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19TH CENTURY BUCKSKIN TROUSERS – GREAT
FRONTIER APPEARANCE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION: The
kind of special items that are only found in very old
collections, these three pairs of 19th Century Buckskin
Trousers were acquired long ago and have been salted
away in the same collection for decades.
The private or commercial manufacture of buckskin
clothing such as coats, vests, and trousers dates back
to the early years of our nation’s history, and although
surprising to most collectors, the use of sewing
machines to produce this clothing began commensurate
with the introduction of those early time saving
machines. In addition to the clothing made by family
members for their personal use, and the clothing
produced in small shops throughout the frontier, there
were large firms in the eastern cities which were
dedicated to meeting the large demand for buckskin
clothing. Sales were brisk to frontiersmen, the
immigrant trains headed west, and soldiers and officers
alike in the army, for all of these consumers recognized
the comfortable, durable and protective qualities of
buckskin clothing.
Dated 1876, this period photograph (above) captured
Capt. Julius Wilmot Mason (right), Co. K, 5TH
US Cavalry Regiment and a companion officer on campaign
in the field. The 5TH Cavalry was posted on
the northern plains in 1876 and they spent much of that
summer and fall in the field chasing the hostiles who
had defeated the 7TH Cavalry at the Little
Big Horn. Both of these officers are dressed in the
manner of seasoned campaigners, and of special interest,
the unidentified officer on the left is wearing a pair
of buckskin trousers which are fringed down the outside
of each leg – photographic evidence that these buckskin
trousers were worn by army personnel on the frontier.
Fashioned from buckskin, the pairs of trousers listed
below were
made in the style consistent with buckskin clothing worn
across the American West during the 19th Century, and
were assembled with machine sewing, using cotton
thread. All three pairs show evidence of having been
worn outdoors in the elements, and the light soiling and
aging they display is commensurate with other buckskin
clothing from the mid to late 19th Century. They were
not worn to destruction, they have not been abused or
stored improperly, and they present in remarkably very
good condition.
In spite of this offering of three pairs at one time,
these trousers are quite scarce. This type of frontier
clothing was worn in extreme conditions, was often used
to complete destruction, survived in very low numbers,
and seldom does it appear on the collector’s market.
These 19TH Century Buckskin Trousers evoke
any number of colorful images associated with the
American West and they would be appropriate to display
with a wide scope of Western collections including
frontier soldier, scout, gunfighter, gambler, buffalo
hunter and the like. A pair of these trousers would
make a particularly dramatic display when paired with
any of the dark blue uniform shirts or coats such as the
Pattern 1883 Field Shirt or any of the standard blouses,
representative of the combinations of uniform items and
personal purchase clothing known to have been worn in
the field by the frontier soldiers.
I have the pairs of trousers listed below, each
individually described with accompanying photographs.
NOTE: To say that photographing
material of any kind - wool or leather - is a challenge is an understatement.
Normal lighting is seldom sufficient and none of the
finer features or condition details can be seen clearly. In
order to highlight the features and provide you with an
accurate view of the item, I have to lighten the
contrast of the photograph which in turn causes the even
color of the buckskin to appear discolored or blotchy when such is not the case. The
color of these trousers is even and consistent except
where naturally stained or discolored through period
use. Trust that you
will not be disappointed in these trousers.
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NO. 1 19TH
CENTURY BUCKSKIN TROUSERS: This pair is quite
unique in that it has been colored a brick-red with a
powdered earth pigment, just as the Native Americans
colored their buckskin shirts, leggings and other
garments. The color was well applied, giving the
trousers an even color overall, and the color remains
vivid in spite of the passage of time.
The trousers are
trimmed with fringe down each side from just below the
waist down to the cuff. The fringe is overall soft and
pliable, and the vast majority of the strands are
present and full length – both unusual qualities in
leather clothing of this vintage.
Measuring 26 ˝”along the inseam and with a
(approximately) 28” waist, these trousers present in
very good condition. There are two pockets, one on each
side of the front. These are the typical 19TH
Century slash pockets with the openings roughly parallel
to the waist band. The fly is secured with 19TH
Century metal buttons at the waist and down the length
of the fly, with the lowest button missing. The same
buttons are set around the waist band for attaching
suspenders and there is an adjustment belt at the center
rear of the waist. The waist band and the pockets are
lined with a light cotton patterned material. The
cotton is somewhat faded and shows a little wear, but it
is overall intact. The bottoms of the legs are edged
with separate pieces of leather which form cuffs. The
outside upper edge of these cuffs is decorated with a
saw tooth pattern.
The leather is generally soft and pliable in the context
of its age, with only a couple of small areas down low
on the legs which have hardened due to repeated wettings
when exposed to the elements. There is a small (1/2”)
hole at the crotch, a wear spot with two small holes
over the right buttock, and several small repairs here
and there that were necessary during the period of use.
Overall, this is a very nice pair of 19TH
Century Frontier Buckskin Trousers in very respectable
condition. (0509)
$900
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NO.
2
19TH
CENTURY BUCKSKIN TROUSERS: Manufactured of well
tanned buckskin, this pair features a very soft texture,
almost like a thick, substantial flannel, and a pleasant
aged color. The trousers have been worn out in the
elements and have various stains and discolorations one
would associate with that sort of life.
Unique to this pair of trousers is a treatment on both
of the lower legs. On the back of each leg, beginning
from below the knee down to the cuff, there is a series
of pairs of holes, each pair with a leather thong
knotted through them.
I believe these were used
to reduce the diameter of the trouser legs so that they
would fit more easily down into the man’s boot tops. By
tightening the thongs, the trouser leg material was
gathered up more tightly against the leg, making it
easier to push the foot and leg down into the boot.
Interestingly, there is an identical set of holes which
were on the front of the leg as well, but at some point
in time, these sets were sewed close, the owner of the
trousers having changed his mind as to how he would use
this arrangement.
Measuring 30”along the inseam and with a (approximately)
30” waist, these trousers present in very good
condition.
There are two pockets on the
front, one on each side of the front. These are a
variation of the typical 19TH Century slash
pockets, in that while the openings are roughly parallel
to the waist band, they also have a triangular flap that
buttons up at the waist band to secure the contents.
There is a third pocket on the back of the trousers,
just over the right buttock.
The fly is secured with 19TH
century metal buttons at the waist and down the length
of the fly. The same metal buttons are set around the
waist band for attaching suspenders. There is an
adjustable gusset in the center back of the waist band.
The waist band is lined, and the pocket interiors are
fashioned from, the same light weight dark brown cotton
canvas. This material is almost identical to the
material used to manufacture the canvas overcoats and
winter hoods issued to the army during the late Indian
Wars. The cotton is in remarkably excellent condition
and the pockets are full form.
The leather is very soft and pliable in the context of
its age. There is a 1” hole in the front of the left
leg, approximately 10” up from the cuff, but no other
significant damage or holes.
Overall, this is a very nice pair of 19TH
Century Frontier Buckskin Trousers in very respectable
condition.
SOLD
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NO.
3
19TH
CENTURY BUCKSKIN TROUSERS: Manufactured of what
appears to be Native Tanned buckskin, this pair features
a very soft texture, almost like a thick, substantial
flannel, and a pleasant natural light color. The
trousers have been worn out in the elements and the
front and lower legs have various stains and
discolorations one would associate with that sort of
life.
The trousers are trimmed with fringe down each side from
just below the waist down to just above the cuff. The
fringe is overall soft and pliable, and the vast
majority of the strands are present and full length –
both unusual qualities in leather clothing of this
vintage.
Measuring 29 ˝”along the inseam and with a
(approximately) 30” waist, these trousers present in
very good condition. There are two pockets, one on each
side of the front. These are the typical 19TH
Century slash pockets with the openings roughly parallel
to the waist band. There is a third pocket just to the
right of the fly, quite small and set right at the waist
band, probably for carrying a watch. The fly is secured
with 19TH century metal buttons at the waist
and down the length of the fly, with the lowest button
being made of bone. The same metal buttons are set
around the waist band for attaching suspenders and there
are the stubs remaining where an adjustment belt was
attached at the center rear of the waist. The pocket
interiors are fashioned from light weight cotton canvas,
much like the material used to make the condiment bags
used by the army for salt, etc. The cotton is in
remarkably good condition and the pockets are full
form.
The leather is very soft and pliable in the context of
its age. There are several small repairs here and there
that were necessary during the period of use, but no
significant damage or holes.
Overall, this is a very nice pair of 19TH
Century Frontier Buckskin Trousers in very respectable
condition.
SOLD
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