Introduction

[ibrown1776]

Hello everyone!

 

My name is Ian, I’ve visited this forum consistently over the past few years and have recently made my own account. The wealth of knowledge in this forum is incredible! 
My personal interests are American history before 1865 and the Border War/WWI. I enjoy learning about how America grew in its first hundred years and the wars that gained and retained its land. I grew up on Lake Erie in New York, so I learned much about the expeditions against the French in Niagara and western Pennsylvania, as well as the war of 1812. 
As a hobby, I enjoy reenacting all time periods. I currently reenact the Civil War and the Revolutionary War, and have done both world wars in the past. As such, my collection is mostly reproductions, and I have only a small humble collection of originals, at least one piece more or less from each time period. Some I pick up at militaria shops, some are family keepsakes.
However, my pride and joy, and my niche in militaria, is the m1911 service hat. I like all campaign hats, but the original model of 1911 is the focus of my interest.  It is my ultimate goal to be able to make my own reproductions of the m1911 using original machines that I have sourced! I am hoping to save for this equipment in the interest of contributing to reenactors, educators, for any simple personal collection, and simply to preserve an American icon. I do have a fundraiser that I will post below if anyone would like to learn more about my project. 
I hope to see those of you who are reenactors at the upcoming 250th anniversaries for the Revolutionary War! I think am most excited for Saratoga. The frontier/backcountry campaigns of the Revolution are the most interesting to me.
Thank you for reading!

 

https://givesendgo.com/GNDJK?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=sharelink&utm_campaign=GNDJK

[Rakkasan187]

Welcome Ian,

 

Looking forward to seeing what you have collection wise.. 

 

I have studied the Columbus New Mexico Raid by Pancho Villa in March 1916 extensively.. Always look forward to the annual events in Columbus, New Mexico.  This year marks the 110th Anniversary of the Raid.. 

 

Best regards

 

Leigh 

 

[ibrown1776]

21 minutes ago, Rakkasan187 said:

Welcome Ian,

 

Looking forward to seeing what you have collection wise.. 

 

I have studied the Columbus New Mexico Raid by Pancho Villa in March 1916 extensively.. Always look forward to the annual events in Columbus, New Mexico.  This year marks the 110th Anniversary of the Raid.. 

 

Best regards

 

Leigh 

 

Hi Leigh!

 

That’s right, a major anniversary coming up! I just so happened to watch about an hour of film compiled from Columbus and the Punitive Expedition yesterday. Do you have any books you would recommend on the expedition or generally America’s role in the Mexican Revolution? 
Below are a few pieces of my collection:

My WWI recruiting poster

Federal cartridge box plates from Bentonville

WWI Field manuals from someone in Alvin York’s regiment (different company)

 

My family items are more scattered, some is with my parents and grandma, but I do have my great grandfather’s overseas cap (I believe WWI? He was a marine)

You would especially like this. This is a photo of my great great uncle returning from El Paso after garrison duty on the border. I also have scans of their service cards for the border emergency, they were both in the regimental band. The last photo is the PANG border service medal given to George!

[Rakkasan187]

Ian,

 

Very nice heirlooms.. The books I have are in my work office, when I go back in on Tuesday after the holiday I'll send you a list

 

Best 

 

Leigh 

[GWS]

Welcome to the forum Ian. You have a very diverse collective interest! The reproduction of campaign hats really peaked my interest!  I can't help but wonder where you might have found original equipment/tooling to make them. Sounds fascinating, are there sources for fur/felt still available today?  The only items I have that may have been used in the Punitive Expedition are an M-1909 cavalry belt with suspenders and a 1914 M-1911 that was shipped to San Antonio Arsenal in 1914. I have no proof that they were there, but they could have been!  Thanks for joining the forum and i look forward to seeing more posts from you.

 

Steve

[ibrown1776]

2 hours ago, GWS said:

Welcome to the forum Ian. You have a very diverse collective interest! The reproduction of campaign hats really peaked my interest!  I can't help but wonder where you might have found original equipment/tooling to make them. Sounds fascinating, are there sources for fur/felt still available today?  The only items I have that may have been used in the Punitive Expedition are an M-1909 cavalry belt with suspenders and a 1914 M-1911 that was shipped to San Antonio Arsenal in 1914. I have no proof that they were there, but they could have been!  Thanks for joining the forum and i look forward to seeing more posts from you.

 

Steve

Hi Steve,

 

No worries! I just figured I’d share. I will actually be purchasing this equipment from a gentleman who had his own hat business, so they are all coming from the same place. He also has his own sources for the correct felt and other material. As such I can humbly admit that he has already done a lot of the leg work and I am more or less carrying on his business to these ends!

[skautdog]

Welcome, Ian. You have some very nice items.