Most authentic boots, 1860-70

[Oregon Bill]

I posted this in another spot, and St. George suggested I also post it here:

I'm wondering if the Missouri Boot and Shoe offerings can be excelled for the price. If you have a pair, how do they look and fit?

I am looking for a very comfortable, top-quality boot that would fit a buffalo hunter early in the Great Hunt -- pre-1876.

[Blair]

O Bill,

The selections you have been offered are excellent choices.
However, there are other options within the Civilian sector that these Co. do not "normally" offer as alternatives. (unless you ask or request such info)
Such information is meant only to offer additional info for your request.
My best,
Blair

[Pitspitr]

I have 2 pair of MB&S products and they are outstanding. I jokingly told them that they weren't period correct because they were comfortable.

Blair is correct that army boots wouldn't be a style that civilians would go to a store and buy but even today civilians sometimes wear army styles. I wear my son's old boots now that the Guard issued him a new pair.

There are plenty of ways to justify a civilian wearing army boots.  There are numerous accounts of "shoving up a blanket" (deserting and selling government property on the black market). Also your Buffalo Runner's enlistment could have recently ended in which case he could still be wearing his old army boots or maybe he found a dead deserter on the prairie and took his boots, after all a corpse won't do much walking.  

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[Oregon Bill]

Well, now that I think about it there is a strong element of to-hell-with-an-accurate-impression-the-dang-things-just-look-cool.

 

[harleydavis]

If you are not in a big hurry, you could spend some time perusing the Civil War Forums ie:
http://www.cwreenactors.com/index.php
http://authentic-campaigner.com/
You can quite often find some good buys on quality gear. Mattimore Harness is another name that comes to mind for boots/shoes. Great places for authentic hats as well. NOw then, as long as Blair has brought up persona in relation to boots, lets talk about hats!!!!! Oops, sorry. Thread is about boots.

[Niederlander]

Oh, I don't know about that.  When you look at photographs from the period, there seem to be a lot of surplus Army items in evidence.  People wore and used stuff until it was worn out, plus a lot of things got "liberated" just as they do now.    I wouldn't worry about the authenticity, as I think you've got that covered.

[cpt dan blodgett]

Suspect when you are carrying everything you own or scraping out a very poor living from the dirt, you wear things until they wear out, get them mended and repeat until the item can no longer be repaired. 

Lots of stuff was inexpensive in terms of the # of dollars spent on an item, but damned expensive in terms of a percentage of the annual dollars could earn.

Remember though that the cavalry was issued two pairs of shoes and one pair of boots.  The boots were to be worn while on mounted duty.

[Cutter Carl]

Fugawee Corp.  www.fugawee.com

Nice boots. Great warranty.  Decent price.