we are looking at going to old bedford village.. missed the reenactment there in june, but we wont again!!

my husbands brogans came with heel plates already on them. they are in the sole.

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chatrbug wrote : we are looking at going to old bedford village.. missed the reenactment there in june, but we wont again!! my husbands brogans came with heel plates already on them. they are in the sole.

As in recessed? The reason I ask is that I only know of one vendor who recesses them and if they are from him they are excellent shoes.

yep they are recessed.

I presume they are from Missouri Boot and Shoe made by Bob Serio then. If that is the case and they were bought new (i.e. made for his feet) I doubt he will ever find a pair more comfortable. He may not think so unless he ever wears a pair from another vendor. Bob's need almost no breaak in time or time to "mold" themselves t his feet. They wil become less slippery with wear, but unless you put thehobnails or rubber on them they will always be a little slippery, it's the nature of the beast since both the sole and heel are leather. Today's leather soled dress shoes usually have rubber heels which makes them less slippery. You are spoiling him Dulcie

Actually The heel plates on my Brogans came like that also.  I got mine from Blocake Runner.  Though not on the same level as Missouri Boot and Shoe, they are very comfotable, when worn with two pairs of socks.  

--Last edited by TheBaldYankee on 2007-07-22 03:10:17 --

no im afraid i dont spoil him that much his are from blockade runner.  he actually finds them very comfortable, except for the slipping. he only wears one pair..but he does have to have his wool socks on, he doesnt want any thinner (though that may be because i have really been beating into him being authentic!).

I didn't realize BR had recessed heel plates, I thought Bob was the only one who went to those lengths. Any idea who makes BR's shoes?

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Bill wrote : I've found that as I've gotten older, I'm much less sure of my footing. A couple of years ago, I slipped on the stairs in the tavern at "Old Bedford Village". I was sore for a month and my chiropractor and I got to be great friends. I have considered putting rubber half soles and heels a pair of brogans for use at only the events where they would be accepted.

You aren't the only one to have fallen down those stairs.  There was someone at the officers school back in March that fell.  I think of the Federal Artillery guys slipped just near the landing..

I have two good pair of brogans from Blockade Runner. Both were ordered with the heel plates attached and the plates are recessed. I have no idea who made them, but imho, they did a fine job. They fit well and I have no problems with them (1 pair has 3 seasons experience). I've had the rubber half soles done on both of them and it looks like I'm set for shoes for a long time. This is not meant to be an advertisement for BR, just my personal experience. Regardless of who made the brogans or how much they cost, the bottom line is if your feet are happy after an event

Sgt. Gregg Hensley
22nd NC, Co. K
The McDowell Boys  

--Last edited by Gregg Hensley on 2007-07-22 19:31:09 --

both of our boots are from BR... hubby says his are comfortable and hasnt had to break them in, just slippery. my boots are really comfortable too...just heavier than what im used to wearing, but now i can wear them all the time with no problem.

BR also has a one yr warranty on all their shoes... if something happens you tell them, unless its abuse or fire then they will replace them.

I recently bought a pair of Blockade Runner brogans and the heel plates were recessed.

Bill,

I just read your last post on this thread.  You kill me sometimes, you know it?

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Ken Cornett wrote : Bill, I just read your last post on this thread.  You kill me sometimes, you know it?

Ken,

Always glad to bring some joy into your life!  

BTW, I was stone sober when I took that tumble down the stairs. Funny, my chiropractor has started asking me about my event schedule. I think she's planning to buy a new car.  

My heel plates manage in all types of terrain without hobnails.

The secret is to remember that you have to walk on your heels going up a slick slope not your soles.

The reason why I only use heel plates is because occassionally we are on some slippery hard surfaces (like polished granite or marble) and then the heel plates (if I walk on them) turn into ice skates.  If I had hobnails too then the whole brogan would be slippery on hard surfaces.

Robert Land used to inset his heel plates, too. In recent years (post-1998) he has had to go to a different style heel plate, since his German supplier no longer makes the type he used for many years.

Sure wish someone would repop the heel plates in the White Oak Museum collection....

I attended a living history at the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg this weekend. They have solved the slippery brogan problem. They just wrap your shoes with duct tape. I'm just not sure that silver is the correct color for our period.    

[cit]Gregg Hensley wrote : Although it may be farby (no more so than duct tape), here's an excellent solution from a former figure skater in the ranks. Have a cobbler place rubber half soles on the front of the soles of the brogans.


You beat me to it!, the first pair of boots I got were second hand from a pard who did that very thing after he fell and broke his knee cap! They are VERY un noticable from the side and practically so viewed from underneath, looking like a darker half re-sole job, Im considering that fix for my present boots and if one is going to 'cheat' heres a real good area to do it...beats a broken knee!..please no surmons about 'authenic falls and broken knees" If ya cant walk..ya cant fight!

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Gregg Hensley wrote : I have two good pair of brogans from Blockade Runner. Both were ordered with the heel plates attached and the plates are recessed. I have no idea who made them, but imho, they did a fine job. They fit well and I have no problems with them (1 pair has 3 seasons experience). I've had the rubber half soles done on both of them and it looks like I'm set for shoes for a long time. This is not meant to be an advertisement for BR, just my personal experience. Regardless of who made the brogans or how much they cost, the bottom line is if your feet are happy after an event I got my first pair of Brogans frpm BR and Ive gotta agree, the fit and finish are great. They feature pegged soles and recessed heel plates and are just now nearing getting 'broke in' they look great and wear with narry a blister Sgt. Gregg Hensley 22nd NC, Co. K The McDowell Boys

we ended up putting some of those no slip things on... they fell off within an hr of wearing his brogans. so he got tired of slipping again so he (and your going to cringe!) took his knife to the bottom of his brogans and he started cutting out part of them, just enough to give them a groove. add that with him wearing them more he isnt slipping now.  hes talking about taking the dremel to the bottom of them this winter to get a few more good groves into them.

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GrumpyDave wrote : Concentrate when you walk. Make sure you put your heel down first, all the time, every time. You'll be surprised. We're used to walking in tennis shoes...

Are you saying that tennis shoes make one walk on their toes (or more accurately the balls of their feet)? After I read your post I did a little walking around (in my tennis shoes) and found that I step on my heels every time.

Our Native American brothers used to walk on the ball of their feet - that's one of the ways they developed to approach game (and enemies) quietly (it's easier to control the weight you put down, where you put down your foot, etc.)

It's also a lot easier walking up hill on the balls of your feet, as well as running.

As for the original topic, I've found that falling down at various times while wearing Jefferson Bootees is part and parcel of the deal...