GAF Rank & Rate

[Lou Graham]

Lots of things can influence what you end up wearing.  I'm female and never served in the military.  I have a lot of respect for that have or are currently serving.  I also like history.  I am allergic to wool.  The Civil War thing is not going to happen.

I have a real army uniform from about 1910. Some of the parts are a little earlier, but from what I could discover, that was common -- using up the old stuff on the reserves.  It is a quartermasters tunic, that is for sure from the buttons.  I found the whole thing at a gun show for much less than buying reproduction parts of the same things would have cost.  It is too small for most men today, but it's only a little bit big on me.

I can dress for Wild Bunch, but I still just wear my typical skirts and vests for cowboy matches.  The fun part was finding out about what I had, when it was worn, what the buttons mean, all that stuff.  Led me on a side trip to learn about the Mills Co., makers of Mills belts and related items in the U.S. and England.  Just go with it.  Let the uniform or whatever part of one you come across first take you into the history.

  

[Frenchie]

Gentlemen, welcome to the ranks! Well, speaking of ranks, let's see... real-world military rank, Petty Officer 3rd Class (Pay Grade E-4) in, of course, the finest armed service in the world (grandly ignoring the catcalls from envious members of lesser services here). I then joined up with the 3rd US Regular Infantry Regiment 1860-1865, a reenacting unit portraying the Old Guard during the War of the Rebellion, and successfully resisted promotion for some years. Now, however, I've promoted myself to sergeant and am freelancing it. I've pretty much all the uniform parts and accouterments I need, and now that I've finally gotten some idea of how I wish to be armed, I hope to start moving forward again.

Now, in the GAF I am Acting Lieutenant in Command (or Lieutenant Commander, take your pick of titles) of the Naval Detachment, Department of the Atlantic. Sounds nice, eh? So far it's been totally ceremonial, and I haven't made it to any ceremonies yet... easiest duty I've ever pulled. 

[Pony Racer]

Pards welcome to the GAF, as others have said, dress as you feel comfortable.

As Pitsptr has mentioned the overwhelming response you will recieve when you choose to wear the 1860- through victorian era uniforms - is nothing short of amazing.

People have lots of questions and all vets I have met ask usually if you do any other time periods and or countries.  I have never been asked why I wear a certain rank, other than telling people about my persona.

I am slowly putting together a french victorian period uniform and am still perfecting my USRCS outfit you see in my avatar.

The funniest thing is anymore, if I do just dress cowboy at local matches - my pards and pardettes ask me if everything is ok and where is my uniform??

PR

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[Pitspitr]

I think the saddler matches up with my leather crafting.  And I still get to shoot. 

Indeed you do! the Post Saddler at Fort Hartsuff,  Sergeant William Doureghty, was killed in a conflict with a small party of Sioux on April 28 1876. He was in fact, the only fatality at the fort due to armed conflict. The other 2 fatalities were from typhus, and alcohol poisoning (this guy got drunk, fell down, and hung himself in the picket fence  )

[Delmonico]

I am Chief Commissary Officer for the Dept. of the Missouri and have put together a uniform based on the turn of the century Nebraska National Guard (Uniforms lack a bit in uniformity)  However when I preform my cooking at events, I just wear 19th century civilian clothing that is to worn out to wear to work so is patched up.  I have plenty of them and that way I can wear fresh clean clothes every day.  Sometimes PC can be a bit offensive.

[Mulee Pete]

I just keep learning more and more, which translates into being more comfortable in my alais persona.  When I started CAS it was just about the shooting.  Now, Mulee is rounding out more and becoming a lot more fun, with his history.  The outfit was the hardest, as a performer, I have a bunch of outfitts from working cowboy, to Dude, to CSA Calvery.  None really felt just right.  But Saddler Sargent McMillan feels like home.  It lets me span the era of 1864 to 1884 very nicely.
Thank for all the great input and guidance.

Mulee

[River City John]

We'd love to see you at The 2008 Grand Muster, Mulee.

[Pitspitr]

We'd love to see you at The 2008 Grand Muster, Mulee.

Sure would. See this thread http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=17142.0

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'll second that (or 3rd!)

Sure would. See this thread http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=17142.0

We'd love to see you at The 2008 Grand Muster, Mulee.