MtMan-List: Kit Carson's Coat?

["Matt Richards" <backcountry@braintan.com>]

Well I called the place that had the Kit Carson coat I was referring too.
The woman who owned the pieces said that the buckskin pants (made from elk)
that were there, were made shortly before his death in 1868. But the jacket
was very old and dated in the early 1800's.........however, she then had me
call her son who was also involved in the collection who said he wasn't even
sure the coat was Kit Carson's.....and that I should talk to his mother....

So nothing definitive that's for sure, if I ever make it back down there,
I'll check into it some more. If anyone else wants to check it out.....the
gallery/museum is directly across the street from the entrance to the 'Kit
Carson Home and Museum', and just a little to the right, in Taos NM. The
phone number of this place (unfortunately I didn't get the name of it) is
505-758-9188. I talked to Paul, and his mother, the owners.

One question for you all (as I am trying to learn your approach to this), if
this coat can be reasonably placed as being used by Kit prior to 1840 in the
Rocky Mtns, would its replica be considered period for what you folks do? Or
is anything of Mexican or southwestern influence considered somehow off
limits, or not a part of the same scene? Honest question...

I realize it wouldn't make it appropriate for re-enacting here in northern
Montana, but I'm curious whether you'd consider it 'mtn man'.

Matt Richards
www.braintan.com