Used Canvas Tents

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Does anyone know of a company that is like an outlet for canvas tents? I am looking for a place to buy a used canvas tent as the new ones(ie. Montana Canvas) are very expensive. I was fortunate to find one at a yard sale, but am looking for something to purchase by summer. Has anyone participated in the Civil War Rendevous, where groups of people come together to show ways of living in that era? If anyone has any info to pass along I would appreciate it.

-- Danette Rebai (drebai@yahoo.com), January 01, 2001

Answers

Danette, we've just started participating in re-enacting from eras earlier than the Civil War. If you are looking for a tent for that purpose, your best bet might be to talk to other people who do that, and get ahold of some of the publications specific to that interest. Often re-enactors will have used tents for sale, either because they've got a new one, or perhaps they don't have time for that activity anymore. If you just wanted a tent for general camping, look for a military surplus store or catalog. The old military tents work fine, though you would want to inspect carefully for holes and so on before purchasing. I'm supposed to be making us a tent (don't know how my sewing machine will hold up to it, though), but honestly if we hadn't gotten the material at half price, we wouldn't have saved much money over just buying one already made. Hope this helps.

-- Kathleen Sanderson in NH (stonycft@worldpath.net), January 02, 2001.

Try a local Boy Scout master. He may have an old tent or three he'd like to unload, or even check out the area scout shop. Sometimes good deals are to be had.

FYI, latest Scout catlog lists tents 9 X 7 for $221 to 12 X 16 for $442. 1-800-323-0732

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), January 02, 2001.


Danette! I've seen 8x10's go for as little as $10 at garage/yard sales before. The canvas types have been replace by the newer nylon/light weight jobbies and the old heavy ones most people don't want anymore. The new ones are nice but I'd prefer the canvas tents if they didn't have to be moved every day while camp'n. Lil Dumplin bought a HUGE nylon t ype for $100 at Sears , on sale. It's easy to set up and absolutely as big as a small house--really! We use two QUEEN sized air mattresses in it and still bunches of room left! ShopKo had some a llittle smaller for $49 and it included two sleepin bags. Hoope this helps some. hoot. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), January 02, 2001.

Major Surplus and Survival,, I know thay have had them,, I bought one,, they are in California

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 02, 2001.

Rendevous are a big thing around here, our electric co-op monthly magazine lists them under coming events in the spring and summer months, always alot of them down around Blennerhassett Island, and Marietta, OH. Used tents are sometimes available through the Sportsmans Guide catalog, army surplus edition.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 03, 2001.


Bought a 20 x 8 ft L.L.Bean at a local 'junk' auction for $10 bucks! The auctioneer thought it was a tarp! Call around, you can absentee bid with a credit card, and have it shipped, but it's always better to bid in person.

-- Kathy (catfish@besweb.net), January 03, 2001.

Tent story:

About six years ago I went to a large blacksmithing conference in New York State. Demonstration areas were under tents, as was a general purpose tent with picnic tables (right next to the beer truck - New Yorker's know how to set up an event!). One afternoon one heck of a rain storm came up, probably blew harder than I have ever been in. Was in the GP tent. During the height of the storm someone stood on a table, grabbed a center support pole and yelled, "Captain Ahab, we're never going to find that white whale!"

Maybe you had to be there.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 04, 2001.


Ken it sounds like he might have been in the tent with the beer for awhile!!!:-) Your story was cute!!! My husband and I enjoyed it!!!Don't you just love the outbursts of humor that can ease the intensity of a situation!!!??

-- Tammy S.South in Western KY (w-feather40@webtv.net), January 04, 2001.

Danette, What will you use the tent for? Army surplus tents are HEAVY and not all that cheap but I can say that good ones are worth the money.I have several.GP small,GP medium, mess tents etc.Other than the occasional steal at yard sales or auctions there really are no great buys on used tents.Used tents are usualy being dumped because they have reached the end of their useful life.It is easy to tie up money in a piece of junk.If you could give a little more detail about your intended use I or someone else might be able to give you better advice on finding what you need. greg

-- Greg (gsmith@tricountyi.net), January 15, 2001.

I too would like to know of an outlet for canvas wall tents Are used alot with the outfitters They sell'em to friends if any good

-- George Leroy Tirebiter (ltirebiter@aol.com), January 23, 2001.


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