josey wales' coat

[JohnnyReb]

 
Here are some details of the Josey Coat that I plan to forward to my costumer.

Did anyone else know that the DVD is NOT Copy Protected?
Makes me wonder WHY there are not better images available on line.

[JohnnyReb]

Here then are swatches of my purchased material to create the "Josey Wales Bush-Whacker-Coat"
A. 100% Organic Cotton Canvas From Mill End Fabric's in Oregon. (3 and 1/2 yards) I think the color is SPOT ON...but check the pics I posted and you be the judge.
B. Thick natural Hemp for the lining also available at Mill End.(2 yards)

But do keep in mind that I have a Civil War Event coming up and then there is Halloween...both of which I have costumes in the works for.
I will post again when progress has been made on the jacket, Never Fear!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Looking forward to the finished article.

[The Avocado Kid]

THIS IS NOT A CIVIL WAR ERA COAT OR JACKET IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE THINKING....I WAS A CW REENACTOR FOR MANY YEARS...ITS A HOLLYWOOD WARDROBE COAT/JACKET...NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR. DUSTY

[JohnnyReb]

Dusty: Thanks for the thought, though if you read the whole thread here you will see that we covered the "Non-Historical" aspect of the coat.
I am, however, un-willing to say that without a doubt there is NO historical basis for this coat, given the context underwhich it is presented and the questions we have answers to;
Is there an exact Historical uniform match for this coat? No, not that I could find.

Did confederate Guerilla's adhere to uniform dress codes? No.

Did Confederate Guerilla's make do with what they had,what they could scavage or what they could sew themselves? Yes.

Could a Confederate Guerilla have possibly come up with this particuler design for a bush coat? Absolutely.

Check out the picture I'm posting here.
The question I ask myself when I look at a Great Coat such as this is: Could a Confederate Guerilla take this coat, rip out the lining, ad raw hide and leather ties to it and then cut is down to something usable for horse-back bush fighting? MY imagination say's "You bet!"

[The Avocado Kid]

WHEN YOU GET RIGHT DOWN TO IT NONE OF US WERE THERE(BACK IN THE DAY) AND WE DON'T HAVE A TIME MACH. SO....DO WHAT YOU WANT OR WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY....LIFE IS SHORT....I JUST GOT SNAPPED AT ON ANOTHER POST FOR SAYING THE OLD ARMY RUGER IS NOT CORRECT AS FAR AS HISTORY GOES BUT ITS A GREAT SHOOTING GUN....MY INTENT WAS NOT TO FLAME BUT POINT SOMETHING OUT AND I DID READ THE ENTIRE POST....SORRY FOR THE REPEAT....ALL THIS BEING SAID YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON THAT I KNOW OF THAT IS TRYING TO RE-PRODUCE THIS COAT. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN,DUSTY.

[JohnnyReb]

Dusty, you rock! I don't mind tellin ya...
You can be my wing man anytime!

You summed up my thoughts precisely and again, you are correct when you say it's all about having fun...I save my serious for re-enacting.
I'm really surprised that no-one else has made a go at re-creating this jacket and I am dead serious in my intent to see it done...and then post the results here...this is after all the first place that came up when I searched for "Josey Wales Coat"...I feel a bit beholden.
Thanks for your interest!

[JohnnyReb]

I still intend to post results here at Cas City BUT...
I thought I should add a link to my web-site just in case some of you might want to stop on by and sign my guest book! I'd be proud to have you over for a spell!

http://nopeek.tripod.com/bitten/id92.html

[will52100]

Your not the only one that has tried to find info out about the coat.  I've got an oil skin drover that I love as a rain jacket around the farm and has served me well.  However I shot a match in the rain with it and found it cumbersom to shoot multiple guns and targets.  I think the shortened sleves would definatly help out there.

You ever get a good pattern made up please post it as I'm interested in something like that.

Heck, the Outlaw Josey Wales was the first western that I can realy remember and it's what got me interested in open top colts and conversions even though they wern't period correct for the time.

Thanks

[JohnnyReb]

It's about time this old thread get's resurrected, dontcha think?
I got a Birthday "Howdy!" from Cas City this morning,
sorta kicked me in my back side and reminded me of the promise I made
to return here with some up-dates on the Josey Coat.
Well,  no up-dates yet but I do have short story which I think is kinda amusing...
Remember that link I put up to Lavenders Green and also to my web-site?
Remember the picture collage I posted of images of Josey's Coat?
Well it seems that SOMEONE out there got tired of waitin on my sorry carcuss and
got a hold of Lavenders Green recently!
The funny thing here is that my girl-friend occassionally works for Lavenders Green and so got a call
from Kay the owner. Kay asked if Meg(my girl) would have any interest in doing a commission job
that came with pictures? Ofcourse Meg asked to see the pics and sure nuff, it's the Josey Coat Pics I originally posted!
It's lucky I got my bid in first, though it looks now as though BOTH coats will be made side by side.
I'm now pushin for all I'm worth but the lady-friend can be as stubborn as a mule...hope to post some progress soon!
Thanks for the patience out there!

[Will Ketchum]

We are waiting with baited (bated?) ( Inever can remember which it is ) breath.

Will Ketchum

[Black Powder]

Sure am glad this thread was resuscitated.

I'm a stickler for historical accuracy and documentation.  The one thing I think is important to maintain, though, is remembering that we're still reenacting people who adapted and created back then, just like we do today.  The movie takes place at the end of the War.  The OJW Coat could've easily been made by a seamtress in a Confederate guerilla friendly town from a discarded coat that JW picked up.  The sleeves could've been shortened cuz he needed the makings for a tourniquet.

If you put your mind in the mind of a person like JW, I think you can justify coming up with a coat that would be arguably historically correct, even without documentation.  Getting "in the mind of" or "in the spirit of" the people back then is what I'm trying to achieve.  That's what made OJW an effective movie and I too look forward to seeing your coat.

BTW, I would not change the rules of various groups here, though!  No way could "in the mind of" or "in the spirit of" rules be written without risking an "anything goes" result.

BP

[JohnnyReb]

Thought I should also post a link to my lady's new web-site where more pictures will be posted of the Josey Coat when it's finished.
She just opened this site so keep in mind if you look, there's a lot of work to be done to it yet:

http://funksimile.goods.officelive.com/default.aspx

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Cool site. Be sure to let us know when there will be more to see on the coat.

[JohnnyReb]

Progress!
Look here: http://nopeek.tripod.com/bitten/id92.html

I would be interested in any insights you all may have as to those closures of Josy's Coat.
The trickyest of the lot appear to be rolled cow-hide which I'm figuring to make with either
small dowl pieces at the center or bone with two holes each for leather tongs.
Maybe someone offer's these pre-made?
Thanks for any input!

[JohnnyReb]

I found a great pic of the small leather "Tongs" I'm speaking of on
either side of Josey's front closure to his jacket...
Can't figure out how to post the dang thing though...

[JohnnyReb]

UPDATED!
Look here: http://nopeek.tripod.com/bitten/id92.html

[piebiter]

Looking good...anxious to see the final product.

[JohnnyReb]

Again, more up-dates can be found here: www.funksimile.com

I would love to post pics here but still can't make it work

I also have a Wales Rig coming and a hat to top off the whole look.
The Hat is being done for me by Tom Hirt  tomhirt.com/pricelist.htm

[piebiter]

JohnnyReb who's doing the Wales rig for you? Check out the one offered by Allan over at Chishom's Trail. It's in the movie holster section. http://chisholmstrailleather.com/ You can't beat a Tom Hirt hat IMHO.