It Snowed!…18th and 19th Century Snowshoes

It snowed last night!  A lot!  That makes me think of snowshoes

So today, we are going to talk about snowshoe bindings.

These are an older pair of snowshoes that I bought at an estate sale.  Originally, they came with snowshoe boots, which are period correct for the late 19^th and 20^th centuries.

 

My Snowshoes

They came with a snowshoe boot, which would have been correct for the late 19^th and 20^th centuries, particularly on the east coast of North America.

 

19^th and 20^th century snowshoe boot

However, I wanted them to have an earlier look, something that you might have seen in the late 18^th to early 19^th centuries.

 

Woodcraft, originally published in 1919, by Elmer H. Kreps

So, I researched and then based my design on what Elmer H. Kreps, described as the “Indian Method” in his book Woodcraft, published in 1919, on pages 86 to 88.

 

Late 18th and Early 19th Century Snowshoe Binding, “Indian Method” Woodcraft, page 86

All of the straps are made of jute twine that I braided in a 3-strand pattern.

 

3 strand braid

  

The toe straps are about 3-1/2 feet long and after a loop has been made for the toes over the toe hole of the snowshoe by going through the rawhide of the toe hole, the tail ends are woven into the rawhide lattice of the snowshoe to secure them.

The tie straps are about 4-1/2 feet long and a loop is created over the toe hole by going through the rawhide of the toe hole. 

18^th and 19^th century explained

I found the method illustrated on page 86 of Woodcraft difficult, and came up with a different but similar method that is close to the Indian Method illustrated by E. H. Kreps: in any case, my method has worked well for me over the years.

First, you put them on your feet by sliding your foot under both the toe strap and the toe loop in the tie strap.  Second, you pull the tie strap tight and wrap it around behind your heel, bringing the ends of the tie straps toward your toes.  Third, you wrap the ends of the tie straps over and then under the toe strap, pulling tight and snugging the toe strap tightly down over the top of your foot.  Finally, you knot the ends of the tie straps with a shoelace knot, sometimes also called a bow knot.

 

18^th and 19^th century binding top view

18^th and 19^th century binding side view

  

Recently I found this illustration from Emergency Uses of the Parachute.

 

Emergency Uses of the Parachute, Feb 1945 p 22-23

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Now it is time to go out and make some tracks in the snow.  Until next time, Happy Trails!

Sources:

Headquarters Army Air Force, AAF Manual No. 60-1, Emergency Uses of the Parachute, [Washington D.C., Feb 1945] p 22-23

Elmer H. Kreps, Woodcraft, p 86-88