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Short story…
Found these dusty never used shoes hanging on a wood beam in a used
furniture barn yesterday. $40.00 later they came home with me.
What do I have here?
Did I get price gouged?
I know absolutely nothing about snowshoes.
I think they look way cool hanging on the wall though
Last edited by cshold on Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Because I Can, and Have
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USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
Those snowshoes appear to be US military surplus. If you look over the frames very carefully you will find that they were made in Missouri. In addition there should be two metal claws on each side of the cross piece where the ball of your foot rests and will pivot into that hole in order to ascend a slope.
You did not over pay for these snowshoes. You will find that the floatation is not as much as a set of say Alaskan or Maine style. These were made for maneuvorability and they work very well on icy and crusty conditions. Bear in mind that as snowshoes age they do weaken. What happens is that the wood frame beings to lose moisture and will eventually weaken and break. Then again I have used a pair of snowshoes that belonged to my grandfather that I relaced and refinished. They are about one hundred years old and held my frame up on the snow in some rough conditions.
One thing to remember is that if you relace and refinish the antique value is gone. I chatted with a snowshoe collector who hinted at my grandfather's shoes being worth close to $1500. That was before I relaced them. But so what. I wore them afield.
You used to find new snow shoes sold in a lot of outdoor type stores, The Canada made ones were usually the rawhide type, but I've seen them laced with nylon rope too. Yours are the "Bearpaw" style used for better maneuverability in brush or heavy forest, they don't float as good as the Huron, or Michigan style, which is a common all round style. Then you get the long Alaskan or cross country style for more open ground.
Now, most new shoes are aluminum framed with plastic type panels instead of lacing, lighter, better flotation, built in crampons, smaller, and generally much easier to use, but definately not as cool looking as the traditional types.
gcs wrote:You used to find new snow shoes sold in a lot of outdoor type stores, The Canada made ones were usually the rawhide type, but I've seen them laced with nylon rope too. Yours are the "Bearpaw" style used for better maneuverability in brush or heavy forest, they don't float as good as the Huron, or Michigan style, which is a common all round style. Then you get the long Alaskan or cross country style for more open ground.
Now, most new shoes are aluminum framed with plastic type panels instead of lacing, lighter, better flotation, built in crampons, smaller, and generally much easier to use, but definately not as cool looking as the traditional types.
Those Canadian ones are/were good ones. I have a pair that I bought about 15 or 20 years ago marked "Alaska" made in Canada. I had a pair of Bearpaw ones, too. I use my wooden ones when out snowshoeing with friends, even though I've got a new pair of aluminum ones with the plastic panels. After all, I am an Ol' Geezer and need to maintain my image.
Hobie wrote:Good snow shoes of any type are at least $40, even mil surp metal framed snow shoes. Those bear paws are neat!
Yep - I just saw surplus snow shoes for $40 yesterday and they weren't nearly as beautiful as those.
I'm betting that a pair like that would pretty expensive to have made. I have toyed with the idea of making some, but then it wouldn't snow for ten years, and I like my snow.
A lilttle OT here but, ,when I was looking into materials, specifically rawhide, I found that it is rather expensive.
I learned from a fella on another forum about keeping a small dog's rawhide chewy bone in your pack as "the original duct taope" in case of an emergency. Soak it in some water, untie t he ends, unroll it and you have some repair material for whatever.
Hobie wrote:Good snow shoes of any type are at least $40, even mil surp metal framed snow shoes. Those bear paws are neat!
Yep - I just saw surplus snow shoes for $40 yesterday and they weren't nearly as beautiful as those.
I'm betting that a pair like that would pretty expensive to have made. I have toyed with the idea of making some, but then it wouldn't snow for ten years, and I like my snow.
A lilttle OT here but, ,when I was looking into materials, specifically rawhide, I found that it is rather expensive. I learned from a fella on another forum about keeping a small dog's rawhide chewy bone in your pack as "the original duct taope" in case of an emergency. Soak it in some water, untie t he ends, unroll it and you have some repair material for whatever.
"most new shoes are aluminum framed with plastic type panels instead of lacing, lighter, better flotation, built in crampons, smaller, and generally much easier to use, but definately not as cool looking as the traditional types."
Right on both counts. Old ones PIA/worthless to work with. New ones look like do-do.
That was a good buy. Bear Paw style are for using in brush but as they are usually wider than trail models you have to swing your leg out to the side a little when walking. This will remind you you have muscles you don't normally use. The main thing to remember when using any style is your foot has to pivot on the ball into the opening on the shoe.On trail models especially the tail drags; it is not lifted with the rest of the shoe.
Neat looking snowshoes. The only snow shoes I have ever used were the magnesium framed ones the Army issued to us. They looked like a wannabe tennis racket to me. I have to admit that they worked as we all weighed between 160 and 200 pounds and were wearing winter gear while carrying 60 pounds in our rucks. We were able to stay within 2 to 3 inches of the top of the snow. BUT, they were ugly. Those wooden ones look right at home where you put them.
D. Brian Casady
Quid Llatine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur.
Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up---Robert Frost
I like the wood and lace snowshoes . Yours look great on the wall as well .
There are some places that you can buy more modern bindings for those that like the old and want easier use . Heres one place , I got the super strap . http://www.havlicksnowshoe.com/bindings.php
1894 wrote:I like the wood and lace snowshoes . Yours look great on the wall as well .
There are some places that you can buy more modern bindings for those that like the old and want easier use . Heres one place , I got the super strap . http://www.havlicksnowshoe.com/bindings.php
Thanks for the link Phil.
Snow shoeing is indeed on my short list of something I need to try next winter.
The better bindings are a good idea, and will save the original leathers for display.
Last edited by cshold on Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bear paws are good for say brush trapping and where you are in rough country. They are wider that trail shoes and are harder on your legs especially if you don't use them regular. Here in the cedars and valleys I like the bear paw even if they don't carry as much weight and when I was in shape the wider stace didn't bother me. Those are good shoes and you made a real buy. You might want to shellac the frames if they have been sitting for a while to make sure they are waterproofed good. You will need some bindings unless you can cut yor own.
