What Period Items Are In Your Pocket?

[Tsalagidave]

Here is my 1860s kit. The wallet is made of tarred cloth and is ideal for the wet months especially at the CW events in the deep south. I change the paperwork depending on whether my impression in California & SW or if it is further east. This one is late war with military documents from the 1st California Regiment, local currency with Federal script, express document, Hathaway patented desk and California Almanac. It packs up nicely too. All this easily packs away into my kit.

-Dave

[boilerplatejackson]

Great looking stuff David. I like the wooden matches. I will have to dig out my plunder and post a photo. I want to take a
batch of percussion caps and waterproof them with shellac as were the originals. i bought myself a pair of Congress boots last
month from River Junction Trade Co.

[Books OToole]

I am told that there is a good article (and cover photo), on Pocket Paraphenalia in the Spring Shootist.  However, I have not recieved my issue. (And I wrote the @^## article.    )


Books

[Tsalagidave]

Thanks BP, I get those matches whenever I am visiting my colleague in Germany. The match books there use wooden strips that come close in appearance to the congreves in use during the mid-late 1800s. Prof. Marvel, I like the matchsafes. You have some great designs there.

Books, keep me posted on the article. I'd like to see it myself.  I have always thought that the little details like personal ephemera, pocket and "haversack" stuffers are what really helped make the impression believable. It also opens new doors into the more academic pursuits of this hobby. I feel that the little details also state that this is not a costume contest but a valid attempt to make yourself into a walking museum of a fascinating chapter in history.

-Dave

[buckskin billy]

hey dave,
where did ya find those binoculars? i been looking for some

[Tsalagidave]

Billy, those are original japanned sheet metal made ca. 1840-90s. I got them in a trade with a friend a while back. Ones like them come up on ebay from time to time.

-Dave

[Tsalagidave]

Billy, I have been finding a lot of these on ebay for really good prices. Search antique binoculars or old binoculars.

-Dave

[buckskin billy]

thanks dave, i'll be on the look out

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,
Speaking of period things in your pocket, how about a horsey jack-knife?

I would think that any horse-born person would have one of the jack-knives that were available to pick a pebble out from the horses' hooves (that is, between the hoof and the horseshoe).

Something like this ....

http://www.caseknifeoutlet.com/proddetail.cfm?ses=7F94EAB5DEA4B280

What do you think?

[Tsalagidave]

That's a good item to bring up Wadd. Personally, I never carry any horse appendages on my person. They stay in the saddle bag in my case but I'm sure others carry them in a coat pocket where they'd be more readily available to them than my method is.

-Dave