Catalogue (please note: all prices are in Canadian dollars. Ontario Residents must pay 13% HST).
Regimental Jackets:
Our Enlisted Man's regimental jackets are made of 23 oz. wool melton. The body of the jacket is lined with white or buff woolen cloth, depending on your regiment's facings. All visible stitching is done by hand using linen thread.
Base Price: $550.00 for centre company jackets. Buttons, lace, and facings provided by customer. Lace applied in regimental pattern, buttonholes made, holes made for button shanks, two pockets OR two pockets and false pockets for light infantry.
Grenadier OR Light Infantry Wings: Lace provided by customer. Add $50.00
Bastion Lacing: Lace Provided by customer. Add $100.00
Completely handsewn jacket: Add $200.00
For Rifles and Artillery uniforms, please call us.
Uniform Trousers:
23 oz. grey wool. Hot but hard wearing. No pockets. All visible stitching done by hand using unbleached linen thread. A one and one half inch slit on the outside seam on each leg. Pewter buttons and wooden buttons for your braces.
These are now available in hemp canvas as well.
Price: $150.00
Two side seam pockets: $25.00
One mule-ear pocket: $25.00 (you can have two if you want - $50.00!)
Wool Gaiters:
These wool gaiters are cut in one of the two styles prevalent during the War of 1812 and the Naploeonic Era. The understraps is black leather and is handstitched to the body of the gaiter. The edges of the fabric are left raw.
Price: $50.00
Shirts:
100% bleached linen or hemp. Cool and beautiful. All visible seams are hand sewn using bleached linen thread. Body and sleeve seams are flat-felled for strength and there are no exposed seams inside or out. Period construction techniques are used throughout. These are big shirts reaching down to mid-thigh. This shirt is shown with the optional breast ruffle.
The picture on the right show the shirt in hemp.
Price: $180.00
Breast Ruffle: add $25.00
Silk Neckcloths:
These are made of 100% chinese silk and hand finished. Fine, light, and comfortable, they measure 6' by 10". They come in a wide assortment of colours - black AND white. (Picture coming soon).
Price: $30.00
Silk Neckerchiefs:
These are also 100% silk and hand finished. Fine light and comfortable too. They are, however, square. The measure about 44" by 44" and come in a variety of colours - black, red, blue, green, yellow, and so forth. When ordering, give me a couple colour choices.
Price: $25.00
Fatigue Uniform:
We use 23 ozs. natural white melton wool to make our fatigue jackets and caps. Facing material is provided by the customer. The jacket comes with plain domed pewter buttons. All visible stitching is done by hand using linen thread.
Price: $150.00
Fatigue Hats:
Fatigue hats come in the nightcap or wedge styles and come in small, medium, or large Other styles available upon request.
The wedge, or "tea-cozy" fatigue cap is reproduced from an original belonging to North Hampshire Militia and is currently housed in the Hampshire Regiment Museum. It is dated circa 1800. My previous interpretation was incorrect in proportion and technique.
This one isn't.
Price: $50.00 (add $10.00 for numbering)
Stovepipe Shako:
I make these from wool felt hat blanks as they were made back in the day. No seam up the back! Inside they are fitted with a linen and leather lining which allows adjustments to fit your head perfectly. The lace around the exterior of the cap is worsted, not cotton. The sleeve for the hackle is made of leather and handstitched to the exterior of the hat. No hole for the rain to come in! The peak is made of 9-10 oz. leather and is handstitched onto the cap.
Currently, the caps come without the hackle or cockade.
Sizes: Medium - 21 7/8" to 22 1/4"
Large - 22 5/8" to 23"
Extra Large - 23 1/2" to 23 7/8"
Measure your head just above the ear! One more thing. I stiffen these caps the old-fashioned way, so unless you want to look like Sharpe's boys after a good rain, protect your investment a purchase a cover. It'll keep your cap neat and clean and the sergeant off your back.
Price: $150.00 (shako only)
Shako Covers:
Flat black oilcloth for either the stovepipe (pictured) or the belgic (please specify which you would like when ordering). All visible seams hand stitched. One size.
Price: $35.00
Tarred Hats:
These hats are made of canvas, stiffened with shellac and then "tarred" with my own "secret-squirrel" recipe for "tar". It won't chip or peel and it really is waterproof. I field tested it myself at Fanshawe in the Fall and while the rest of me was wet, the melon stayed dry. And the hat didn't collapse around my head. Success!
The brim and tip of the hat are stitched for re-inforcement.
Sizes are small, medium and large, and extra-large. Please e-mail or call for other sizes. They come with either a low crown (3") or high crown (5"). Please let me know your choice.
Of course, all the visible stitching is done by hand.
Price: $80.00
Haversacks:
Based on originals found at Fort York in Toronto, Ontario, these haversacks are faithful in size, construction and material. Unbleached linen osnaburg, unbleached linen thread, and pewter buttons make these virtually indistinguishable from the originals. Stamped with the BO cipher on the rear. GR cipher also available.
By the way, if these look like they predate that War of 1812, it's because they do! They were left over from the American Revolution. What's that about old haversacks never dying, just smelling that way....
I also make them in the style issued to His Majesty's forces in Europe during the Napoleonic Wars.. These I make of hemp to the pattern in Mr. Turner's Book. (Please excuse the awful pictures).
Price: $45.00
Button Stick:
Based on a sample found on HMS Victory, these button sticks are made of hardwood and very useful in keeping the polish off your very expensive regimentals while shining up your brightwork. Simply place the large hole over the poor, dull button and slide the stick along until the button is pushed away from our jacket. You can do more than one at a time! Tell your friends! Order one today! For external use only.
Fits a 7/8" button nicely.
Price: $5.00
Naval Cat o' Nine Tails
Definitely not an accoutrement! You don't want to be around the business end of this. Not quite the same as the army cat, this one is made from 1/4" hemp line and is made to be "applied" by a burly bosun's mate, not a drummer boy. Not that ANYONE should "apply" this to ANYONE! This is for display purposes only.
24" lashes and an 8" grip.
Price: $40.00
Sailor's Rig:
Uniformity in the RN and the USN was usually the result of happenstance. It largely depended on what the Captain wanted and what the Purser could get. Hence, members of a particular ship's company may have an overall similar look, but they would look different from their brothers on the next ship. Bearing this in mind, the traditional navy colour-scheme of blue, red, and white did prevail overall. If you were a landsman, however, you wore what was on your back when you "joined up."
This particular rig consists of a short double-breasted navy wool jacket, shirt, hemp canvas outer breeches, and a neckerchief.
The jacket is double-breasted for warmth and features a functioning mariners cuff. It has a stand and fall collar. It's lined with hemp or osnaburg depending on supply.
Outer breeches, or slops if you wish, were still in use although trousers had become the common netherwear of the seaman. Speaking from experience, these are waaaay comfortable in the heat of August.
The silk neckerchief functions as a shirt-closer or as a sweat rag around your head when engaged in "heavy action." I think this one is a bit tiddly and perhaps better suited to going ashore.
Jacket (as shown): $300.00
Outer breeches (as shown with small pocket): $120.00
Silk neckerchief: $25.00
Greatcoats:
Canadian style (eight buttons, two pockets).
This is a newer interpretation of the greatcoats issued during the War of 1812. It was determined earlier on that Canadian winters were "different" from those experienced in Europe. Piquet duty was a little tougher between November and March. The men needed pockets for mittens and the like. The extra buttons down the front kept the cold breeze out from between your legs
Also, they were generally lined "to the loins" in natural serge or green baize.
Price: Unlined: $350.00 Lined: $450.00
Fobs
An accessory that lends a touch of elegance (and makes it easier not to miss drills, battles, or lunch). All you do is add the watch. Or keys. Or cellphone. Simply clip the item onto the fob and drop it into your vest pocket or watch pocket. Leave the grosgrain ribbon hanging out for rakish charm and easy access and you're Beau Brummel!
Currently available in claret red, navy blue, palm gold, black, and silver.
Price: $12.00
Monmouth Caps
Monmouth caps remained popular with sailors almost until the Industrial Revolution. Think about it. Wool stays warm after a soaking. You can reshape it with ease after a soaking. It will stay on your head after a soaking. And it won't blow off! Makes sense to me.
Ours are hand knit after two authentic patterns, in period appropriate colours, using period appropriate 100% wool yarn.
Price: $40.00
Braces
These braces, or suspenders if you will, are typical of our time period. The webbing is cotton and the button and adjustment tabs are made of fustian. The fittings are either bright steel.
They are holed for a 5/8" button.
No rubber trees were harmed in the production of these braces!
The braces will adjust a full 8 inches so you can hold your pants where they should be. That is, above your waist.
Please note: I've had to change these. The sliders I've been using are no longer available. So, I've changed the design somewhat and now use buttons for adjustment. Actually, they look better now and give a more positive connection to your trousers...?
Price: $25.00
Other things made at Sew Historic
(from time to time):
