THE WINCHESTER SUTLER, INC - Civil War Reproduction Buttons

Updated Nov 2012

E-MAIL: tws@shentel.net ADDRESS: The Winchester Sutler, Inc. 270 Shadow Brook Lane Winchester, VA. 22603 U.S.A.

The Winchester Sutler, Inc. Providing Quality Civil War Reproductions - Since 1972

PHONE: 540 888-3595 Best Time To Call: 6:00 pm - Midnight EST 7 Nights a Week FAX: 540 888-4632

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REPRODUCTION CIVIL WAR BUTTONS:

WHAT BUTTONS SHOULD BE USED WHERE:

Coats and Vests have SHANK BUTTONS to go through the thick material.
Large or Medium normally are used to close Infantry coats. (Small for the cuff buttons.)
Small are used on Union Mounted Cavalry Coats. Small are also used on vests.

Shirts should have SHELL or mother of pearl buttons.
Metal Shank uniform buttons are not put on shirts, (except 17 star Confederate on Bib Front.)

(Wood and horn buttons are for low class, slaves, or mountain men
- they are fine on unseen undergarments -
A free person would go through the trouble of making cloth buttons,
before being caught in public visibly wearing wood or bone.),
For instructions on making your own cloth buttons -

CLOTH COVERED buttons were popular for civilian men & ladies.

Pants normally have lg. FOUR-HOLE PEWTER for the waist & suspenders...sm. for the fly..
PAPER BUTTONS are a good example of cheap goods sold to the armies.
They are flimsy and need to be replaced often.

COAT & VEST BUTTONS

The following buttons are gold tone and are a hollow three-piece brass construction with shank - just like the originals.
These are manufactured by Waterbury...markings are on the back.

Large Buttons - L are just a tad bit smaller than a quarter...$1.50 each
Medium Buttons - M - are the size of a nickel...$1.50 each
The only medium size military button is U.S. Eagle with plain shield.
Small Buttons - S - are between a dime and a penny in size...$ 1.25 each

Many of these buttons are near exact copies of what was worn during the Civil War,
some have gone through minute modifications over the years,
and others have changed so drastically since the 1860's, that there is no similarity.

The following Waterbury 3-Piece hollow construction shank buttons are appropriate for use on Coats, Vests, and Hats. Shank buttons should not be used on shirts because the material is to thin and the buttons will hang face down to the ground. It is also inappropriate to use them on pants because one does not wear a patriotic emblem below the waist!

Side View 3-Piece SHANK BUTTON

Availability of Sizes are Indicated by the -L, -M, or -S in the Number.

STATE BUTTONS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN MEDIUM SIZE!
The above buttons are Waterbury's gold tone brass.
They are the proper 3-piece-hollow construction with shank

Large above Buttons are $1.50 each Small Buttons are $1.25 each

UNION BRANCH BUTTONS

The above buttons are Waterbury's gold tone brass.
They are the proper 3-piece-hollow construction with shank

CONFEDERATE BRANCH BUTTONS

Not available in Medium or Small at this time

CONFEDERATE OFFICER's BUTTONS

The Regulations for the Army of the Confederate States - 1861
called for Confederate Officers to wear the following button

#BT13 13 Star CONFEDERATE OFFICER's L - $1.50 . . . S - $1.25

The above buttons are Waterbury's gold tone brass.
They are the proper 3-piece-hollow construction with shank

Sorry. We do not have U.S. Officer's (muffin) Buttons at this time.

PEWTER COAT BUTTONS

As the war continued, brass became scarce. It was more needed for the making of cannon barrels, than buttons.
The brass button shortage brought about the Confederate use of solid cast pewter buttons.

#BTPSI - SCRIPT "I" L - $.75 Large size ONLY

#BTP17 - 17 Star Conf (Also Mexican War) L - $.75 Large size ONLY

SHELL - (Mother of Pearl)
SHIRT BUTTONS

Use small buttons for regular C.W. Shirts -Shell-s - $.20 Large Shell buttons are not available at this time.

PANTS BUTTONS #BTPL4 - Large 4-hole Pewter L - $.35 Use 5 or 7 Large for Waist and Suspenders on pants (These are also used for haversacks & gaitors) #BTPS4 - Small 4-hole Pewter S - $.25 Use 4 small buttons for fly #BTPAP - Paper Buttons S - $.15

CIVILIAN & MILITIA BUTTONS

#BTBL L & M - $1.50 S - $1.25 BALL BUTTONS

#BTPMW - Small ONLY Mexican War "Dot" Buttons Use for civilian vests & haversacks S - $.50

Making Cloth Buttons If you really want to do the ultimate civilian button, here is how... Make a small metal ring - the size you want your button to be. Cover it with fabric from the article of clothes you just made. Gather the loose ends to the center back and stitch securely. Now, button hole stitch all the way around the edge of the button catching the front fabric, ring, and back fabric with each stitch.

#BTFL - Smooth Plain flat or slightly domed (Which ever is in stock) Use for civilian clothing L & M - $1.50 S - $1.25

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