Shoes and Heel Plates

Mens Shoes - Made in Canada by Robert Land  OUT OF STOCK AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN OR IF I WILL HAVE MORE FOOTWEAR.   

Shoe terminology:

Crooked Last Shoes - These mens common shoes are black cowhide leather, rough side out, with leather lining, clumped soles, and thick steel heel rims. Although they look like they are straight-last shoes these are made on right and left lasts, ie. crooked shoes. The latchets are 1½" wide. These shoes were known as 'common' shoes, as opposed to fancier dress shoes. These shoes come in sizes 7 thru 13, in full and half sizes, and in two widths: D (ie medium) and EE (wide). The one exclusion is no size 12½ are available. NO SHOES ARE IN STOCK OR AVAILABLE FOR ORDER. 

Crooked shoes come with heel rims as pictured.
Hobnails are not available with shoes but you can buy them separately.

Straight Last Shoes - These mens common shoes are black cowhide leather, rough side out, with a leather lining. Because they don't have the clumped sole or steel heel rims, these shoes are lighter in weight and more suitable for wearing indoors. The latchets are 1½" wide. These shoes were known as 'common' shoes, as opposed to fancier dress shoes. These shoes come in sizes 7 thru 13, in full sizes only and only in E width. NO SHOES ARE IN STOCK OR AVAILABLE FOR ORDER.

Hi-Lo's - These mens ankle high shoes are heavy black cowhide leather, rough side out, clumped soles, and thick steel heel rims. Although they look like they are straight-last shoes these are made on right and left lasts, ie. crooked shoes. The photos are of prototype Hi-Lo's made in russet leather which made it easier to see the seam lines and details. The Hi-Lo's that I stock are black. The Hi-Lo's are held closed by a single black leather thong (not pictured, but included) that is spiral laced. These Hi'Lo's come in sizes 7 thru 13, in full and half sizes, and in two widths: D (ie medium) and EE (wide). The one exclusion is no size 12½ are availabl. NO HI-LO'S ARE IN STOCK OR AVAILABLE FOR ORDER.  

Hi-Lo's were worn by some British officers as shown in Della Gatta's painting of Germantown and Paoli, by jockeys as shown in George Stubb's equestrian paintings, and by some Americans as documented by deserter descriptions in which they are called "half-boots". For the deserter descriptions see Charles Lefferts Uniforms of the 1775-1783 ... Armies, pages 77, 113, 134, 137.

Heel Plates, steel, for affixing to the heels of your shoes, they help prolong heel life. These heel plates are 1/16" thick, and much like originals found and on display at Fort Montgomery, NY - site of a 1777 British attack on this fort on the Hudson River. $5.00/set with proper nails (ie: 2 plates and 12 nails).

Heel plates are available in eight sizes, heel rims are no longer available. To determine which size you need, please download this .pdf file which has tracings of the plates and rims, and select the size that is the closest match to your shoe heels. The heel plate sizes do not correspond to shoe sizes and are not available in any other sizes than listed on the order form. Note that 10/11 is no longer available.

Heel Plate pdf

Hobnails - Though not commonly used on Rev War period shoes, when hobnails were used it usually was only on the heel. These hobnails have a cone shaped head of approx 1/4" diameter and 5/32" tall. The nail shank is 1/2" long. Available in a bag of 25 nails for $4, or a bag of 75 nails for $10.