Lace up shotgun chaps

Delmonico · February 22, 2007, 06:07:09 PM

Does anyone have a good picture showing how they are laced up? We have a supplier that is going to start making them if I can get them a good picture on how they were laced. These are in demand among real working cowboys as well as CAS shooters. Many working ones are tired of having zippers replaced and want the old time lace ups.

Steel Horse Bailey · April 02, 2007, 01:19:10 PM

I wouldn't wear a set of chaps that had lace! Too sissified.

Never mind.

You're still missed, Gilda

skypilot · September 25, 2009, 12:38:02 AM

The lacing consists of a piece of leather, usually about 5/8" wide and simply creates a seam joining the leg by going back and forth in a line moving up and down the leg. There isn't any lacey stuff to it, just an inch or two appearing first on the outside and then on the inside.

In reading this I'm not sure what it means, but I hope it will help. I'll try to locate a picture.

skypilot

Skeeter Lewis · September 25, 2009, 02:27:45 AM

Del - were 19th. century shotgun chaps ever simply sewn all the way? Or was it always this lace arrangement?

J.D. Yellowhammer · September 25, 2009, 07:15:25 AM

Is this where "Leather and Lace" started?

Dr. Bob · September 26, 2009, 12:35:48 AM

JD,

litl rooster · September 26, 2009, 12:00:11 PM

I'll see if i can come up with a picture......some call them "step in's" I use billets and roller buckles on mine, I can adjust to heavier pants then. They'r quick enuff to put on.

Here's a link showing some custom "Batwings" You'll see they have incorporated some conchos with the lace and some fancy tooled billets, to help strenghten at stress points. Ones shown are not what I would wear(just personal preference) but they are nicely done and appear top quality. Laced ones are starting about the 5th picture. I see they also laced in the zippers in some of them.

http://www.kansassaddlery.com/store.php3

Skeeter Lewis · September 26, 2009, 12:38:26 PM

In 'Cowboys & The Trappings of the Old West' there are photos of shotgun chaps that have two rows of stitching up each leg. Does that mean the legs were sewn rather than laced? I know that now the choice is between buckles and lace, but was sewing an option in the nineteenth century? I'm making a pair at the moment, so this lacing thing is a surprise. Looking at the photos, I can see that they all have lacing, but could that have been there just for conchos?

Del, I tried to pm you on this. Don't know if it went.

Rooster, thanks for those pix.

Skeeter

ChuckBurrows · September 26, 2009, 12:55:47 PM

Skeeter - in all of the originals I have seen the stitching was there for holding on the fringe or a backing piece - the front was then laced to the back - conchos were optional........

Buckles and straps came into use sometime in the mid-late 1880's and were most more often used on the early model narrow batwings often called the Cheyenne style otherwise laced step throughs were the order of the day......

you can see the lacing here on some original Meaneas - as noted above use a lace 5/8-3/4" wide and space about 3" apart with about an 1" or so coming up through the front and then back down...I rivet the lace to the back piece at top and bottom....

Skeeter Lewis · September 26, 2009, 01:18:04 PM

Thanks, Chuck. As always, you deliver the goods.

litl rooster · September 26, 2009, 02:00:23 PM

I like the Meanea style, it's what I would preferr for a working chap

Texas Lawdog · September 26, 2009, 04:38:05 PM

Ya don't any of fancy jinglebobs on a pair of working cowboy shotgun chaps. Working cowhands wouldn't have any fancy stuff, they were concerned with fit and durability.

Cactus Rope · September 27, 2009, 09:20:11 PM

Quote from: ChuckBurrows on September 26, 2009, 12:55:47 PM
Skeeter - in all of the originals I have seen the stitching was there for holding on the fringe or a backing piece - the front was then laced to the back - conchos were optional........

Buckles and straps came into use sometime in the mid-late 1880's and were most more often used on the early model narrow batwings often called the Cheyenne style otherwise laced step throughs were the order of the day......

you can see the lacing here on some original Meaneas - as noted above use a lace 5/8-3/4" wide and space about 3" apart with about an 1" or so coming up through the front and then back down...I rivet the lace to the back piece at top and bottom....

Chuck,

You shur make sum purty stuff. I sure did appreciate the instructions for the Mexican Loop knife sheath. Plan on trying to make one in the future.

So, if I'm understanding what your saying, once they are laced up they are basically closed permanently. Could they be made to loosen the lacing up some and then tightened up for ease of putting on and taking off? I'm thinking about taking an old pair of modern shotguns, taking the zipper out, to make them into step ins. These are not very heavy leather, so I feel like I'm going to have to run strip of leather down the front and rear to give it strength for the lacing.

Thanks for all the tips and help you give those of us who are somewhat leather handicapped.

James Hunt · September 28, 2009, 01:43:59 PM

Mine, perhaps this helps.

I am certainly no working cowboy, but these are not summer weight attire. Mine are of buffalo hide and very supple. I always leave the bottom two laces not attached so that my boot with spur will slip through thus putting them on like a pair of pants. At my age bending over putting boots and spurs on constitutes a stretching routine - and I have never been found of stretching as exercise.

ChuckBurrows · September 28, 2009, 02:30:10 PM

QuoteSo, if I'm understanding what your saying, once they are laced up they are basically closed permanently.

Yes

Quotehey be made to loosen the lacing up some and then tightened up for ease of putting on and taking off?

No - James' idea of leaving the last two unlaced is a good one. The other option is to use buckles and straps rather than lacing the front to the back like these I made. This is as I noted a mid-late 1880's or later adaptation.....
back side..

front side - as you can see it looks like step throughs........

These by the way are lighter (3/4 oz) weight designed for a CAS shooter and not a rider so there was no need to use working weight leather - makes them cooler and easier to walk around in.

And thank you - I do my best....

Cactus Rope · September 28, 2009, 04:03:11 PM

Quote from: James Hunt on September 28, 2009, 01:43:59 PM
Mine, perhaps this helps.

I am certainly no working cowboy, but these are not summer weight attire. Mine are of buffalo hide and very supple. I always leave the bottom two laces not attached so that my boot with spur will slip through thus putting them on like a pair of pants. At my age bending over putting boots and spurs on constitutes a stretching routine - and I have never been found of stretching as exercise.

JH
Good idea, thanks.

Cactus Rope · September 28, 2009, 04:04:32 PM

Quote from: ChuckBurrows on September 28, 2009, 02:30:10 PM
Yes
No - James' idea of leaving the last two unlaced is a good one. The other option is to use buckles and straps rather than lacing the front to the back like these I made. This is as I noted a mid-late 1880's or later adaptation.....
back side..

front side - as you can see it looks like step throughs........

These by the way are lighter (3/4 oz) weight designed for a CAS shooter and not a rider so there was no need to use working weight leather - makes them cooler and easier to walk around in.

And thank you - I do my best....

Chuck,
Thanks

litl rooster · September 29, 2009, 08:37:59 AM

Quote from: James Hunt on September 28, 2009, 01:43:59 PM
always leave the bottom two laces not attached so that my boot with spur will slip through thus putting them on like a pair of pants. At my age bending over putting boots and spurs on constitutes a stretching routine - and I have never been found of stretching as exercise.

in the same regards I always wore Whites or buffalo lacers to ride and work in...but the age thing is ketch'n up and a pair of pull on's seem so resonable these days.

James I like the way you laced the front of the belt, joining the 2 halfs.

Mr. Burrows as always your work is a true art

Steel Horse Bailey · September 29, 2009, 10:38:50 AM

Quote from: litl rooster on September 29, 2009, 08:37:59 AM

Mr. Burrows as always your work is a true art

Ain't THAT the truth!

Skeeter Lewis · October 07, 2009, 05:11:49 PM

A couple more questions about lace-ups....

1. When the lace is riveted to the leg, is it ever riveted all the way through, front and back? Chuck says he rivets just to the back, but was it always done that way?

2. Is a strengthening strip needed along the back? (The front is strong enough because of the fringe.)

Thanks!