Question?!?!?!?

[Texlee]

So I'm making a pair of shotgun chaps that are going to be as authentic to the 1880s as I can get them.
My question is, how much "wiggle room" should there be in the legs?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Tex

[Don Nix]

They have to be loose enough to squat in comfortable. They arent supposed to be tight unless your planning on trying out for the Village people.

[Texlee]

Haha well I don't plan on doing that. Thanks for the info!

Tex

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Texlee, you may want to go down to the local motorcycle shop and see what fits you as Don says. Then just measure the leg diameter and you have it.

[Texlee]

I've never thought about that before, thanks for the idea Marshall!

[ChuckBurrows]

If you are doing step through shotguns (the most common type for the 1880's although towards the end the Cheyenne style batwings were becoming more popular) the legs need to be wide enough to get your feet through with boots on - when I made period style shotguns I made the legs 3" wider than the measurement around the thigh diameter and it fit 95% of the people - a few needed wider due to big feet!

Also you might check with David Carrico at Carrico Leather - IIRC he offers an original pattern for chaps from the Meanea shop..

[Texlee]

I wasn't aware that he offered the pattern for sale? I will definatly look into that though.
Thanks for the info on the sizing!

Tex

[dwight55]

You can also get a paper pattern of Arizona style chaps, . . . from what I've heard, . . . about as authentic as they come, . . . which were shotgun chaps, . . . but no zipper, . . . they are step-in style, . . . you swing the seam around and put your toe down the seam, . . . then do the same with the other leg, . . . then belt em on in the back, . . . and adjust the legs. 

Look at Bob's place at http://www.klendasaddlery.com/chaps.htm

His instructions take a minute or 6 to catch on to, . . . but they're otherwise good.  I've made a couple pair from his patterns, . . . and they turned out really nice.

If you want to save youself a bit of grief, . . . go on line, . . . get the 40% off coupon, . . . go to JoAnn fabric, . . . buy 2 yards of their $18 a yard vinyl, . . . and practice using the vinyl instead of leather for the actual legs. 

Oh, . . . and don't ask me why I have two pairs of vinyl chaps hanging in my closet,................

May God bless,
Dwight

[Cliff Fendley]

If you are doing step through shotguns (the most common type for the 1880's although towards the end the Cheyenne style batwings were becoming more popular) the legs need to be wide enough to get your feet through with boots on - when I made period style shotguns I made the legs 3" wider than the measurement around the thigh diameter and it fit 95% of the people - a few needed wider due to big feet!

Also you might check with David Carrico at Carrico Leather - IIRC he offers an original pattern for chaps from the Meanea shop..

Chuck, just so we understand correctly. Are they tapered at all or does that thigh measurement carry all the way down?

I know the original ones I've seen look like a stove pipe but have never been able to measure a pair. The couple modern shotgun patterns I've seen are tapered but I'm not sure that is 1880's authentic.

[ChuckBurrows]

Cliff - most of the originals I've measured were either straight or slightly tapered only - when I made them for folks with larger hips and thighs (mostly women - just the way they are built) I would taper the about 2 inches smaller at the foot

[bedbugbilly]

Hmmm . . . all I know is that I wished I'd had a pair the other day . . I accidentally backed in to one of those lovely "jumping cactus!  I don't know which hurt worse . . . the initial contact or the "pulling out".  Ouch!    

[Blair]

Texlee,

I have an old Tandy pattern for Batwing and/or Shotgun Pattern Chaps. (never used)
If you are interested... contact me by my e-mail address in my profile ($20.00 bucks).
Sorry, I did not inform you earlier, but I didn't know where the pattern was.
My best,
Blair

[Texlee]

Blair thanks for the offer but I've already got a couple Tandy patterns.

I talked with David and he's still looking for someone to get his pattern printed off so he can start selling them.
That's a good idea Dwight, my dads got a huge chunk of Heavy old ratty canvas I can probably get enough out of it for test pieces.

One more question Chuck, for the yoke do you use the same weight of leather as the legs or heavier stuff?

Thanks All for the help!

Tex

[ChuckBurrows]

For the 1880's the legs can be either 5/6 oz chrome tan chap leather (for lighter weight SASS chaps I've used 3/4 oz chrome tan upholstery leather) or you can also use or 3/4 oz veg tan which was used both pre1880's and post 1880's - for the yoke/belt use 8/9 oz

While chrome tan was first developed in the 1860's it was not manufactured in any quantity) until after 1879

[GunClick Rick]

I used to have an old pair that were deer or elk hide,light weight and tough,they had seen good use when i got them with stains and a cople small holes they never did tare,i wore them when i met Harey carey Jr. down south,the president of Farmer Johns (they own the Carey ranch now and it's a museum)though i looked good enough to offer me a job telling western stories,playing harmonica as a docent,but i don't think they have got a docent program yet and i also live about 2-300 miles north,it's in Santa Clarita.Just a side note.

[Texlee]

For the 1880's the legs can be either 5/6 oz chrome tan chap leather (for lighter weight SASS chaps I've used 3/4 oz chrome tan upholstery leather) or you can also use or 3/4 oz veg tan which was used both pre1880's and post 1880's - for the yoke/belt use 8/9 oz

While chrome tan was first developed in the 1860's it was not manufactured in any quantity) until after 1879

Alright thanks chuck! I was going to give the 3/4 oz veg tan a shot, do you have any good tips for that?

Tex

[ChuckBurrows]

not really other than once built oil the leather well and then work it to soften it a bit - don't over oil it though use a light coat or two at first and let level out over a 24 hour period before working it - since I age everything that softens as I work it a lot - remember the old warning don't fold bend or mutilate     well when it comes to aging that's part of the process (well the mutilate is a bit harsh but you get the idea hopefully)

[Skeeter Lewis]

Chuck - I suppose it's not possible to edge treat 3-4 veg. - and chrome is tricky. What do you do to edges?
Also - do you make pockets and crotch- and side-strips of heavier leather? Skeet

[ChuckBurrows]

Chuck - I suppose it's not possible to edge treat 3-4 veg. - and chrome is tricky. What do you do to edges?
Also - do you make pockets and crotch- and side-strips of heavier leather? Skeet

I don't edge treat 3/4 oz for chaps - no real need (dampen with water first then cut and you get a smoother edge:
On all of the originals (couple of hundred pair I reckon) I've examined the pockets and side strips and fringe are made of the same weight as the legs - although on some of the later chrome tanned ones in 5/6 oz. the fringe is a lighter weight - around 3 ounce.

Like so many other pieces from the past there are generally no absolute hard and fast rules so more than enough wiggle room to do it within the period parameters....

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

You can also get a paper pattern of Arizona style chaps, . . . from what I've heard, . . . about as authentic as they come, . . . which were shotgun chaps, . . . but no zipper, . . . they are step-in style, . . . you swing the seam around and put your toe down the seam, . . . then do the same with the other leg, . . . then belt em on in the back, . . . and adjust the legs. 

Look at Bob's place at http://www.klendasaddlery.com/chaps.htm

His instructions take a minute or 6 to catch on to, . . . but they're otherwise good.  I've made a couple pair from his patterns, . . . and they turned out really nice.

If you want to save youself a bit of grief, . . . go on line, . . . get the 40% off coupon, . . . go to JoAnn fabric, . . . buy 2 yards of their $18 a yard vinyl, . . . and practice using the vinyl instead of leather for the actual legs. 

Oh, . . . and don't ask me why I have two pairs of vinyl chaps hanging in my closet,................

May God bless,
Dwight

I love those #33 &34 Arizona chap designs but I would like to change the design from a step in style to leaving them open and installing chap snaps.