65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot |
Here is a list for recruits, or anyone interested in setting up a British Army re-enactment unit of this period, detailing approximate cost and preferred suppliers. Where there is only one supplier listed, that supplier is the only one with the exact correct item.
Many of the items can be sourced from the US. If you are lucky enough to go to a Civil War re-enactment, you can buy direct from sutlers there. You will save a lot, especially by not paying import duties on leather items.
Item |
Cost (in $NZ) - way out of date - check with supplier |
Available from |
Required |
Enfield Rifle musket, 3 band, pattern 1853 |
$930 $1180 for "defarbed" rifle |
The 65th regiment were first supplied with the 2nd pattern p.53 in 1858. There are no suppliers of this model. Pedersoli firearms are imported into New Zealand by The Outdoors Hut in Upper Hutt. Any supplier in the US - The Euroarms and Parker Hales must be defarbed to turn them into Model 3:
Lodgewood Mfg. can also supply all these Enfield parts, plus lock plates etc. |
yes |
50 - 70 |
The socket and locking ring on the repro bayonets will need to be blued. but - The NZ Police in their wisdom, have declared this a restricted weapon, and you must obtain an import permit from the Police before ordering !! |
yes | |
80 |
|
yes | |
10 - 25 |
or anyone else who stocks the tompion with the cork body and brass top. |
yes | |
40 |
yes | ||
|
- you must grind off the spring cramp (and blue the bare metal) on the sergeant's tool to make it the tool issued to privates |
optional |
|
Enfield Oil Bottle |
40 |
|
optional |
If you want to make any historic uniforms or clothing, I recommend K&P Historic Textiles.
Boots - Blucher boots |
340 |
|
yes |
350 |
|
optional |
|
Trousers, navy blue |
190 |
|
yes |
Tunic – red, parade |
700-1200 |
Contact me |
optional |
50 |
locally made from grey blankets |
optional |
Note that since 2023, both Phil from VMA and Kevin from Military History Workshop have retired. Quartermaster Stores in the UK have gone into receivership, still owing me money.
Pouch, expense, black (1855 pattern) |
125 |
yes | |
Bag, ball, white buff (1859 pattern). I have seen no photographic evidence that the 65th were issued with these. Also, the 40th don't appear to have been re-equipped. However, many of the other regiments in Waikato, Tauranga, South Taranaki had them. |
125 |
no | |
Pouch Belt, buff |
50 |
|
yes |
Belt, waist, buff |
50 |
yes | |
Regimental belt buckle, for waist belt | 100 | Contact me | yes |
Canteen, with strap |
250 |
yes | |
Frog, bayonet, buff |
45 |
yes | |
10 |
Contact me | yes | |
Enfield Cartridge pouch |
|
1850s 60-round pouch used in the Crimea, India and Taranaki. Since the demise of Quartermaster Stores, no-one lists this item. However, try asking: 1859 50-round pattern used in Waikato, etc -
Note: The 'imported Enfield Cartridge Box' available from many American Civil War sutlers is not correct for the British Army. The boxes imported by the Confederate States were a contract version, supplied by private contractors, one of whom, Isaac & Campbell, lost the British Army contract after the Crimean War for sub-standard workmanship. The original contract accoutrements were of inferior quality (by design) because they were cheap and the Confederates didn't really care. The Confederate box is the correct size and contains the correct five-compartment tin inserts. However, it doesn't have the cap pouch and tool receptacle. I know that many of you are happy enough to use these - they look okay for an 1860s pouch.
The best one, I reckon, is available from C & D Jarnagin. Pricey, but the tab is blind stitched to the flap, using tunnel stitching, which is correct for British pouches. |
yes |
Cap Pouch, buff |
30 |
|
yes |
Sling, musket, buff |
30 |
yes |
Boot Blacking |
? |
any modern shoe polish | yes |
Braces (Americans call them suspenders) - must be canvas with no elastic |
45 |
optional | |
Brass button |
? |
optional | |
Brush - brass cleaning |
? |
optional | |
Brush – clothes |
? |
optional | |
Brush – shaving |
? |
any wooden or bone brush with natural bristles | optional |
Brushes - shoe X 2 |
? |
optional | |
Comb, wooden or bone |
10 |
optional | |
20 |
Contact me | optional | |
? |
|
optional | |
40 |
spoon - second hand shops - must be one with "shoulders" |
yes - if you want to eat | |
Mitts (black wool) - fingerless |
10 |
Camping supplies stores | optional |
Razor and case |
? |
Antiques shops | optional |
Shirts, British army "ticking" |
115
300 |
Any shirt from a US sutler will do. If you look at contemporary paintings, you'll see they weren't fussy. British 'greyback' shirts didn't really appear until the 1870s. |
yes |
Socks, worsted |
15.95 |
"Norsewear" white wool socks - Camping supplies stores - but remove the elastic | yes |
Sponge |
10 |
Art supply shop, etc | optional |
Stock and clasp (worn with tunic only) |
5 |
Contact me | yes, with tunic |
Straps for greatcoat X 2 |
20 |
Try Graham The Leather Guy | optional |
100 |
Contact me | optional | |
10 |
??? | optional | |
Towels X 2 |
? |
optional | |
Soap |
* |
optional | |
Blanco - in lieu of pipeclay |
7 |
Soldier of Fortune | yes |
Account book, small |
30 |
Contact me | optional |
Bible and prayer book |
? |
? |
Cap, forage (Kilmarnock) |
120 |
|
yes |
brass regimental numerals |
15 |
Contact me | yes |
bugle badge |
15 |
Contact me | yes |
Frock, fatigue jacket - navy blue. Worn by all soldiers from Nov. 1860. |
150 |
Contact me | yes |
Blanket – grey |
Opp shop? |
optional | |
Blanket, waterproof ("gum blanket") |
80 |
optional | |
Clay pipe |
8 |
Contact me | optional |
Of course, equipment changed over the period. Here are some List of Changes, mostly regarding rifles, ammunition haversacks, waistbelts and expense pouches.
Updated 1 November, 2024