Longhunter clothing ?????

[melsdad]

O.K., so let me narrow this down a bit. Say I am a longhunter in the time period of 1750-1760. I am wearing a wide brimmed hat, and a linen checked pattern hunting shirt that hangs past my thighs, a 2" wide leather belt with a round brass buckle that is holding my hawk and a knife. I am wearing drop front knee breeches with wool leggings. And for the time being I will be wearing my carhart wellingtons as my footwear.

Aside from my boots, go ahead and pick away at what I have in mind....opinions please :?

[Hota]

Sounds good. I am not a judge though. Good to use the leggins to cover up the wellingtons. Have fun and perfect your persona as time goes on. What you've laid out should cost much.

When are you going to FT. Frederick? I'll be there on Friday from about 1130am - 5pm.

[melsdad]

What you've laid out should cost much.

Not trying to razz ya one bit, but did you mean "shouldn't cost much" or am I looking at a small fortune?

When are you going to FT. Frederick? I'll be there on Friday from about 1130am - 5pm.

I am heading down Saturday morning.

[Minnesota Mike]

Depending on what kind of deals you can get - guestimate you're looking at around $200.

Noticed that you missed garters or gaiters to keep the leggings held up. (although the strips of wool Rich suggested work just fine)

Also - you want to pick up some sort of belt pouch since the breeches do not have pockets.

Good luck and let us know how you fared at the faire . . .

r/
MM

[Mitch]

breeches can and do have pockets....and buckle shoes are as common as moccasins(if not more so)..boots I doubt were common...

[Steve S]

O.K., so let me narrow this down a bit. Say I am a longhunter in the time period of 1750-1760. I am wearing a wide brimmed hat, and a linen checked pattern hunting shirt that hangs past my thighs, a 2" wide leather belt with a round brass buckle that is holding my hawk and a knife. I am wearing drop front knee breeches with wool leggings. And for the time being I will be wearing my carhart wellingtons as my footwear.

Aside from my boots, go ahead and pick away at what I have in mind....opinions please :?

I'd guess french-fly breeches would be more common before about 1765.....but,technically,I wouldn't class people as longhunters much before that date
Steve

[Two Steps]

melsdad...as was noted above, Bell & Company has some good deals.  Half Dan (who owns the joint    )  has, I think, three "starter outfits" that run from $99.00 to $168.00.
You might PM Half Dan and ask him about what you need.  
Al

[melsdad]

melsdad...as was noted above, Bell & Company has some good deals.  Half Dan (who owns the joint    )  has, I think, three "starter outfits" that run from $99.00 to $168.00.
You might PM Half Dan and ask him about what you need.  
Al

I just may do that. When I am at Fort Fredrick, I may just look around and see what is available, and learn from what I see. Then I can place an order at Bell Co. I have read many great reviews on his clothing.

[the Black Spot]

i like the "mark baker wannabe" comment, that was good!
i have always wondered why no-one in that time period dyed there "new" off white shirts in blueberries, mulberries, or blackberries. the juice from these sure stain pretty well. did they not have any of these items back in the late 1700's?

[Lady of the Woods]

good question  Black Spot - I've wondered about pokeberries ... anyone have thoughts on that?

I beg to differ slightly with what Eric said about leather leggins, my braintan leggins are certainly not slimey. Though as he said, they are expensive (in time and talent or moola).
Zan

[mike rumping]

Frontier folks used anything they wanted to achieve colors out of the ordinary oatmeal, browns, blacks etc.  these folks had more ingenuity than most today.  As far as leggins, you're right Suzanne, the deer n elk skin leggins were used more than most things due to the fact that it helped in protecting the legs from the briars n thorns, and then wool used more in winter, however there are many documents out there that say some used wool as they felt it would stop the fangs of a rattler?    I've yet to see any of today's wool that would handle that task, unless it was a baby rattler.  I've been in snow, rain, sleet, and deep streams and creeks with my deerskin leggins, and they will dry somewhat by a night fire, but just make sure ya don't cook 'em like a friend of mine did.  LOL  Oh and ya kin eat poke leaves if ya get em in spring, mom used to make poke greens n bear meat that would just melt in your mouth.  Sumac gives a nice confederate gray color, but not the poison sumac!!!
Mike

[Carolina Joe]

Can you post a picture of you in your clothes as an example?

In simplest terms, Longhunter would probably be:

- Moccasins (shifted from boots once he got to the woods)
- Dropfront trousers
- Leggings (leather or wool)
- Garters (to keep up the leggings - leather or braided sash)
- Suspender to keep trousers up
- Drop shoulder shirt (can wear hanging out or tucked in)
- Leather belt (for knife and hawk and belt pouch - since no pockets in pants)
- Hunting Frock (may want another belt or sash that keeps frock closed since frocks have no buttons, or can use same leather belt. I prefer seperate. My everyday belt with knife and pouch, and then outer garmet belt with hawk, maybe another knife, and if needed another belt pouch)
- Neckerchief (good size, not the common bandana - really helps keep wind off neck)
- Hat (all manner of styles and shapes - usually have something with a brim to keep rain out of your eyes)

I'd check out online sellers like Jas Townsend, Panther Primitive, Log Cabin Shop to get an idea of how sizes run, materials that are used and prices that they charge. That way you can go to Fort Fred better informed and prepared for what the vendors there want to charge you.

I'd also be open and honest with the different vendors - tell them what you're trying to do and sort of outfit you want to put together. Most of the ones I've dealt with have been up front with what they have or don't - and if they don't have what I needed, they pointed out which other vendor might.

-----------------------------------
For some ideas i'd get one of these two:

Longhunter Sketchbook
Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. -   Ideas and patterns for clothing and gear of the men who explored and tamed the wilderness. 1750-1820, mostly eastern U.S.
BK-433.....$6.00

Recreating the American Longhunter: 1740-1790
Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. -    Describes how and where the American longhunter lived. Discusses the clothing, weapons, and equipment used in the everyday life of a longhunter. 65 pages. Paperback.
Recreating the American Longhunter: 1740-1790.....$10.00

Jas. Townsend & Son seems to have best price for them for now.
-------------------

That should get you your basic persona outfit - if you're interested in the rest of a Longhunter's gear and equipment, let me know.

r/
MM

[Riley/MN]

Hey Joe,

Good to see you diggin through the old posts, but we haven't seen Minnesota Mike around here in coon's age - It's been over three years since he has even logged on.... Just lettin you know.

[Uncle Russ]

Hey Joe,

Good to see you diggin through the old posts, but we haven't seen Minnesota Mike around here in coon's age - It's been over three years since he has even logged on.... Just lettin you know.

Yep, Joe, like Riley said, it's good to see someone with the interest digging through the old posts.
There's tons of information here on this forum, for just about any era of  Traditional Muzzleloading anyone might want to pursue.

It is not unusual for many of the old timers, myself include, to see that a lot of the questions, both asked and answered, keep appearing from time to time.
One aspect of an old "beat to death" subject may catch someone's eye and it will be brought up again, but this time with new research, new learning, and new insight, a better answer, better than ever before, may be given.

And that is exactly as it should be!

You keep reading, and keep asking your questions, because the TMA is your Traditional Muzzleloading answer place!

 

Uncle Russ...

[Riley/MN]

You keep reading, and keep asking your questions, because the TMA is your Traditional Muzzleloading answer place!