I'm looking for a good place to purchase brown fringe pants that would be at or below $100. I've looked on both Ebay and Amazon but they are both $120 or above. If the pants were made from actual buckskin, it'll be a big plus. But I will still settle for cow leather.

It is the last clothing piece to my frontiersman suit(I still need a powder horn and cartridge box, and, maybe a bullet mold... with lead...). And then I will be able to wear it to rendezvous and reenactments.

Thanks

MI NG PVT Davis

As a beginner on a budget, I'd strongly recommend looking at a pair of cloth pants. Townsend or Crazy Crow have nice pants for well under $100.

Deerskin is expensive nowadays. And making pants is one of the more difficult sewing projects out there for reenacting clothes. You might want to talk to other reenactors in your area. There are a lot of older guys in the hobby who are getting out of the reenacting end.

I'm just starting my fist pair of buckskin pants. I spent the weekend getting a cloth mock up made and this week I'll pick out the hides and get them stretched before sewing.

If you're open to leggings and a breech clout, a yard of light weight wool cloth will make both and is very budget friendly.

I would also suggest you research just who actually wore fringed buckskin pants, where, and when. TV shows, movies, and looking at others at rendezvous is not the kind of research that is needed. Leggings (cloth or leather), a breech cloth, and a long shirt may serve you better, especially if you are young man.

Exactly. Not sure what your intentions are for period correctness, but fringed buckskins are really only seen during the western fur trade, from the 18teens to the 1850s. Anything earlier would be pants or breeches for the majority of the population. Leggings and a breechcloth for really frontier types or French fur trade.

Narrowing down a persona, to a time and place, can help you save money. That way you only buy things that fit the time you want. A lot of guys, and gals, buy a bunch of stuff when they start that is all over the map. Then have to buy more to be more period correct.

The 4 guys on the left are 1760 to 1780 types. Linen shirt, waistcoat, fringed cloth hunting shirts and breeches. I have on simple leather leggings also. The guy on the right is 1750s French fur trade. Trade shirt, breech cloth and leggings.

Interesting discussion.

I ended up having a pair of trousers made by a lady at the rondy , she is out of Iowa , she took my measurements and made the pants , drop front with suspender buttons

they fit so well I thought maybe I should just hire her to make all my pants , they are a cotton canvas like carharts , they were $70 a couple years ago.

Well the thing is, I have a dark brown fringed jacket(not a hunting frock) and I was thinking of having something that could be both for a western outfit and a frontiersmen outfit. So the pioneer uniform would probably be for early 1800-1810s or so. And I would have a gun for both types of uniforms(poorman's but still).

For versatility, I would go with cloth pants, or breeches with leggings worn over them. That basic combo is good for anything late 18th or early 19th century, just about anywhere in the country.

I know it's not as romantic as fringed buckskins. That's one of the reasons I am FINALLY putting together a western fur trade, 1815-1820ish outfit, cause they look cool. But, very little of it works for any earlier time periods.

Listen to them about cloth, cotton canvas etc...

Then find someone to build you a pair of leather pants. If it were me I'd only make them out of Brain tan ,smoked for the lightness

Frontiersmen didn't run around in heavy chrometan leathers.

Here's a western trapper, Captain Walker, in 1834. Fringed buckskin shirt/jacket and pants. Buckskin pants of that time were fairly snug fitting to the leg, unlike today's pants.

Cloth pants could be snug (known as overalls, typically military) or straight legged (trousers).

Brain tan is the best option (and the historically correct one). Unfortunately, it is expensive, either in labor or dollars.

Chrome tan is a poor substitute nowadays, but what you typically see at most rendezvous.

I have both a hunting shirt and hunting frock in dark forest green... dark green isn't really HC, but whatever. Once you wear one you understand why they were so popular.

I just haven't worked up the nerve for leggings/breech clout yet. Lots of ticks here. Lol

Mike

When I'm hunting and in the thick stuff, I definitely prefer breeches with leggings. Offers a little more protection from bugs and thorns. And keeps a bit more of the breeze out.

When canoeing or dressing up, I like leggings and a breechcloth. Plain ones for canoeing, I can take the leggings off, jump in and have dry leggings to put back on when I am on shore. Plus, in hot weather, even light wool leggings and a breechcloth are cooler than pants of any material.
When dressing up, I get out the fancy, beaded and ribboned leggings.

Western trappers (of American origin) rarely ( I won't say never) wore breechcloths whereas Eastern "frontier" types often did. I am not sure what the change was, but there is a marked difference. French trappers/traders/voyageurs often wore breechcloths even when out West in the later years of the fur trade.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fattic.city%2Fitem%2Fhn9%2Fvintage-suede-fringe-jacket-1970s-retro-womens-size-medium-dark-brown-long-sleeve-leather-coat-with-faux-fur-lining-and-button-closure-by-retrospectvintage215%2Fretrospect-vintage&psig=AOvVaw2S-b16phaHRi6M57zzs_IV&ust=1627484239744000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCMjVjrHBg_ICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAp

This is the type of jacket(also looks almost identical to it too) I currently have. I'm just trying to get matching pants for it.

minus the Faux Fur lining and such

I wouldn't worry about matching the jacket. Frontier types didn't often match at all. They wore what they had and replaced what wore out with whatever they could get.

I'd concentrate on getting a good pair of cloth pants that'll last you for years. Something like these:

Trousers

PVT Davis, you might see what Jas. Townsend & Sons has too. They have some pretty nice stuff, a lot of it reasonable. I don't recall seeing buckskin pants, but they probably have trousers to fit the period you're trying to find.

Mike

That's the link my post, pretty nice narrow fall pants.

Since I am no longer a young man the breech cloth has been retired. I now wear knee britches and leggings, with a hunting shirt.

Google leather fringe pants!!!!!!! Many listing!