Old West Reenactor Gear

The gear that completes a frontier impression: belts, holsters, badges, hats, spurs and the small leather items that make a costume read as kit. The pieces are grouped by the role they play in a rig, so a belt can be built up with a holster, a cartridge slide and a buckle that belong together.

The single most common mistake in a first western impression is a belt that is too narrow for the gun. A heavy Peacemaker on a two inch costume belt will pull the whole rig sideways within an hour. Buy a wide belt with a proper buckle first, then add the holster, then the decoration.

Reenactor Gear That Holds Up

Reenactment kit is judged at ten metres and in the rain. Leather that looks right on a table but has been chrome tanned will look wrong after one wet event, and a pressed metal buckle will lose its detail after a season of mud. Buy the pieces that touch the ground and the weather first, then fill in the small items.

Match the gear to the period you actually portray, not to the film you liked. A Civil War federal impression and a Confederate impression use different leather, different belt plates and different hats, and mixing them is the first thing a judge notices at an event.

Common questions

Is this gear historically accurate?
It is a reproduction in the style of the period, made for reenactment and display. For judged events, check the requirements of your unit before buying.

Can it be used in the rain?
Yes, leather and wool handle weather well if they are dried properly afterwards. Never pack gear away damp.

Do the belts fit over a coat?
Most belts are sized to be worn over a tunic. Order one size up if you regularly wear a heavy coat or gear layers.

Old West Reenactor Gear