ERA: True vintage item from the late 1910s to 1920s Definitely old, but I'm not sure of how old. 

MEASUREMENTS: the item is 29 inches long, 13 inch rise, 18 inch inseam, 31 inch waist

MATERIAL: cotton gabardine

LABEL: unreadable

CLEANING: as found, not washed

 

Black cotton gabardine breeches that are a mystery. It has some issues and alterations and appears to have been dyed black.

I think that they are WWI breeches that were shortened and bands at the bottom of the legs were added.  It looks like the 2nd layer of fabric that would be on the inner thighs was also removed.

It has a button fly opening with metal buttons. The top button says '*US Army*' and the others say '*USA*' There is serger stitching on the inside along the button holes.

Front and back pockets, belt loops. Band around the bottom of the legs and they look like they were intended to button on the tabs, but there are no buttons or buttonholes. There is a small gusset added above the opening on each side of the bands at the bottom of the pants. 

There is a small dart on the front of each leg near the bottom, and a seam across the back. 

There is a 3 inch piece added to the back of the waist and a triangle gusset down the seat of the pants. 

The outer sides of the legs that would puff out like jodhpurs have been taken in to make the legs straighter. The inner leg seams have also been resewn.

 

CONDITION: The pants are in fair condition. The pants are well worn. I think that they were shortened from slightly longer breeches

There are wear spots and wear holes on the lower half of the legs, especially along the inner seams of the legs. 

The inner legs seams also look like they were altered and resewn. There are still loose old stitches along the inner legs seams. 

The bands around the bottom of the legs are missing their button and small triangle gussets were added above the opening kind of sloppily. 

There is a 2 inch square patch sewn inside under some holes, just above the bottom band on the leg. 

The gusset down the seam of the pants has some wear holes and loose stitches. 

Small wear hole on the seat of the pants. 

There are old stitches in areas on the lower legs that weren't removed when it was altered. Scattered small wear holes, mostly in the lower half of the legs. 

The black color is not even and kind of dull and faded.