Moccasin Time

[Old Solitair]

The process of shoe-making with him is reduced to its most simple form. He merely takes two pieces of buffalo (or any other suitable) skin ... these he folds ... to render them foot-shaped, with an awl and the sinew of buffalo or other animal, or small strips of thin deer-skin, ("whang,") he sews the vamps from end to end
RUFUS SAGERocky Mountain Life, p.155

Well its moccasin time for me again. I was down to my last pair, even blown out my winter pair. I go through about four pair a year. I make side seam and pucker toe types. Both are correct for here in the west and are easy to make in the field. I add an inside extra sole to get a little more mileage. For long hikes in the hard country trails (rocks & cactus) I add a thick outside sole too. I always have spare pieces of hides in my pack for repairs
I think by all the mentioning in their journals, that moc making was the one sewing skill that they all learned to have. What types of moc’s do you all wear, do you make your own? Do you practice the art in camp?
Your Obt. Sevt.
Bill

Winter blow out on the trail, note wool foot wraps.

A slightly used pair

A new pair ready to go

[Rod]

I wear Northern Plains side-seams. I usually make them from brain-tanned mule deer, that I've tanned myself. I like to use the hide from an older buck, and when tanning for moccs, I leave it a little thick (I dry scrape) so the hide has some "body" to it. I don't go for the flannel soft garment weight leather, I've found a little stiffer and thicker is better for moccs, they last longer. Last winter I bought a braintanned moose hide, that I've made my winter moccs out of. I also braintanned a 1/2 of a moose last summer, that'll be mocc material, too. I should be set up for mocc leather for awhile, anyway.

Rod

[Mark]

Generally side seam. I have tried the pucker toe using R.A. Norman's article in Muzzleloadermagazine but not satisfied with the result. I do put a leather insert for rocky ground. So far I use commercial tanned elk hide.

Mark

[Leifer]

I make ones similar to Rod. The mule deer I currently have in the stretcher (dry scrape as well) will primarily be used for mocs. I'll be brain tanning the hide during the Fort Union Rendezvous.

Leifer

[flattail]

Bill,
I've found I like a side seam moccasin. Had a similar problem this January, up in Riverton, while out with the AMM brothers. Blew out my buffalo hide winter mocs. Took me a while to figure out why my toes were cold! (not saying I'm a real smart man) As usual, I had two other pairs of mocs (well greased) so I changed socks and mocs and made out ok.
I haven't tried to make mocs on the trail, haven't NEEDED to yet. I have been using commercial tan buffalo and elk with good success.
YMHOS,
Ed

[dell]

Hey guys, I just finished my first pair of pucker vamps using the Mountain Man Sketch Book Vol. 1. Also made a mini pair for my little dude. I can't figure out how to best finish the toe, so I just stitched across the toe a couple inches to try to make them not so pointy. I coudn't quite figure out the notch cut in the toe which is pictured in the book. Any thoughts on this are appreciated. Bill, you mentioned putting a buckskin insert inside to reinforce. Do you sew it in or does it just float there? Also, do you guys use a straight stitch or a whip stitch to sew up your mocs?
Thanks




_

[flattail]

Dell,
I can't give you any advice on the pucker vamp mocs, except this....When your son grows out of those mocs (two weeks or so)
hang on to them!!! Those are the cutest/coolest thing I've seen in a while. When he's older, a picture of the two of you in your mocs along with the original ones will be an amazing thing to have.
My sons would grow out of mocs I made for them, sometimes before we could make it to more than one rondy.

Keep your eyes on the ridge line.
Ed

[dell]

Thanks Ed, Yeah I will hang on to these. I usually would' t cut up buckskin to make little moccasins that will be grown out of so quickly, but I have a ton of little scrap bits that are the perfect size for making little mocs. 

[Old Solitair]

Hey Dell, they look pretty good for your first attempt at them. Once you make a few pairs it comes easy and you learn to make some modification to fit your foot. The toe looks good. I had made them like that before, just make that front cut curved. I just don't do that toe stich any more. Just sew right up the center from toe to vamp. It comes out looking like a hood for your foot. I whip stich and use a welt, it holds up much better. Sinew, linen or silk thread bees waxed. The inside sole is just tack stitched in place, around the toes, heel and across the center. I don't stitch through the hide, like a bead stitch. If you don't that sole ends up in a bunch in front or heel area, uncomfortable as heck. Here is a tip, always make your moc's snug, tight, hard to put on. They should fight like a sock. Almost feels like you have nothing on your feet.They will form to your foot so well and will not slip and twist. They will loosen up some as you go, but shouldn't get too loose. A loose moc' will wear out faster and hurt your feet. If they do cut out the heel stitch and tighten them up. Done this a few times on the trail. When fully wet from being in creeks I wear them dry, they will work out soft and fit back up to your foot. Winter, I wring them out warm dry them by the fire and put then them back on to  work them soft again. Always put that dry pair on to sleep in. Only in cold winter months I use socks or wool foot wraps.

This last pair was made from bits of elk I could come up with to make a pair. I have a very well smoked deer hide ready for when I get home, its almost black. Heavy smoked hides seem to prove better for moc's. I think deer works better then elk, just me. Buffalo is tough but grainy and compacts down very thin. Moose is very good, but historically not well documented in the central Rockies during this time period. I don't grease them any more, it doesn't seem to gain you much in the effort. Feels colder. No matter what you do to moc's, if you wear them and use them, they wear out and or rot apart.

  

[dell]

Hey Old Solitair, Thanks for the tips. I think I might have made this first pair a little large in the toe. Perhaps they will fit pretty snug when I put a buckskin sole inside and wear them with my blanket wraps. I'll have to try not greasing my moccasins too. All my previous ones I greased up. I live in Western Oregon where things are wet, wet, wet. No amount of tallow and beeswax really keeps out the water for long, especially when wading in the creeks and rivers!

[dell]

Wanted to mention another thought I've been pondering in regard to wearing moccasins in Western Oregon, where I live and trap. It was often noted that Native tribes in this region went barefoot most (if not all) of the year. Modern folk marvel at this idea and I have tried going barefoot or in moccasins during all times of year to see what it was like. My conclusion is that I can see how it was possible as over time my feet adapted to the cold and wet to some extent. However, the big difference today is that this landscape is so very different than it would have been prior to the 20th century. Walking through an old growth forest or mature cottonwood stand on the soft duff is a pleasant experience, while trying to go any distance in a recently clear cut, immature forest can be downright dangerous, even in moccasins, considering the sharp slash piles of debris wood, impenetrable tangles of Himalayan blackberry, hawthorne, thistle, nettle and gorse. There were some pokey plants here prior to european settlement, but the landscape changed a lot and many new spiny plants were introduced that will put the toughest moccasins to the test, especially when they are soppin' wet! I'm curious how much the landscape has changed across this country in the stomping grounds of other modern day mountaineers out there, making it more or less conducive to moccasin wearin'.

[isaac]

Mocs... Ahh... I love them and I hate them. I go barefoot as often as possible (modern and historic... I even run distance barefoot). If I am around camp or somewhere easy going... barefoot. This allows me to save on mocs and I just prefer it. When I wear mocs, i wear a variety of styles depending on what I am doing. I love moose but thick deer is good. I agree with Bill that elk is inferior. As for greasing... I do not do it. I find my moccasins do not stay dry when it is wet and grease is just postponing the inevitable. Grease also seems to make them wear out quicker. I also have not seen references to it to make me think it is common. Ultimately moccasins are temporary goods that wear quickly. I have blown through a pair of moosehide mocs (fist size holes in soles) in a day, running/working with sled dogs in slushy wet, late winter weather in Northern MN.

For fun, here is my family on Rock your Mocs day, here at work...

l]

[Old Solitair]

Isaac, that's cool, just when is rock yer moc's day? I'll have to mark it on the calendar. Nice work. It is amazing how some just don't last very long. I just enjoy the feeling of a good fitting pair of moc's. They are so quite too.


Making moc's in the field, just adds to getting close to the experience of the everyday tasks they were having to do. Its different than sitting in front of the TV or at a bench. I also try to figure out the how too's without paper patterns. How would they done it. Side seams are very simple. My puckers are too, I use my old ones as a basic pattern as a starting point.

This is the pattern that Brad in our party makes, I think this is what you were making Dell?
Bill

[isaac]

May 6, 2014 23:07:43 GMT -7 Old Solitair said:

Isaac, that's cool, just when is rock yer moc's day? I'll have to mark it on the calendar. Nice work. It is amazing how some just don't last very long. I just enjoy the feeling of a good fitting pair of moc's. They are so quite too.

Last year it was Nov. 15th. I am not sure what it will be this year. It is done with American Indian Heritage Month (Nov.). I had a lot of kids at the school here wearing mocs. We also did a number of activities throughout the week and a fun "Rock your Mocs" quiz.

IW

[dell]

Isaac, I like the family mocs on Rock your Mocs day. That's a good tradition. Bill, thanks for sharing that photo of the pucker vamps in progress. This helps explain how to make the toe a little less pointed.