Just what we need - Gunfight re-eanctment with live ammo

[Rod]

The "stitch nazi" business struck home. Most reenactors east of the Mississippi believe everything has to be as authentic as possible. The farther west you go, the more you get a 10 foot rule. If it looks good from 10 feet away, it's okay.This rule goes out the window if you're judging costumes for awards though. Paw Paw, I've looked at a LOT of pictures of cowboys, miners, and farmers. Most cowboys wouldn't be caught dead in Levis, they were for people who were not lucky enough to work horseback. Now for my "there I was" story. Old Tucson years ago offered a chance for reenactor groups to vie for $6,000. They would be judged on authenticity of garb and gear, quality of scripts, and showmanship. We did a script that involved the Four Dead in 5 Seconds fight and aftermath and the killing of John Wesley Hardin. Our scripts had been approved by Leon Metz, a noted historian in the area. The set on Old Tucson looked almost exactly like El Paso did in 1881. We did an outstanding job, almost movie quality. We were disqualified because the story wasn't "authentic" and one of our actors didn't have period guns (even though he was using REAL Merwyn and Hulberts) according to a SASS shooter who was a judge. The group that finally won did skits that belonged on a vaudeville stage and wore outfits that belonged on a modern rodeo cowboy. Gawd, were we pissed.

[MiddleAgedKen]

Rod, sounds to me like the fix was in from the git-go.

Sorta like elections these days.

[MarkD]

The "stitch nazi" business struck home. Most reenactors east of the Mississippi believe everything has to be as authentic as possible. The farther west you go, the more you get a 10 foot rule. If it looks good from 10 feet away, it's okay.This rule goes out the window if you're judging costumes for awards though. Paw Paw, I've looked at a LOT of pictures of cowboys, miners, and farmers. Most cowboys wouldn't be caught dead in Levis, they were for people who were not lucky enough to work horseback. Now for my "there I was" story. Old Tucson years ago offered a chance for reenactor groups to vie for $6,000. They would be judged on authenticity of garb and gear, quality of scripts, and showmanship. We did a script that involved the Four Dead in 5 Seconds fight and aftermath and the killing of John Wesley Hardin. Our scripts had been approved by Leon Metz, a noted historian in the area. The set on Old Tucson looked almost exactly like El Paso did in 1881. We did an outstanding job, almost movie quality. We were disqualified because the story wasn't "authentic" and one of our actors didn't have period guns (even though he was using REAL Merwyn and Hulberts) according to a SASS shooter who was a judge. The group that finally won did skits that belonged on a vaudeville stage and wore outfits that belonged on a modern rodeo cowboy. Gawd, were we pissed.

We had them in Civil War reenacting too. I personally didn't give a crap if my blanket was 95/5 wool/nylon instead of just wool, it was the right size and color, it kept me warm, it was easier to keep clean and moth-free, and it cost half what an authentic blanket cost. And no one could tell the difference.

My Colonel was an amateur historian who LOVED getting into the cold drill manuals, and we prided ourselves on doing things that hadn't been done since the Civil War. We once got disqualified from a drill competition because we were the only group that fielded enough troops to actually do company-level things like forming a square, so the groups who only had a dozen or so men couldn't even begin to perform the same movements.

We had first-person contests too, The judges would try to get a "modern" response from you by asking you questions which you had to answer in the manner a person of that era would have, all without stopping to think about it of course. The most diabolical question I heard of was a man who was asked who his wife voted for in the last presidential election. The correct response was a confused look, because women couldn't vote.

[blackeagle603]

re: Stitch Nazis

Every activity seems to have 'em. More than one bluegrass club has run fine guitar players off for playing "commie chords."

[MiddleAgedKen]

Commie chords? Pray, elucidate (I'm new to bluegrass).

[PawPaw]

We had first-person contests too, The judges would try to get a "modern" response from you by asking you questions which you had to answer in the manner a person of that era would have, all without stopping to think about it of course. The most diabolical question I heard of was a man who was asked who his wife voted for in the last presidential election. The correct response was a confused look, because women couldn't vote.

In Cowboy Fast Draw, we tend to emulate the 1880s period, but many of us compete in what we call "modern working cowboy". Jeans, boots, hat, long-sleeved shirt. That's what I prefer, and it's perfectly acceptable. We have some re-enactors who also compete, and they come in costume. That's cool too. At the Southern Territorials in Odessa, TX, last year, one of the "fun" contests was a judging on period attire. Some of the juvenile females dressed "to the nines" for that competition, and it was a lot of fun seeing them in full-victorian dresses. The judge asked to see their boots, and a couple of the girls lifted the hem of their dress to show off the boots. He humorously chastised them that a proper lady never showed her ankles to a man.

[PawPaw]

But, while we're talking about it, my lady has expressed an interest to dress in period clothing. She'd especially like a period-correct split skit that she could use while "strapped" with a revolver. Do you guys have any links that might help me? She's looked at several, but they have zippers and that's simply not acceptable to her.

[MarkD]

But, while we're talking about it, my lady has expressed an interest to dress in period clothing. She'd especially like a period-correct split skit that she could use while "strapped" with a revolver. Do you guys have any links that might help me? She's looked at several, but they have zippers and that's simply not acceptable to her.

Most of the ladies I reenacted with (including my ex-GF) had their clothes made, often by a seamstress who was part of the unit. I don't know that there's much off-the-rack at least for Civil War era.

[Rod]

But, while we're talking about it, my lady has expressed an interest to dress in period clothing. She'd especially like a period-correct split skit that she could use while "strapped" with a revolver. Do you guys have any links that might help me? She's looked at several, but they have zippers and that's simply not acceptable to her.

We've used Wild West Merchantile, their stuff is decent. A couple of more are:
Historical Seamstress
and Sue's a member of our reenactment group and may be swamped with work.

None of the stuff is cheap and, if done to measurements, fairly pricey. Hope these help.

[Steamforger]

I was careless earlier in my characterization of all re-enactors as poseurs, and I apologize if I offended anyone; my discomfort is actually directed toward the re-enacting of WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam--those events are a little too close in time, and veterans of those conflicts are still living. Before he died one of my uncles was really angered seeing American men pretending to be SS. A history Prof once told us that history isn't History until all the participants have passed on. It's Current Events.

I can understand and sympathize. I can also see the other side. The National WW II Museum, formerly the D-Day Museum, used to make quite a big deal of June 6th. Re-enactors of just about every allied and axis flavor could be seen on the museum grounds giving demonstrations, talking with the public, and being living historians. It was a thoroughly entertaining spectacle and worth making the time to go to.