Tarred haversack - real?

[sundance]

I've been offered a black tar coated haversack - not a backpack - by a gentleman who says he purchased it out of a Civil War collection. I know the seller and he's a good guy. This is the pack used to carry mess items and small misc things. The biggest problem is that it looks too good. There is a stamp on the linen liner/bag that snaps in with 3 snaps. Incidentally the snaps look very clean and shiny. The stamp say "North South" on the top and "Maine New York' in the center . That alone sounds like a repo. It also comes with a tin cup. I don't see any marks on the pack proper but the tar coating could be covering anything there. The price is right so I'm tempted to take it and hope for the best. But I've been burned doing that before. In the back of my mind I remember that Bannerman apparently found and sold mountains of real unissued haversacks. I'd like to hope it was one of those. Lastly, I understand that the linen inner bags can be replaced. I'd guess it could be a real haversack with a repro liner. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Steve B.]

If it's a real Civil War haversack, it should have a button-in liner, NOT a snap-in liner. The "North South" label also concerns me. I just can't see a name/marking like that being used during the hyper-patriotic Civil War. These haversacks have been reproduced by the tens of thousands for reenactors, collectors, displays, etc. Brand-new reproduction haversacks sell right now from various vendors in the $20-$50 range. A Google search should net you dozens of vendors.

[sundance]

Steve B. thanks for the insight, I have looked at the different suttler sites and see what appear to be very good reproductions. I think I'll have to pass on it. I don't think there is any way I could be comfortable. I'm hoping someone else has seen that" North South, Maine NY" label and can pin it down as a repro or possibly legit.

[normaninvasion]

Maybe a prop for the 1980s miniseries "The North and the South"

[sundance]

Hey that's a possibility. I'll have to see if there is some way to check that out. That would perhaps make the cup and haversack worth it.

[illinigander]

Hello- I was one of the reenactors who spent a week in Natchez for the filming of North-South. This was the first time our type was used for a large production and the reason was that we came self equipped. I know of nothing issued by the production company. I wish I had been as smart as my friend who went to the costume trailer and traded his repro cavalry shell jacket for an original the movie people had. It mattered not to them and the repro was newer looking.

Ken

[blkjack07]

... I wish I had been as smart as my friend who went to the costume trailer and traded his repro cavalry shell jacket for an original the movie people had. It mattered not to them and the repro was newer looking.

Ken

WOW !!!

[sundance]

illinigander - Thanks for that info. The costume trailer wasn't supplying repro replacements for missing equipment to reenactors then to your knowledge? I second the WOW on picking up the original jacket - "One man's trash...".

[Geoff]

I'm echoing Illinigander' comments. I was also invited to appear as an extra in the North and South Series...coudn't get off of work for it, but several of my reenacting buddies went. I did appear in the movies "Glory" and "Gettysburg" . Anyway, to get to my point, we brought all our personal gear and equipment, the production companies didn't supply us with anything. However, the case is different with the stuntmen and actors. The costume trailer did provide their stuff. I don't know if any of the Hollywood made stuff would have been tagged or marked with the production name. I did get a chance to look into one of the trailers for Gettysburg, but didn handle any of the gear. Just for the record, I would be leery of the stamps on the haversack in question. I'd like to see proof that they're period before I shelled out much money on the item.