Stove pipe boots pale rider boots out of pants or tucked inside fit issues?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Hi,

I have been watching this thread with interest ... hoping someone else would post this. Generally, boots made during the Civil War period (Artillery, Cavalryman's boots) were constructed with the one piece front (when boots were being made in large batches it made sense). Boots were usually square toe and fit both left or right feet ... it was breaking them in that made it a left or right foot. Mule Eared boots were common if not the norm.

However, boots that were more or less custom made in small shops towards the 1880s. That is when boot shanks became a bit 'snugger' ... and by request the 'cockroach killer' toes  became the norm, as they were easier to put in a stirrup ... in fact, square toes and mule ears on boots tended to be used by mule and ox wagon users, almost became theiir mark.

As has been noted, early boot with pants tucked in them was a sign of a cowboy ... the boots protected the pants (expensive to replace on $40.00/mo.), and pants tucked out of pants were more of a sign of a city slicker/fancy man/shootist.

IMHO ... any thoughts?