legacy studio Collection- Wooly Work Chaps

At Vigil-Musick Cowboy Leather Gear Ltd., we have created the heirloom Legacy Studio Collection. 

These are each unique and limited edition items you will find no where else. This exquisite piece is an 1890's style Wooly Chap set. Designed and built by Vigil-Musick Cowboy Leather Gear, Ltd. as homage to woolys cowboy chaps used a hundred and thirty years ago in the Rocky Mountain West. An honest pair of work chaps.

 -HISTORY & LEGACY OF THIS PIECE-

Cowboys on range in the winter are especially prone to misery. Checking livestock in a blizzard anywhere in the west proves to be a tough job. Around the late 1870's we see the emergence of "Wooly Chaps" being used by cowboys, especially in the mountains and the norther ranges all they way into Canada. Cowboys purchased manufactured woolys from saddle makers, but sometimes made or modified their own from whatever they might have about if they had to. We have seen historical examples of woolys lined with canvas tarps, flour sacks, hemp and even bed linens. These were tough times met by tough people.

Commercial wooly chaps were made from all sorts of hair on hides, but most commonly buffalo, bear or angora goat. The Scottish Highland cattle were introduced to the open range in the west sometime in the 1880s. These hides are similar to buffalo with their thick curly hair, offering great insulation from the snow and wind. Given how rare the finding of a Scottish Highland hide might be, they are also rare in historical use. Although rare, we have seen several examples of Scottish Highland wooly chaps from the late 1800s in southern Canada and the northern states.

-1890 Wooly Chap Details-

Hide covers-  Hair on Scottish Highland red curly, purchased from Taxidermist in mid 1990's in rural southern Colorado. In 1998 the full hide was split and used for two sets of wooly chaps, one set we offer here as a limited edition, No. 02 of two.

Liner-  The canvas liner in this build, is a thirty year  old waxed cotton canvas tarp that was used as mantee cover on a horse pack string. The use marks and occasional perforations can be seen. It shows distressed use which is part of its character. This would have been typical for a remote cowhand in Wyoming, Idaho or Montana to have used in the late 1800's.

Fasteners- (10) heavy hook loop buckles.

Trim and Furniture-  English oil tanned leather trim with fluted edging, 12 Oz oil dyed veg tanned yoke, oil chrome tanned sheaves with steel spot accents above joinery at hair hide. 

This unique Limited Edition is for sale as is.

One item In stock. Shipping quote pending location and delivery terms. Please contact us for more information.