Do any of you old hivernants know how to make moccasins and could help me out with some easy directions? I have a full brain tanned hide already.

Styles of mocs were different in different parts of the country so research the style prevalent to the character your looking to portray. Summer vs winter styles could also be slightly different as well. Brain does not wear well as foot wear which is why as I've read Natives often carriedultiple sets of mocs on longer trips. Mocs, especially braintan, are a fancy way of going barefoot, LOL you feel everything. As metioned above there are many patterns on Google you can tap into

I have seen Mark Baker do center seam mocs on one of his videos. There are probably a couple YouTube videos on the subject, but you have to be careful as anybody can post on YouTube.

What I did...., was buy an inexpensive Moccasin Kit from Smoke & Fire Company. I completed it without the liner. Then I got the leather wet and wore them in the yard for about a four hours, and the leather stretched. So I took up the slack at the heal by cutting the seams and redoing the heal. That gave me one good pair of woodland mocs.

Now, instead of simply wearing these, I wanted thicker leather, so I got some moosehide. I then cut open the seams on the kit-mocs, and used the inexpensive mocs as a pattern for all my future mocs. So I didn't screw up my nice, thick, expensive moosehide guessing.

And in your case IF I had braintan hide, I surely would come up with some sort of pattern already fitted to me so not to waste an ounce.

I'm sure there are other ways, but this worked really well for me.

As for "high tops", I found from reading that what they did was fold the flaps up around the ankles, overlapping the lower edge of the leggings, and tied this up with a thong to keep debris out of the mocs in the woods....

LD

There is a guy on youtube who has a pretty good video for center seam pucker toe mocs. Look for Steve Davis Bush craft pucker toe.

Seems like I have seen lots of moccasin patterns available from Track and Crazy Crow, probably other that I don't generally shop at too.

I agree that brain tan deer hide is like ole' Birdman says that a fancy way of going barefoot.
If you decide to use them for Sunday go to massacre mocs, make them a size or so bigger so that you can like them with something kind to your feet. You might also consider checking out one of the Tannerys online and get a piece of blacksmith hide. This might not be particularly authentic to any time frame, but it will last. This is one tough leather when oiled with the treatment.

I've watched some of the youtube presentations, but it's like anything that someone knows how to do really well... they always seem to leave the watcher with some questions. Good for exposure then either go with a kit to use as a practice then like above, use them as a pattern, or get you a pattern and some really tough leather and remember to make them big enough so that you can wear really thick socks or use a liner or make a leather insole.

Good Luck.

After making a pair of elk hide center seam mocs I put them on and tried to go for a walk in the woods. After about 50 feet I wondered how the Indians could sneak up on anything. Every pebel twig and rock stabbed my feet causing me to holler out some unholy adjectives. I got back to the house and immediately ordered a pair of Arrow Fort Ligonier center seams. They have a thick sole that is very flexible. I highly recommend them for us tenderfeet.

I think Michael Galban produced a video about making center seam moccasins that is pretty well regarded. Crazy Crow may have it, but I'm not sure. You could Google it to locate a seller.

Notchy Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Bud in PA:
After making a pair of elk hide center seam mocs I put them on and tried to go for a walk in the woods. After about 50 feet I wondered how the Indians could sneak up on anything. Every pebel twig and rock stabbed my feet causing me to holler out some unholy adjectives. I got back to the house and immediately ordered a pair of Arrow Fort Ligonier center seams. They have a thick sole that is very flexible. I highly recommend them for us tenderfeet.

When I was a kid, I spent my spring and summers running through the woods around our house bare foot and shirtless and never even thought about it because my feet were so tough. Now days if I walk to the mail box bare foot I'm liable to be crippled up from a piece of pine cone or pebble!

Try www.redaviscompany.com for the Michael Galban video.

doggoner

Good advice on pattern I have wasted leather and hide by winging it