Late 15th/ Early 16th Cent Thigh High Boot Help

[Vermillion]

I was wondering if you guys could help me out with selecting a pair of thigh high leather boots.

My persona is late 15th or early 16th century Prussian man at arms. I'm trying to be as historic as possible, but within some pretty familiar constraints.

1.) Budget, cheaper is better, but an absolute upper limit in the $300 range. I just don't have the money for some of the very high priced upper end hand made sets.
2.) Use. These will be used for all purposes from fighting to general garb use, both indoor and outdoor. ie they have to be practical.
3.) Medical. I am a diabetic with wide and flat feet. So they have to fit and be comfortable in all cases. And probably take a set of arch inserts. Us diabetics have to protect their feet and I'm getting fat and old.

There are two options I've looked at so far.

I. The first is the boots from Darmour on the board here. Concerns here are fit, durability, and the soles. Here is one of his auctions. http://www.medievalventures.com/index.p ... 1103430031

II. The second is one of the selections from Ren Boots. Either the "Porthos" with vibram soles. Or the "Arthur".

http://www.renboots.com/Porthos.html

Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks !

[Tom B.]

I would go with the Historic Enterprises made to order boots myself.
They are much nicer looking, made to fit you and are cheaper than the ones in your second link.
The down side is the 12 to 16 week lead time.

http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=227&c=114


Thanks,
Tom

[James B.]

Vermillion

What kind of boots do the Prussian's use at the time? Do they have round or pointed toes; the turn of the century brings the change from pointy to round and square toed shoes for most of Europe.

[Vermillion]

Prussians were mostly straight German styles thru much of that time period, but there were bits and pieces picked up from Polish, Russian, and Eastern influences.

I'll have too see what more I find. To find much on Prussian of that era (even though it was culturally German, peopled by Germanic lineage, and was part of Germany, even up through WWII when it was "returned too" Polish control) you have to go to modern Polish sources.

I do have the two Osprey books on the Tuetonic Knights book and the Polish Knights book, that both cover that time and space.

One Polish gentleman recommend a very good book about this subjet, but it was translated to English in only one limited printing back in the 80's, is out of print, and I"ve never found a copy of it for sale. And even then Amazon lists it in the $400 range.

Enrico, those are nice boots. The exact same style as Darmour's boots. But the 12 to 16 week lead time is rough, and if you add the buckles (+$50) to the boots they are the same price as the Renboots ($300 buck range). Nice boots though, something to consider. Thanks !

[Jeffrey Hedgecock]

Enrico, those are nice boots. The exact same style as Darmour's boots. But the 12 to 16 week lead time is rough, and if you add the buckles (+$50) to the boots they are the same price as the Renboots ($300 buck range). Nice boots though, something to consider. Thanks !

Enrico, I appreciate the mention. For others' sake I'd like to be very clear about what should be expected from my boots.

Please take this in the spirit in which it is intended-- one where it is my utmost concern that the customer is satisfied with the product, AND receives what they expect, hopefully an item which will suit their intended purpose. The fact is that thigh high boots are RIDING BOOTS, not walking boots. While one can walk in them, they don't work well for that, and in my opinion shouldn't be used for that.

Overall, I make these boots as close to what I think late 15th century thigh high riding boots should look like and how they should be constructed. I've done tons of research and experimentation on these and use my pair regularly when I ride doing skill at arms and medieval riding displays. They work a treat and I wouldn't wear anything else. I have other shoes and ankle boots when I expect to walk a lot. I rarely wear riding boots on foot and when I do I don't walk any significant distance. Mine have lasted 14 years so far and are still going strong. Mine are also made of deer hide, which is thinner than the elk hide I now use for my production boots.

The thigh highs I make are for RIDING ONLY, and they work excellently for that. I've made dozens of pairs for equestrian clients worldwide and all report finding them fantastic for what they were intended for. They're not suitable, nor were they historically intended for walking, except going the short distance from your tent or house to your horse. They work very poorly for walking because the soles and overall design were never intended for that. If worn for extended walking, they will wear out very quickly.

Vermillion please look a little closer at my product. I don't think they will suit your purpose.

I also think if you look more closely, you'll find my riding boots quite different from anything anyone else out there is making currently, and as far as I know I'm the only one making these boots in this particular way.

My boots are quite unlike the Pakistani boots from Darmour. First of all, mine are made of a single piece of elkskin, NOT cow hide. They're patterned based on each specific client's individual measurements, and the soles are handstitched with historically correct turned construction using the edge-grain seam described in the MoL's Shoes and Pattens book.

Also, I make them myself, by hand, one pair at a time. That's why I need the 12-16 week turnaround-- you're getting US made CUSTOM boots.

[Vermillion]

Jeffrey,

Thank you for the information. I appreciate it.

I should clarify that I thought they were similar in general style. Not necessarily similar in construction techniques, materials, or general workmanship.

I've never seen any of these boots in person, so I can hardly judge those things. I've only seen pictures.

That is exactly why I posted here !