uniform questions

[Reb Tyree]

Sharps 54, Here is a photo with the boots I got from Fall Creek.  And yes, its a Sharps 54 cal carbine.

[sharps54]

Reb Tyree,
OK, you win! I can't agrue with a man holding such a nice carbine! Blockade Runner has some nice looking cavalry boots for a good price! I do appreciate the feedback as I hate to order boots "blind". Did you order your regular / modern boot size?

[Pitspitr]

Sharps I have both the M-1872 shoe and the M-1876 Boot from MB&S you can't beat them for quality and accuracy. If you do your part measuring they'll be the most comfortable shoe you own.

[Reb Tyree]

Sharps54

I ordered my regular boot size.  You have to check the Blockade Runner website for the calf size of the boot.  Fall Creek, you can have them made to fit.  I also recommend heal plates and hob nails for traction and longer wear of the soles.  Call both companies and they will help answer any questions you have.  Both have great customer service!  Hope this helps.

[sharps54]

Pitspitr & Reb Tyree,
Thanks for the information, I will call around and see what everyone says. I am a bit "vertically challenged" and I am pretty sure the 20" boots listed by Blockade Runner will actually be too tall for me. At least now I have three companies (FCS, Blockade Runner, and MB&S) with real life feed back to choose from.

Does anyone want to comment on which boot style would appear historically correct for the widest spread of years? I am pretty set on the close of the Civil War to the early 1890's for a time period, if one set of boots would work OK with most of the cavalry uniforms of those years life would be great!

[sharps54]

Are there any negatives to the Fugawee's "ankle boots" shown here http://www.fugawee.com/,%20brogans.htm? I talked to them yesterday and their boots are low enough for my short legs!   My only concern now is the more research I do the more I read about slipping on the "slick" leather soles. I will have heel plates on these, should I add hob nails as well? Don't worry, I know not to wear them in the house with the heel plates! Some people have talked about having a thin layer of rubber added to the bottom like Blockade Runner offers, is that worthwhile? I am assuming you do the rubber instead of the heel plates.

Again I really appreciate all the help, I don't have any "cowboy" boots now and this is one of the big things keeping me on the sidelines right now. The other is a hat but I should have a chance to pick one up Friday, if was thinking about a "Old West Palm Leaf Hat" (http://www.the-fort.com/item.asp?sku=300008&id=25-247191381621284237616) from Fort Western. Would that be OK for something that might have been bought from a sutler in say Texas? If not I would just use it with my cowboy outfit until I get the rest of the uniform together in a month or two. 

Again thank you for all the input!

[St. George]

Give Terry or Glen (Delmonico) a call toll-free, at 'The Fort' , and talk to them about 'their' boot.

You can ask about those Palm Leaf hats at that time, as well...

1-877-907-3678 - X199

Brogans were a common sight on the Frontier - but if you do decide on heel plates and hobnails - be absolutely certain you lace 'em up and take 'em off outdoors, since you wouldn't believe what they'll do to a wood floor.

If you opt for a fitted pair, or a pair from the shelf - provide as much information as possible to achieve a good fit, since nothing will ruin a good day or more than a pair of poorly-fitted boots or shoes.


Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[sharps54]

Thanks St. George,
I talked to Terry and he gave me two websites to look at for different cavalry boots that they can order as they don't keep any in stock. He was extremely helpful and I look forward to doing some business with him in the next week or so. One of the problems I have is that I only have about 16" from the ground to my knee so most of the cavalry style boots are too tall for me.  In fact if I understood Terry correctly the "mule eared" Durango boots 'The Fort' sells are too tall for me as well. Anyhow the search continues!

[Reb Tyree]

Sharps54

You can have a pair of boots made to fit by Fall Creek.  You just fallow the instructions from the website, mail back the drawings and about 8-10 weeks ya got a new pair a boots.  Allow and extra half inch around the top to tuck in your pants.  You also decide how high you want the top of the boots to be.  Good luck!! 

[Tommy tornado]

I personally like the Fugawee boot.  You can get it http://cgi.ebay.com/Artillery-Boot-Short-Boot-Civil-War-Shoes-New_W0QQitemZ290099247502QQihZ019QQcategoryZ36041QQcmdZViewItem  Note that he does say that they run small and narrow.  So regardless, of who you were to buy a Fugawee boot from keep it in mind.  Also, I have a pair of civilian boots from http://www.civilwarboots.com/ .  Very good work as well but like Missouri Boot and Shoe they are a bit more expensive.  I just recently had them resoled and this time had a rubber heel put on.  No more heel plates for me.  I also have brogans that will need new heels soon. 

[Mick Archer]

  Howdy Pards!

  Just an aside.. as with anything, there are makers that make exacting copie sof original uniform items, and there are makers who import Pakistani, Indian, or Mexican copies of reproduction uniform items depneding on the needs and wants of the customer.

  During the Civil War the Quartermaster Department had produced and ocntracted with makers to produce a mountain of clothing items. When the War was over, the warehouses, depots, and arsenals were full with "surplus."
   The U.S. Quartermast Department had operated on a principle that when a new pattern or model of something came out, irt was okay for the "obsolete" pattern to continue to be issued and used until stock or inventory was used up.
    Surplus surplus was sometimes sold off to contracts who then sold it on civillian markets.  Oen such as William Crisdy who "recycled" uniform items for theatrical as well as Real World purposes.

     At the end of the Civil War, with all the "surplus," the Quatermaster Department ordered an inventory to be taken of what they had and "how good" it was- as QD inspectors sometimes "looked the other way" to get stuff into service that did not actually match QD specs.
     Sometimes that was a size matter, and sometimes that was a "short cut" or "shoddy'" flim-flam "defense contractor" type scandals and shenanighans.
     For example...  To a contractor time and raw materials was money.  What some would do is not make up the four standard standard federal sizes in the proportions called for in every bundle of 100.  Instead they would mismark Size 2's as Size 4's, an dif the inspectors were careless or in a hurry...   (The reason was that there is less fabric in a Size 2 than a Size 4, so a greddy contractor could make more Size 2's out of the same fabric as a Size 3 or Size 4.
   Because it was so screwed up, the Government ordered measaurements to be done to assess actual or real sizes, and then stamp the garment that it had been remeasured.

    One of the more interesting cases of obsolete uniform stuff being issued, is the four button CW fatigue blouses redyed as gray with white POW letters on the back for WWI German POW's.

   Another, was the surplus Civil War era dress coats (so-called frock coat) recycled and turned into cavalry "shell jackets" by cutting off their skirts.
  A number of excavated graves from the 1876 Reno-Benteen Battlefield at the Little Big Horn revealed the nine large "Eagle 'I'" dress coat infantry buttons in a row of men wearing them...

     Mick Archer
   
   



 

[sharps54]

OK, I went with the Fugawee boots and they arrived yesterday. They fit and seem to be comfortable, they shipped heel plates and hobnails with them but I haven't tried my hand at installing them yet. The boots should get their first "field test" this Sunday at the match in West Point, VA.

[Pony Racer]

Sharps 54 - FCS - Fall Creek Sutlery - provided my boots and for a few more bucks installed them for me.

It will be a pleasure to shoot with you on sunday.

PR

[sharps54]

Sharps 54 - FCS - Fall Creek Sutlery - provided my boots and for a few more bucks installed them for me.

It will be a pleasure to shoot with you on sunday.

PR

Thanks! I will definately be there, whether I shoot or not remains to be seen. I have a 1860 and a shotgun but that's if for right now. Worse case scenario I will come out and help. I look forward to meeting you!

Update: Missouri Marshal is going to lend me some firearms so I will be able to shoot with you!

[Tommy tornado]

I would love to know how them boots work for you. 

[sharps54]

I would love to know how them boots work for you. 

I will let you know after the match Sunday!

[sharps54]

Tommy tornado,
The boots were fine, no blisters which is always a good sign! I only had them on around the house for 30 mins or so before the shoot so this was a start to getting them broken in. I haven't added the heel plates and hobnails yet, but I do have some Dr. Scholl's insoles in there. I hope to get the heel plates added by my next match.

On a different note Pony Racer was at the shoot and looked great shooting black powder! He also was very patient with a number of amateur questions that I had and that was greatly appreciated.

Mild Myles 

[Pony Racer]

MM it was greating meeting and shooting with you.

Don't know about ho great i did but man do I have fun:)!!

Don't sweat the questions - I still ask my share - the pards and pardettes are all friendly - just got watch out if'n they are hungry:)!!

PR

Shooting wakefield this coming weekend