Where to begin? New Kit in the working..

[Ian]

Period correct footwear with a flat sole will not cause problems with a strap.  Most inexpensive reproduction period footwear uses leather on the bottom that is too thick, and that does cause problems.  Real period footwear has a very supple sole and puts no pressure on the arch of the foot, so as long as you don't have flat feet, the strap of a spur should basically occupy the space under the arch of your foot.  It's more like walking barefoot than in a shoe.  Nice soft flexible soles on good reproduction period footwear will help eliminate the problem that Sir James is describing.  We as modern folk are used to a hard sole, so it takes getting used to, but period footwear was designed to be soft so that you could feel and grip the ground with your foot and not slip.  The problem is generally that good period footwear is hard to find or expensive, or both.  Mass produced period footwear is not good period footwear.

I don't mean to derail the thread here, but on this note, how are the shoes from Viking Leathercrafts? I've heard nothing but good things about them and was planning on getting a pair sometime soon.

The boots from Viking Leathercrafts are just the Westland Crafts boots which are mass produced in Pakistan and re-sold by Frank.  He doesn't make them.  Frank's a great guy and business man, but most of the shoes he sells are not just the Westland stuff.   I've used them for years, and they're more than adequate.  I would replace the giant thongs of leather that they ship with for laces, but they're fine.  They are mass produced they and do not really mimic period footwear, but they look the part.

Real medieval footware reproductions can be had from the following:
http://www.plantagenetshoes.co.uk/cat13_14.aspx
http://home.comcast.net/~meisterdru/shoes.htm
http://www.np-historicalshoes.com/home.php?lang=en

But they are expensive and made to order.

Regardless, for wear under a sabaton, you ideally want side-laced shoes so that things like buckles, or top laces don't interfere with a properly close-fitted piece of armor. There's more leeway with maille foot coverings on the ends of chausses though.

[Sir Edward]

I've been happy with my Viking Leathercrafts shoes. For the price, you get a nice period-looking shoe.

Personally, I like them with the lugged soles. It's a modern sole, of course, but since I fight in them, and wear them to renfaires with variable terrain and hills, the traction is a safety feature for me.

[Sir Jason Simonds]

Great info for proper footwear, something for me to look into.

I have decided to start working on patterning out garments to be made for my future kit. So now what i am looking for is references for period correct, or close to, patterns for items like:

Padded arming Caps, Gambesons, Pourpoints, Chauses, and any other garments that i don't have listed.

Thanks again for the help.

[Ian]

Sir Jason, a great book to help you get started on some of the more mundane garments is the Medieval Taylor's Assistant. Check it out on amazon, may be worth your consideration.

[Sir James A]

For patterns, Reconstructing History has a lot of medieval ones: http://store.reconstructinghistory.com/historic-patterns/medieval.html

For shoes, I did what Sir Ian did.. removed the chunky leather ones, and put modern laces. I got longer laces than needed, lace them up all the way, then tie it off at the back of my foot. Keeps the lacing away from the front of the sabatons and doesn't have any "bow bulge".

[Sir James A]

Since mail is mostly off the shelf, have a look at this:

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=165371&sid=c60b7e042ad3c86b08dd613b0f7745eb&p=2535061#p2535061

It's about $300 off the price new - flattened, riveted mail hauberk and coif. He's also got the riveting tool for $20.

[Sir Jason Simonds]

If I had the money right now I would go for it.

[Sir William]

Period correct footwear with a flat sole will not cause problems with a strap.  Most inexpensive reproduction period footwear uses leather on the bottom that is too thick, and that does cause problems.  Real period footwear has a very supple sole and puts no pressure on the arch of the foot, so as long as you don't have flat feet, the strap of a spur should basically occupy the space under the arch of your foot.  It's more like walking barefoot than in a shoe.  Nice soft flexible soles on good reproduction period footwear will help eliminate the problem that Sir James is describing.  We as modern folk are used to a hard sole, so it takes getting used to, but period footwear was designed to be soft so that you could feel and grip the ground with your foot and not slip.  The problem is generally that good period footwear is hard to find or expensive, or both.  Mass produced period footwear is not good period footwear.

I don't mean to derail the thread here, but on this note, how are the shoes from Viking Leathercrafts? I've heard nothing but good things about them and was planning on getting a pair sometime soon.

The boots from Viking Leathercrafts are just the Westland Crafts boots which are mass produced in Pakistan and re-sold by Frank.  He doesn't make them.  Frank's a great guy and business man, but most of the shoes he sells are not just the Westland stuff.   I've used them for years, and they're more than adequate.  I would replace the giant thongs of leather that they ship with for laces, but they're fine.  They are mass produced they and do not really mimic period footwear, but they look the part.

Real medieval footware reproductions can be had from the following:
http://www.plantagenetshoes.co.uk/cat13_14.aspx
http://home.comcast.net/~meisterdru/shoes.htm
http://www.np-historicalshoes.com/home.php?lang=en

But they are expensive and made to order.

Regardless, for wear under a sabaton, you ideally want side-laced shoes so that things like buckles, or top laces don't interfere with a properly close-fitted piece of armor. There's more leeway with maille foot coverings on the ends of chausses though.

That's awesome...I'm going to those sites now.

[Sir Wolf]

watch them. one of them has been known to sell using chrome tanned leather. well they used to. prob dont anymore but its something to watch for

[Sir William]

What's wrong with chrome-tanned leather?  Does it leech out into your clothes or whatever?

[Ian]

What's wrong with chrome-tanned leather?  Does it leech out into your clothes or whatever?

Chrome tanned leather is not historical before the end of the 19th century.

[Sir William]

Can you tell the difference just by looking at them?

[Ian]

Can you tell the difference just by looking at them?

They dye differently, and I believe chrome-tanned is very difficult to remove dye from, the texture can be different.  Even so, if you're building a living history kit, then you care about chrome vs veg tanned leather.

[Sir Douglas]

Can you tell the difference just by looking at them?

Also, if you look at a cross-section, chrome-tanned leather usually has a grey or whitish center. Like Little Debbie snack cakes....

[Sir Wolf]

damnit man, now i'm hungry! lol ya they have a white center. lol i remember i giged the famous mac about using chrome on a friend tassets lol eheh he smirked at me and used a sharpie to color the edges lol