Now you may have heard that what we do is expensive. Well...it's not cheap. But we think that we get a bum rap for that. We really don't spend that much more on equipment than many other pastimes. Ask an avid golfer how much a good set of Titleist or Calloway clubs would run you. Got a buddy with an old boneyard muscle car being reincarnated in his garage? Ask him how many times his significant other has informed him in no uncertain terms that he might as well expect to begin receiving his mail in that garage 'if this #!*? don't stop'.
So yes, expect to spend some money. But any living history outfit worth its salt that expects to recruit and grow will have enough used loaner gear between its members to put one 'fresh fish' in the field for at least a trial run and probably longer while he begins to collect his own gear. A year is usually considered sufficient time for a man to have at least made a good start at being self-sufficient in his equipage. Some units require that you be completely so in that time, others just that you be making earnest progress. The most important thing to remember is NOT to buy anything until you talk to someone who's been doing it for a while and who knows what he's talking about (and the former does not always indicate the latter). You will spend far more, if you're really in 'for the duration', if you have to replace a lot of second-rate kit that you bought out of an uninformed eagerness to get started. Wait, ask questions, and do it right the first time. Don't be shy about it--we'd rather loan a man gear while he's getting started than watch him get skinned. A set of authenticity guidelines will be made available to the recruit, with explanations of the items and recommmendations regarding sutlers to consider as well as those to avoid.
