eric
Button Buck
Posts: 43
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 6:54:48 GMT -5
Post by eric on Mar 11, 2009 6:54:48 GMT -5
Just finished these Roman sandals (Caligae) for a couple of members of Roma Antiqua. The customers will be fitting their own hobnails. The soles are four layers thick. Lovely comfortable shoes they are. Eric
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 8:17:29 GMT -5
Post by paskinner on Mar 11, 2009 8:17:29 GMT -5
WOW!!
Those are really nice.
weaverpa
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eric
Button Buck
Posts: 43
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 8:56:34 GMT -5
Post by eric on Mar 11, 2009 8:56:34 GMT -5
Thanks. I do a similar construction in a modern sandal (like Jesus sandals) that sell well too.
These are also good for hunting and stalking. No hob nails and just a double thick sole though. You can feel the ground beneath your feet, and although your feet get wet, the water drains right out and they dry quickly. Especially if you oil the leather beforehand.
Eric
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 10:03:05 GMT -5
Post by paskinner on Mar 11, 2009 10:03:05 GMT -5
Eric,
I have a fascination for woven footwear. I have several books with pics of hundreds of pieces of old woven footwear. But I have based my searches on woven footwear in America. Are there any records of woven footwear in Europe?
pa weaver
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eric
Button Buck
Posts: 43
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 10:42:57 GMT -5
Post by eric on Mar 11, 2009 10:42:57 GMT -5
Yes, shoes made from woven strips of birch bark were common in many parts of eastern Europe during and after WW2, but they go way back before then. They would be stuffed with straw or dry grass for insulation. Eric
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 18:34:42 GMT -5
Post by Buckskin Billy on Mar 11, 2009 18:34:42 GMT -5
wow good work as well
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Caligae
Mar 11, 2009 20:48:18 GMT -5
Post by hannes on Mar 11, 2009 20:48:18 GMT -5
eric, asimple question. what are hobnails?those shoes look finished and beutifull. can anything be added to such good work? do not tell us you make that good leather as well?
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eric
Button Buck
Posts: 43
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Caligae
Mar 12, 2009 5:04:53 GMT -5
Post by eric on Mar 12, 2009 5:04:53 GMT -5
Hobnails are the metal studs that Roman soldiers hammered into the soles of their shoes. They serve two purposes. One, to make the shoes last longer on long marches. when the hobnails wear down, you just pull them out and hammer new ones in. The leather does not wear down. Two, when in battle, the hobnails give you an extra weapon. Roman soldiers advancing in column would beat down their enemy. Once the enemy soldier was on the ground, the Roman soldier would step over him as they advanced. They would stamp on their enemy's head as they went. The hobnails made sure he didn't get up again. Each soldier would use his own pattern for the hobnails. This helped identify an individual's shoes, which is one reason why I make the shoes without the nails. They like to do their own, to their own pattern. Some make circles, some go in straight lines, some hammer them in to look like the figure of a saxon or celt - so that they are always treading their enemy underfoot symbolically. An no, I don't make my own leather. Too smelly, too messy and takes too long (although I do know how to).
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