History

Coghlin & Upton originated in 1976 as a part-time business, researching and producing custom items of historical military uniforming and accessories. In 1987 this became a full-time enterprise under the name of Musket, Fife & Drum. In 1997, Musket, Fife amp; Drum acquired Coghlin Military Leather of London, Ontario. This business had been supplying contemporary dress regalia and accoutrements to the Armed Forces and other uniformed organizations since 1983. In January 1998, the two operations were merged under the name Coghlin & Upton Military and Historical Accoutrements, offering both modern and period products. This title was reduced to Coghlin & Upton Military Accoutrements in 2003 on the consideration that our products were militarily oriented regardless of the time period.

The Owner: Robin Upton

Robin is a former member of the Fort Henry Guard and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. He served with the Ontario Provincial Police and The Fire Commissioner of Canada, spending five years as the Regional Fire Commissioner of Ontario. From 1975 to 1981 Robin researched, raised and commanded a unit of the 84th Regiment, Royal Highland Emigrants, a re-creation of a Loyalist Regiment that served in the Revolutionary War. This was one of the first reenactment organizations in Canada and was considered authentic enough to be contracted as a “Living History" display by the Canadian War Museum. Through his research activities Robin has also acted as a resource on Highland Regiments to the Canadian War Museum, a historical consultant to the Fraser Highlanders element of the MacDonald-Stewart Foundation, and an Assistant Inspector of Highland Units with the Brigade of the American Revolution. His work with historical and contemporary full dress uniforming made Robin painfully aware that many of the specialized items of military full dress, both period and modern, were no longer readily available, had become highly expensive or were being produced in substandard quality. In concert with an associate in the regalia business he undertook to research and produce these rare accoutrements. After 12 years of carrying out this function for others, Robin decided in 1987 to pursue his passion as a profession, and in the spring of 1988 opened Musket, Fife & Drum as a full-time enterprise. The rest is, or should be, history!