The Honest Sutler

The Honest Sutler The Honest Sutler offers Civil War era clothing made with historical accuracy in mind. Please feel free to contact any one of us with any questions or needs!

-Nathan Kalvitis, Tyler Grecco, Jeorge Galutia, and Conor Sullivan are dedicated living historians who offer accurate reproductions of Civil War era clothing and equipment at affordable prices. Our mission is to uniform living historians with quality reproductions and to give the customer a honest, friendly, and pleasant experience. We look forward to doing business with you!
-The "Honest Sutler"

name is in no way an offense to other reenacting sutlers, but rather a play on the period view of the dishonest, scheming military sutler.

***Refund Policy: All products are custom made, we do not offer refunds on any order once payment has been processed.***

Just in time for colder weather — a few mounted overcoats headed out the door this week. *Accepting limited orders for o...
08/27/2025

Just in time for colder weather — a few mounted overcoats headed out the door this week.

*Accepting limited orders for overcoats this fall. Send me a message if you are interested.*

A pair of dark blue J.T. Martin trousers headed to Germany! Along with an unlined federal officers blouse to wrap up the...
08/15/2025

A pair of dark blue J.T. Martin trousers headed to Germany! Along with an unlined federal officers blouse to wrap up the week.

Send us a message if you’re interested in dark blue contract trousers. I may offer a run this winter. - Nathan

I had a small piece of yarn dyed sumac wool/natural cotton tabby, hand loomed by a friend of mine almost 10 years ago. F...
08/13/2025

I had a small piece of yarn dyed sumac wool/natural cotton tabby, hand loomed by a friend of mine almost 10 years ago. Finally got around to cutting and putting something together.

These trousers were made based on several extant examples of confederate ‘homemade’ trousers, which are simple in construction and feature loosely woven fabric with ‘self faced’ waistband and/or pocket.

The construction is copied most closely from William Talran Morris’s trousers. Though, there are some glaring differences, most notably the lack of woven striping opposite the side seams.

All in all, I think these a rather convincing repro of oddball rebel trousers. - Nathan

P.S. When photographed under certain conditions these trousers display an interesting lighting phenomena. While the front and back panel are not noticeably a different shade, they catch light differently, based on the direction in which the fabric was cut. I have encountered this ‘phenomena’ countless times over the years when photographing period garments and looking at original photos. The most notable/talked about period example of this clear ‘break’ in lighting conditions along a leg seam has to be from Gardner’s Rose woods dead grouping. Of course, different dye lots can contribute to odd color blocking as well. I recently looked at Royal’s North Carolina jacket and noted a slight difference in the color of the under-sleeves — I will post additional photos in the comment section.

Under 10 yards left on this roll of lighter grey kersey. Send us a message if you are interested in picking up a Richmon...
08/06/2025

Under 10 yards left on this roll of lighter grey kersey. Send us a message if you are interested in picking up a Richmond jacket or trousers.

Steubenville Blouse for a customer. Unlined body, lined sleeves and hand felled seams. Also features a front patch pocke...
08/04/2025

Steubenville Blouse for a customer.

Unlined body, lined sleeves and hand felled seams. Also features a front patch pocket!

HS tailors taking the field as a private soldier and officer of the Army of Northern Virginia, July 1863. My first event...
07/30/2025

HS tailors taking the field as a private soldier and officer of the Army of Northern Virginia, July 1863.

My first event in about 4 years! - Nathan

Another one! Richmond depot type II, with 8 button front, squared collar, pointed single layer epaulettes. Loving the le...
07/23/2025

Another one!

Richmond depot type II, with 8 button front, squared collar, pointed single layer epaulettes. Loving the less “blue” kersey on this one.

I still have plenty of this cloth, feel free to send us a message if you’re interested in having one made.

(Variation in color due to lighting)

It wouldn’t be July if I wasn’t cranking out Richmond gear.
07/18/2025

It wouldn’t be July if I wasn’t cranking out Richmond gear.

A “size 1” federal enlisted frock with sergeants chevrons — Along with a pair of “privately made” trousers featuring bea...
07/11/2025

A “size 1” federal enlisted frock with sergeants chevrons — Along with a pair of “privately made” trousers featuring beautiful K&P royal kersey, to be worn with the Chaplain’s frock posted a few days ago.

Sticking with the officers trend, a Lieutenant’s shell jacket with full sleeve braid. The jacket is trimmed similarly to...
07/09/2025

Sticking with the officers trend, a Lieutenant’s shell jacket with full sleeve braid.

The jacket is trimmed similarly to a converted Richmond jacket worn by John Haines of the 2nd Virginia Infantry, but the actual jacket is copied from a jacket housed in the Smithsonian.

Originally worn by a private in the 8th VA, he was killed at 2nd Manassas and it ended up being given to Pvt. Alexander Hunter of the 17th VA who was wounded twice, but survived the war.

Made of an English cloth, lined with a figured jacquard wool fabric and interfaced with canvas and batting.

Chaplains frock coat, based on an image of a chaplain from the 42nd Mississippi who remained in Gettysburg following the...
07/07/2025

Chaplains frock coat, based on an image of a chaplain from the 42nd Mississippi who remained in Gettysburg following the battle to help take care of the wounded. Having no images of the inside, I chose to copy the linings of several surviving Richmond produced frocks.

This jacket is being used for a Virginia impression, hence the state seal buttons.

-Conor

Another Columbus depot “McDonnell” variant jacket featuring Ben Tart’s ‘Gray Barré Jean.’ These never get old!
06/20/2025

Another Columbus depot “McDonnell” variant jacket featuring Ben Tart’s ‘Gray Barré Jean.’ These never get old!

Address

170 Fairfield Drive
Rochester, NY
14620

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Honest Sutler posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share