Here's our Uniform Guidelines for Infanterieregiment Nr. 459

Your largest expense in WWI reenacting will be your "uniform and equipment." Because of this, you should exercise great care in what you buy; "bargains" seldom are. Rather, they are often poorly made or inaccurate, representing a higher overall cost since you'll have to replace these items sooner or buy another altogether. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware)! As you acquire your kit, be sure you spend your money wisely by buying what you need to participate in an event vice "impulse buying" items that are "neat" but which are optional, or not used at all in this unit. If your not sure about an item your about to purchase; please call your sponsor. If you purchase an item that is not acceptable to our standards you will not be allowed to use it!

2. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

In order to participate in a GWA combat event as part of JR 459, you must have the following items for use (*Note: The ones that are in qoutation marks are the absolute minimum; to become a full member, you must own everything else items:

These standards apply to all individuals portraying ranks from private (Musketier) through sergeant (Sergeant).

a. FIELD CAP (Feldmütze)

Cap Size in Centimeters	Head Size in Inches	Cap Size Inches
56	21 7/8	7
57	22 1/4	7 1/8
58	22 5/8	7 1/4
59	23	7 3/8
60	23 1/2	7 1/2
61	23 7/8	7 5/8
62	24	7 3/4

There are two versions, one introduced in 1910; the other, known as the universal field cap (Einheitsfeldmütze), was authorized in mid-1917. The field cap will display the following characteristics:

1. Manufactured of field grey or wool or wool blend material.
2. Machine sewn throughout (except for attachment of the lining to the cap body).
3. Red wool piping and cap band of wool or wool blend for the early version. The Einheitsfeldmütze has a reseda band and piping. The cap band seam goes at the rear.
4. Lining of white, grey, field grey or drab cotton or similar material.
5. Piping not to exceed 4mm in diameter.
6. Enlisted pattern cockades (ca. 1 inch in diameter, attached to the cap via sewing through holes in the center field) · Reich Cockade (black-white-red) centered on the front crown seam between the upper piping and cap band · State Cockade (black-white-black for Prussia) centered on the front of the cap band.
7. Field caps for enlisted men may be fitted with a narrow black or field grey visor of flexible leather, not to exceed 3 inches in width at the widest point.
8. Visored field caps may optionally display chinstraps. These will match the visor color, and be held to the cap with 2 small, smooth buttons in a color matching the shade of straps/visor. Chinstraps must be of two-piece construction and may be joined via a buckle or "press snap" arrangement.
9. Unteroffiziere and Sergeanten wear smaller (ca.75 in.) lacquered state and Reich cockades on visored field caps. These are positioned as in above and are affixed via pins or wire on the reverse.

AUTHENTICITY TIP:

On original enlisted Feldmützen, a small piece of felt or wool in the color of the cockade center (i.e., black for the Prussian; red for the National) was placed behind the holes and the cockade was sewn on through this piece of cloth. In coloring the Reichs cockade, use Testor's "orange" model paint on the center.

b. "JACKET" (Waffenrock or Bluse):

1. The following "specialty insignia" will not be worn on any style jacket:
· flag/standard bearers' insignia
· insignia for signal troops
· Kaiser's shooting prize
· shooting awards
· Schützenabzeichnung (lanyard)
· Kaiserabzeichen
· special distinctions for:
· Infantry Instruction Battalion
· NCO schools and preparatory schools

2. TUNICS (Waffenrock mit stehumfall Kragen)

There are two versions, the early tunic (often called the "1910") and the wartime modified version (usually referred to as "transitional").

a. EARLY TUNIC

The early tunic was introduced in 1907 for trial purposes; it was officially adopted in 1910. It was basically a simplified, field grey adaptation of the blue peacetime uniform.

1. Constructed of field grey wool or wool blend fabric.
2. Rise (stand) and fall collar.
3. Eight-button front, three buttons on each cuff patch, and two buttons on each rear false pocket flap.
4. "Rimmed crown" pattern buttons. Tombak ("yellow metal") buttons must be chemically darkened, or painted grey, field grey, or brown. All buttons on the same garment will be the same color.
5. Red piping around the collar, down the front, around the cuffs (as well as top, rear, and bottom of the cuff patches), and on the rear false pocket flaps; piping diameter shall not exceed 4mm.
6. Tail flap arrangement as on original tunics, consisting of vent flaps of two overlapped panels with the top (left) flap edge offset to the right of the tunic back center line.
7. Cuffs, cuff flaps, and piped "false pocket" flaps on the tail vents must consist of separate pieces of material, piped and mounted to the tunic (i.e., cuffs, etc., may not be "defined" by a line of piping or braid); cuff width not to exceed 3.5 inches.
8. Hip pockets/flaps on the tunic front mounted at a slant.
9. The characteristic seams must be present (i.e., the tunic rear must consist of at least 3 separate pieces with continuous seams.
extending from the tunic bottom edge to intersect with the sleeve rear seam (figure x). Tunics may optionally have a center back seam; tunic bottom edges may be "raw" or finished.
10. Rear "belt ramps" and side hooks of material corresponding to button type.
11. The standing portion of all collars not to 2 inches in height. Collars equipped with one large "hook and eye" fastener to hold the collar closed.
12. Pointed-end shoulder straps (ca. 45 mm wide) with white piping and embroidered or appliquéd "459" worn in matched sets. Rimmed crown "8" buttons for attaching the shoulder straps.

b. TRANSITIONAL TUNIC

The transitional tunic appeared toward the end of 1914. It was a manufacturing simplification of the early tunic and was the same as early tunic except:

1. No false skirt pockets; no buttons on tail.
2. Deep turn-back cuffs (at least 4.5 inches deep).

3. BLUSE

Introduced on 21 September 1915, the Bluse borrowed heavily from the Litewka, a pre-war optional fatigue/undress jacket. The basic construction was the same at the earlier tunics but with the following exceptions:

1. No piping used.
2. Collar faced in reseda wool.
3. Turn-back cuffs and plain rear skirt like the transitional tunic.
4. Only the "rimless Crown" pattern button is permitted on the Bluse. No company number shoulder strap buttons. All buttons painted field grey, brown, or olive.

AUTHENTICITY TIP:

To darken bright reproduction tombak buttons, carbon them with a candle flame then let soak in salt water for a few weeks.

c. TROUSERS (Tuchose)

1. Made of field grey or stone grey wool or wool blend material.
2. May be piped. If piped, red piped along the entire outside seam. Piping diameter will not exceed 4mm.
3. Must have 2 slanted front slit pockets with internal pocket pouches.
4. Must have an internal watch pocket.
5. Cut high-waisted and have an adjusting belt with buckle across the rear lower waist-line (side seam to side seam).
6. Similar corduroy trousers (called Manchesterhosen) may be worn. They may be grey, field grey, brown, or black and made of medium or fine wale corduroy, but every member must own wool trousers. These are not piped.

d. FOOT GEAR (Marshstiefel/ Schnürschuhe und Gamaschen):

1. MARCHING BOOTS (Marshstiefel)

a. Boots may be rough side out (preferred) or smooth leather.
b. Boots must have a rounded, undecorated toe and side seams. Leather may be natural, brown or black.
c. Soles and heels must be leather and must have heel irons and hobnails.
d. Shafts must be between 12 and 16 inches in height.

2. ANKLE BOOTS (Schnürschuhe-must be worn with leggings [puttees]).

a. Leather construction with rounded toe; an undecorated toe-cap is permitted. Leather may be natural, brown, or black, smooth or rough side out.
b. Soles and heels must be leather; heel irons and hobnails desired.
c. Boots must be of sufficient height to cover the ankle.

3. LEGGINIGS/PUTTEES (Gamaschen)

a. Wrap style only. Constructed of wool or wool blend material in grey, field grey, or any drab shade.
b. Of sufficient length to completely cover area between ankle and knee.
c. Width not to exceed 4 inches.
d. Tie or buckle closure.

e. NECK STOCK (Halsbinde):

Constructed of grey or field grey polished cotton or similar material.

f. SHIRT (Hemd)

The shirt will be long-sleeved with buttoning cuffs and a small, standing collar. It will be a pullover shirt and will close down the front slit with buttons. Civilian pattern shirts of muted check or stripe patterns, conforming to the basic style of the issue shirt, are authorized but a "white" issue shirt must be owned...

DEFINITIONS

Drab: Any of the series of mid to light green and brown shades known in contemporary fashion as "earth-tones," including the khaki color from which US and UK uniforms were manufactured during the Great War.

Ersatz: German term for "substitute." Based on economic conditions, the Germans were forced to produce many items from materials other than those of which they had been manufactured before the war. Some of more common substitutes follow:

· Brass, copper, and tombak-steel; pot metal; iron; pewter
· Leather-cotton duck; linen; cotton webbing; Preßstoff (pressed cardboard); papier mâché
· Cloth-paper cloth Field Grey: A warm, muted green color with a distinct greyish, brownish-grey, or blue-greyish tinge
. Worn by the bulk of German forces during the Great War.

Reseda: A mid-to-deep shade acidic grey-green used as contrasting collar facings on the Bluse and, later, field caps. It should not be confused with the color hellgrün (light green), used as trim on Jäger and Staff Orderly uniforms.

Slate Grey: A deep charcoal grey color used only for the production of overcoats and trousers in the German Army.

Tombak: Is an alloy essentially of copper and zinc and sometimes tin or arsenic.