Who was at the World War 1 reenactment last weekend?

[Niederlander]

Steff Baker from Prairie Flower Leather Company said he ran into someone at the reenactment that shoots with us.  Just wondering who it was!

[River City John]

Maj. G. W. Strong, I bet.

He has quite a few pics from the event, and vids, posted on Facebook.

RCJ

[Niederlander]

I suspected it might be him, as well.  Sounds like they all had fun!

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[Grenadier]

Ich war!

[pony express]

at last, a picture from Grenadier!

Was this the one in Parsons KS? I've read about it. Might someday try to attend, but probably not as a Frenchman, I know who the authenticity officer for the French outfit is, and I can't afford to meet his standards...I can't afford Schipperfabrik, and he doesn't consider them good enough...

[Grenadier]

Nein! This was at the Great War Assoc home site in Newville PA.


WW1 is an expensive hobby. If you are interested, I would first suggest that you source your kit and equipment used.  Second, set a goal for yourself and then buy pieces as you can afford it.

[Niederlander]

at last, a picture from Grenadier!

Was this the one in Parsons KS? I've read about it. Might someday try to attend, but probably not as a Frenchman, I know who the authenticity officer for the French outfit is, and I can't afford to meet his standards...I can't afford Schipperfabrik, and he doesn't consider them good enough...
[/quote
Ah, the dreaded stitch Nazi syndrome!  The General Miles Marching and Chowder Society died from that malady!  I'm all for authenticity, but it gets to be no fun fast when no one can play because of the cost.  As an aside, one thing I've noticed about some of the worst stitch counters is that they'll have a museum quality uniform and equipment, but they look totally wrong because of the extra seventy five to a hundred pounds.  They're also usually WAY too clean and "new" looking.  Just my opinion!

[pony express]

One thing about it, the particular stitch counter in question doesn't have the problem of any extra weight, he looks pretty much the part.

As for WW1 re-enacting, probably not gonna happen any time soon for me, one or two GAF events a year seems to about max out my time and money available for playing shooting games. Might go if they have an event open to the public, but probably not to participate.

And to Grenadier: you should bring that outfit and come out to the Grand Muster, I'm sure that ReichsRevolver would like to come out and play there with the variety of other 19th century stuff that will be there.

[Niederlander]

I don't doubt he fits the part, but we've all seen the 350 pound paratrooper or cavalryman!  I remember seeing a French militaria magazine once that featured World War 2 U.S. Marines.  The uniform and gear was perfect, but the guy wearing it just looked...."French"!  The look just didn't work.

[pony express]

I do know of a couple of guys like that, they set up a table at the local gun shows, one time they set up a WWII display, they have a lot of cool stuff, including a fully equipped Jeep, but both of them probably weigh close to 300lb.....

[Grenadier]

Ah, the dreaded stitch Nazi syndrome!  The General Miles Marching and Chowder Society died from that malady!  I'm all for authenticity, but it gets to be no fun fast when no one can play because of the cost.  As an aside, one thing I've noticed about some of the worst stitch counters is that they'll have a museum quality uniform and equipment, but they look totally wrong because of the extra seventy five to a hundred pounds.  They're also usually WAY too clean and "new" looking.  Just my opinion!

The sad reality is many try to use the term "authenticity" as a large hammer in two different directions. Without some form of set rules, we would have people showing up sporting all kinds of oddball kit. For instance, I remember one event where a participant was allowed to attend a WWII event. He was wearing modern hiking boots, tan Dickies trousers/tan Dickies workshirt, two M1 Garand cartridge belts attached to each other, so they would wrap around his girth, a Vietnam era M1 steel pot and carrying an original M1 Thompson. This was  not an attempt, it was a mockery of the men who originally wore the uniform. 

While there are bad apples in every activity, they come in all forms and have their own opinions.  There are extreme opinions on both sides of the coin.My suggestion is to find a group and see if your goals are similar to theirs. Most groups are more than willing to loan and help a person genuinely interested. I have been doing this for years and I have yet to meet a group that would not do their best to help.

As for the weight issue, that's largely due to the fact that this is a middle aged male activity, young guys can rarely fork out the money required for an expensive hobby.

And to Grenadier: you should bring that outfit and come out to the Grand Muster, I'm sure that ReichsRevolver would like to come out and play there with the variety of other 19th century stuff that will be there.

I'd love to, but my schedule is largely booked for the rest of the year. I have too many hobbies with too little time for them.

[G.W. Strong]

It was me. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Steff Baker

[G.W. Strong]

It was me. I had a very enjoyable conversation with Steff Baker

By the way I was at the Rockford WWI reenactment rather than the Newville one. They were on the same day.

If anyone is on facebook and wants to see pics there are lots of them at the "Rockford WWI Days Re-enactment" facebook group

[cpt dan blodgett]

Think the closest I will come to the WWI stuff is the 03 springfield that I am having assembled from parts with a new DCM barrel and DCM finger groove stock