Colonial buckle shoes

[Brasilikilt]

Hey

There's no way anytime soon that I'm going to be able to afford proper colonial shoes.
After looking at these pictures, they do look challenging, but not impossible. http://www.fugawee.com/Coloneal/Ligonier_Rough/Ligonier_R_RSfrontangle.htm

Has anyone tried making them on their own?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Iain

 

[Trench]

I wonder if this is one of those things that is cheaper to buy when you consider all the materials and tools necessary to crank one of these out...not to mention the skill.

 

[LRB]

Yes!

 

[gmarc]

You are right....these shoes are challenging. I ahve a pair of the Fugawee shoes, and they are quite well made.

Shoemaking has an interesting history in this country.

 

[Tony Logan]

It might be easier to modify some mens dress shoes. A recycled pair of course, Goodwill, estate sale, etc. you could put rough them up with course sand paper and add some brass buckles. Well that's what I would have to do, I tried to make some center seam moccasins once. Well I have had better luck making other things. I dont wear the moccasins much.

 

[Brasilikilt]

Hey there

The idea of modifying thrift store shoes is what first popped in my mind......One year later I still haven't found any that would speak to me.

I did make some Scottish Ghillies a while back.

I think all the trial and error involved with making those gives me a decent chance at modifying that design by simply making them with enclosed toes and a separate piece for the heel/ankle.....At least to get me by until I can afford to buy the real thing.
Just a thought.....

Has anyone had traditional cobbling experience?

 

[Tony Logan]

I believe you could do it, those are nice.

 

[George]

If you decide to tackle the project and pictures of a commercial pair would help, give me a shout. I'll be glad to send along detailed pictures of anything you need.

Spence

 

[Brasilikilt]

Hey Spence...thanks for the offer! If I need a close look at some serious detail, I'll be sure to hit you up.
Bakeoven Bill lives close by, I'm sure if I ask nicely, he'll let me inspect his pair...especially if I bring over a good dark beer (or 2)for him to sip on while I inspect. :grin:

I saw these on Ebay....So tantalizingly close, but still no cigar! http://cgi.ebay.com/Vtg-60s-ALLEN-...8882645?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item4cf6d84355

One thought that did occur to me is that I'll be flying off to Brasil at the end of the month.
Brasil has it's fair share of Italian influence, including the tradition of producing fine leather goods such as belts, purses and shoes.
If your ladies happen to have any quantity of nicer leather "fashion" shoes, check for a "made in" marking and you'll see what I mean.

It might be worth my time to poke around down there to see if I can have some made. These seem to be constructed more simply than modern shoes.

I might end up giving a crusty old cobbler an easy, yet interesting project to tackle.

 

[Ken Cormier]

What ya need is some 60's Army low quaters. When I got out of the Army threw them in the attic. Then stared going to rainy vous with center seams aND COIMG HOME WITH PARBOILED FEET. Saw a guy that had made a pair of them I sanded mine with like 90 grit on an orbital sander.added the part for buckles and dyed them brown. I worn them evey week end for months around the house working . By then you couldn't tell the were so broken in. No body ever noticed. But the P/C police hadn't joined up yet

 

[zimmerstutzen]

In this area we have several Salvation Army and Good Will stores. Make the rounds looking for motorcycle boots or wellington style boots that can be cut down to a colonial style shoe. Save the upper part to make stips and add a buckle. Almost no one will know. With luck you may find a pair of 1970 style monk strap shoes.

Keep in mind that that company gets the shoes made somewhere. A guy showed up at the Eastern back around 1990 with rough out 1820's style brogans. he must have had 300 pair. they were cheap. The box was labeled Made in Thailand. I think they are the same brogans that Dixie Gun works sells for civil war style brogans. They are very comfortable, although I will have to have them resoled soon.

 

[George]

Brasilikilt, if you can get your hands on a copy of Sketchbook 76 by Klinger and Wilder, there is a nice exploded drawing and some instruction for making a colonial shoe, pg. 21-23.

Spence