braded horsehair band replacement.  My boots are knee high cavalry boots with brass military spurs and straps. The vest I have now is black leather, but I'm switching over to a fringed one soon.  So I think I'm correct in my dress.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Waiting for the 3:10 from Yuma
Sorry about the poor picture quality here.  My photo editor is an el cheapo.  This is my shooting garb.  I don't normally wear a standard denum work shirt, but that shirt was worn only for the picture shoot.

[Camille Eonich]

Arapaho, you shouldn't have any problem with that outfit at any SASS match.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Arapaho, you shouldn't have any problem with that outfit at any SASS match.

Well thank ya ma'am for the kind words.  I'll presume that when I get my fringed, suede vest up an running I won't have any problems with it?  Sagebrush Burns, the president of the Northwest Colorado Rangers said that suede vest would be ok for his shoots.  I'll just pack along both vests.  If I catch some flack for the suede one...I'll switch over to the black leather one.

[Delmonico]

Interesting, but if anyone would do a bit of "real research" and not depend on hearsay, one would find out that suede leather was made and used in this country before the civil War and is a process to make a cheaper form of leather to stretch the limited amount of hides.  Also a bit more "research" will show that leather vests did not exist in the "Old West" for the most part, I ain't been able to document one yet.

But few care to take any time to really do any serious research.

[Marshal'ette Halloway]

Thanks Cammie..
You did a great job to  line it out like you did..
It helped me ..and I am sure helped other newcomers that aren't real good about reading the handbook, an idea and an area frame to work from.

[The Arapaho Kid]

Interesting, but if anyone would do a bit of "real research" and not depend on hearsay, one would find out that suede leather was made and used in this country before the civil War and is a process to make a cheaper form of leather to stretch the limited amount of hides.  Also a bit more "research" will show that leather vests did not exist in the "Old West" for the most part, I ain't been able to document one yet.

But few care to take any time to really do any serious research.

Well thank you sir, for bringing this to my attention.  I honestly didn't know suede was that old.  I always thought that was a 20th. century invention.  As for leather/cloth vests....in this day and age, does it really make any difference what type we wear?

[Delmonico]

It does for those of us who want to be as period correct as we can.

[Big John Wyatt]

Your garments are fine for SASS and CAS.

But I wouldn't wear them fishing....

[The Arapaho Kid]

It does for those of us who want to be as period correct as we can.

Ok!  Done deal!  You be period correct with your cloth vest.  I'll be period close with my leather ones.  Unless I catch some flack for the leather ones...I keep wearing them.

[Delmonico]

But I only wear a vest with my frock coat.    Also could care less what others do, I'm the one that needs to look good.   But the original question was on period correct.