Looking for vintage hunting knickers

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1776J

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In the America of my Grandparents & Great-Grandpar
Looking for vintage hunting clothing 1920s-40s

I'm looking for the old canvas hunting knickers you used to see in magazines and the old photos from the 1920s-1950s. They're around because I found some last year, but they were to large for me. I'm a size 36" waist.

If anyone has a pair or know of any available let me know. I'd like to pick up several pair.

(Pants more like the fellow in the center in ad...)
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lewisralphyes.jpg
 
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Call MW Reynolds in Englewood, CO, at 303-761-0021. Don't know if they have 'em, but they're a high-end safari outfitter and just might.
 
Yes, I found a slew of the mid weight canvas ones at a WWII living history event late last year but they were all either hugh sizes are really small!

They were dirt cheap too,... so they're out there and most people just throw them away, whereas I and a few friends have been gonig out more and more target shooting vintage firearms in vintage hunting gear.

Looking to go hunting in vintage gear also.... I was just born in the wrong time period!
 
BTW, most of the good-quality European hunting knickers you'll find are wool, not canvas.
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Maybe the Euro ones, but there were various styles and fabric types available during the 20s-40s in America,.... cotton, gabardine, cotton canvas, wool, merino wool, etc.
Made for everything from water fowl to deer hunting to overseas big game hunting.

Besides,... those you had a link to aren't even close to what I'm looking for... lol.
 
Hard to believe a 1920s-1930s man had a waist size larger than 36" - back then men were smaller, ate less, and worked a lot harder!
 
Hard to believe a 1920s-1930s man had a waist size larger than 36" - back then men were smaller, ate less, and worked a lot harder!
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Alot of hunters were wealthy guys who could afford to eat a bit more and work a little less. They were also the guys that bought the higher end hunting gear.
 
Hard to believe a 1920s-1930s man had a waist size larger than 36" - back then men were smaller, ate less, and worked a lot harder!
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Yes, people in general were smaller, both men and women, they didn't have all the hormonal chemicals dumped into their beef, poultry, etc. that got passed onto them as time went on and we kept eating like we do now. Regardless, and as strange as I thought it to be, the vintage hunting gear I had run across was sized around the 38-42 waist! Strange?,.. yes,... real?... most certainly.

I have been involved with the historical world for 7 years now, and have worked with both the History Channel and National Geographic on two occasions as well as many of my friends have as historical consultants.
One of our best friends is a lady who has studied and written books on vintage and antique garments from the turn of the century to the 1950s.
Not to mention, if you get a hold of a few old catalogs from the eras of the 20s-the 30s, you get to see all the different things you were able to purchase,... from a hunting outfit or a man's suit, to a tractor and a pre-fabricated house or barn!

I hardly know everything, but in the 10 years of being involved with historical living history, archeological work, and research I'm confident on many levels, but still look forward everyday to learning something new!

I look to the past to know where I'm going in my future!
 
Check out this website...

www.barbour.com

Go to the sporting section, they have what you're looking for. They also have the knee high argyle socks to go with them. And don't forget the hat.

Wyman
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Thank you very much for that link.
I'd say they're are very close to what I'm looking for but still of a tad.

I've found that as far as "modern" manufacturers go (as in those still making clothing, etc.) Filson seems to be, to me, one of the best companies still out there, making things almost exactly as they were in the 20s and 30s. Nearly the same fabric, etc.

Sadly, I'm not able to throw down upwards of $200 on a jacket though! :-(
 
Want proof people were smaller? Go crawl into a stock WWII Willys MB military Jeep. Not a lot of room behind the wheel. Same with WWII uniforms and pistol belts. Us modern 'Mericans are definitely larger.
 
Rondog -
Want proof people were smaller? Go crawl into a stock WWII Willys MB military Jeep. Not a lot of room behind the wheel. Same with WWII uniforms and pistol belts. Us modern 'Mericans are definitely larger.
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I don't believe anyone here is disputing size differences of people in the 20s and 30s, versus the people of today.

Also, I've personally driven a WWII Willys several times in the past,... and other WWII era military vehicles. I own a '29 Ford Model A, and am quite familiar with the vehicles of the time period. Pretty funny to watch a person's face when they crawl in!

(Our genuine revived pre-WWII Hot Rodding Club from the late 1930s, *run more as a historical group*)
www.hotironclub.com
 
ArmedBear...

thanks but they're more like old 1920s european hiking knickers instead, they sit right below the knee, whereas the old hunting breeches go at least 7-8 inches below the knee and either laced up (the early ones) or has zipers instead of lacing.

What I'm looking for are much different,... thanks though regardless!
 
FYI the fellow in the center of your illustration is wearing full gaiters or very high boots, over his trousers.

I have been involved with the historical world for 7 years now, and have worked with both the History Channel and National Geographic on two occasions as well as many of my friends have as historical consultants.
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Then surely you and/or your friends know about Jas Townsend & Son, Inc? You could pay premium prices if you wish from a British importer but...,

Jas Townsend & Sons, Inc

JT Has both fall front and button fly canvas breeches, and they sell patterns you could have them made for you, and a zipper is easily installed in the fly front pattern. I sometimes participate in "Edwardian" shooting events, and it's waaay less expensive to get a good, tight, heavy canvas, or quality wool twill, or tweed, and get them made to your specs..., reenforced seams and the like eh?

LD
 
Filson seems to be, to me, one of the best companies still out there, making things almost exactly as they were in the 20s and 30s. Nearly the same fabric, etc.

Sadly, I'm not able to throw down upwards of $200 on a jacket though! :-(
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Keep an eye on the various hunting boards. A few years ago, I bought three wool (two in forest green and one in red) Filson Jackets, a pair of L.L. Bean woolen pants, and the Filson "safety orange" cape for less than MSRP on a Filson Cruiser from a listing on one of the hunting discussion forums. All of the stuff was in great shape AND in my size. The red jacket stays in my car year around as an emergency coat; people can see me a mile away when I am wearing it. I hunt in the forest green Cruiser and cape and use the other jacket on weekends during the fall and spring. I have worn the pants often, and not just when hunting.
 
FYI the fellow in the center of your illustration is wearing full gaiters or very high boots, over his trousers.
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Those are simply the high topped boots more often seen in those days with a set of hunting breeches of the period. Leather gaiters or even woolen puttees were not as widely seen or worn then. I got a pair of LL Bean 16" tall mountain boots based on their boots they've been making since appx. 1912.

Thank you for the link to the website also,....wonderful info!
I have rarely been involved in the 18th century, as I have always been a student of the 1920s-40s in regards to living history, hence my unfamiliarity with them. Again, thank you!
 
ArmedBear,... thank you for the links.

Looks like the group in PA have an interesting group going. Looks very "English" and much more like a turn of the century thing (Edwardian) with plus-fours (aka: golf-style knickers) rather than a 20s-30s look of hunting and riding breeches.

Never the less, very interesting! Thanks for the heads up!
 
Sorry my friend, I thought your online name with the "1776" was an indicator, duh-oh on me! :confused:

Here's some additional stuff, Vintagers: Oder of Edwardian Gunners

Hard to believe a 1920s-1930s man had a waist size larger than 36" - back then men were smaller, ate less, and worked a lot harder!
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There is absolutely nothing to indicate that the caloric intake was "less", and that people were "smaller" (if you mean specifically waist, OK then). Caloric intake to be able to do manual labor is/was probably higher than the average diet today, we simply exercise alot less for what we do eat.

As was pointed out, the folks who lived the sporting life tended to be wealthy, and they tended to eat well, and drink good booze, so they in later life tended to be fat-boys. President Taft, King Edward VII, etc.
Here's another link:

Victorian Outfits

LD
 
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