Rev War, French and Indian, 18th century, shoe buckles, buckle shoes
C & D Jarnagin Company
18th Century
How to put on shoe buckles.
Leather Preservation Please follow this link for more information on the care and feed of leather.
The Colonial Shoe is a low quarter shoe for the late 18th Century. These reproduction shoes are based on recovered examples from a New York area military camp as well as our most recent research. Information may be found in Sketchbook '76, sunken ships, and originals from private collections.
Our shoes are formed on "Straight Last" meaning there will be no left or right when new. Be sure to wear the shoe on the same foot to form them to your feet properly. made from "Oak Tanned leather with a two piece back, squared toe, pegged heels, welted and sewn soles. These shoes will give many years of excellent use.
I should point out I do not recommend switching straight last shoes to a different foot every day. An all leather shoe will break in to one foot and last longer and be much more comfortable if you make a right and a left shoe.
We do not attach buckles since without the customers foot to find the proper position to place the buckles it is not possible to make them fit right. This also keeps the latchets from having too many holes in them.
Latchets: are the leather pieces on the shoe where the buckles attach.
There are two ways to attach the buckles.
1. pass one side of the latchet through the looped part of the buckle.
2. Is to bend the prongs of the looped side out which like the photo below.
The following pictures are done with the second method. I find this way easier to do than the other way since less cutting is required.
First bend the prongs out at a slight angle.
When putting on buckle it is very important to make sure the buckles are historically correct. The points on the buckle point in, and the exposed latchet is on the outside of the foot.
Shorten the side that will be underneath. This will make the buckles fit better and make the shoe more comfortable.
Place the buckle on the shoe slightly off center, but centered on the latchet and press the the points in the the leather and make dents to show where to punch holes.
Punch holes for the prongs on the buckle, and make a second set further down to allow you to tighten the buckles as the shoe breaks in. Set the buckle in the holes and pull them in tight.
{hint: A small amount of water used on the leather will make the leather easier to attach.}
Pass the other latchet through the buckle and mark where the holes should go.
Punch the holes and finish attaching the buckle. Here again make a second set further down to allow you to tighten the buckles as the shoe breaks in.
This is what they should look like when finished
On line French & Indian,
Revolutionary Period & War of
1812
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