Trowsers

[BishopLynch]

I am not one who finds the need to roll up my trowsers, but Ive seen quite a few people who are for the idea that it should not be done at all as it would not be authentic. Im just curious as to why it is not authentic. I have seen a few pictures of the dead and many have rolled up towsers. And besides if they were too long wouldnt anyone with common sense roll them up? Fire Away. :tounge_sm

[James Masson]

Re: Trowsers

Damn the old site for going down. There was an excellent picture on there of some Confederate prisoners at Lookout Mountain (or at least I think it was Lookout Mountain). Quite a few of them had their trousers rolled up past their ankles. If anyone knows the picture that I'm talking about and can post it, please do.

[Jeffrey Przewozniak]

Re: Trowsers

Eallo!

I think it is all about what you are portraying/common sense.

Was it considered generally fashionable to roll up one's trowsers beyond one's ankles in the 1860s? Nope.

If you had but one pair of trowsers and had to wade through a stream, would you roll them up?

Look at photographs, read accounts, and lastly,use common sense. Don't roll up your trowsers at an event just because it looks "kewl," do it for a specific reason, i.e., trowsers too long, deep mud, stream wading, etc. Anything else would just be phony. I am in earnest,

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Trowsers

I believe trouser rolling becomes a "trademark" on certain reenactors rather than doing it for a reason. I think it's a bit over done myself.

Most of us usually know who's going to roll up their trousers before we step foot on the field.

Maybe Paul should start another poll: "Who are the trouser rollers?" :-)


Hog-Eye

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Trowsers

Look at photos :

I just posted something! It isn't hard to crack a book open ?!?!! :sarcastic

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1277

& here's another from awhile back:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=741

Troops did roll their cuffs! Not every man did, but it makes sense to keep your trowsers from getting wet or muddy... Lots of reenactors do it, cause it's cool, you should do it if your pants are too long too I guess.

Otherwise you see a ton of dudes "waiting for the flood", wearing trowsers that barely cover their ankles. Military fits were just that, Military.

Now ordering a repro trowser pair that is 8 inches too long just to roll them up is idiotic.

Look at photos, read, & research. Repeat as necessary.

[ScottFugate]

Re: Trowsers

My Schuylkill Arsenal trousers were sewn to the inseam length specified in the wartime contract for the waist size (I did it myself). That makes them about 2 inches longer than a proper fit for me. Hence, I roll them up.

Some men have longer than average legs, some shorter. Which is more authentic, a turn-up or a field expedient hem?

Scott Fugate
Short-legged Mess

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Trowsers

Hallo Kameraden!

Generally...
Uniform issuance was not done according to a man's actual size needs.
The garments came in bundles, often of 100, with set "per centages" of the four common sizes, Size 1-4, with more 2's and 3's than 1's and 4's. (Larger or smaller, and odd sizes available through "Special Clothing Bureau" affairs.)
A man was given a pair of trousers based upon where he happened to be in line, and what was next in the issuance pile.
The government's expectation was threefold:

1. Wear whatever you got as is, fit or no. (Includes rolled sleeve and/or trouser cuffsl
2. Trade off with some else for a better fit, who needs a smaller or larger size himself.
3. Either tailor it to fit better yourself, or find a "company tailor" type pard to do it for you.

In some "renacting communities," trousers are ordered according to one's MODERN sizing and the "modern" fashion of wearing pants low on the hips. So what we often see are trousers that are non-period in appearance with tightly fitted legs and worse yet, tight butts.

So, depending upon the "luck of the draw" for that particular issuance (next issuance might see a better size and closer fit) one might receive- one's size, one might receive something too small, and one might receive something too large. (Wear them, trade them, or tailor them- which includes rolling excess length).

Do, make do, or do without...

I usually order a size or even two sizes larger than what I wear to create a "frumpy" as-issued look side of period life. (But that is just me...)

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt

[BishopLynch]

Re: Trowsers

excellent replies. Glad that I got a good deal of info. Thanks