Pair of Early Vintage Wooden Bear Paw Snowshoes, circa 1943

Pair of Early Vintage Wooden Bear Paw Snowshoes, made by Lund, circa 1943, made for he U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division troops during World War II, having sturdy bentwood oval frame with heavy rawhide laced webbing to hold the adjustable leather boot strap. The frame of each is stamped “LUND USA 1943” and inscribed “Annie Morgan” by indelible marker (likely the daughter of a soldier in the 10th). The classic snowshoes remain in excellent, near mint condition.

The C.A. Lund Company was founded by Norwegian born Christian A. Lund in 1927 in Hastings, Minnesota, and crafted wooden skis, snowshoes, hockey sticks, and toboggans. Lund brand skis were a less expensive than Northland Ski brand (also owned by Christian Lund). A fire forced the operation to move to nearby St Paul in 1945 (until that plant was also shut down by a fire in 1953). Luckily Lund had also opened a second ski manufacturing plant in Laconia, NH in 1938 (in business until 1965). In addition to retail under his own label, Lund also sold wholesale to the U.S. Army, department stores and ski clubs with their own ski labels.

The Bear Paw style snowshoe originated among the Indian peoples of eastern Canada and the Canadian Far North, particularly among the Innu people. They were mostly used for hunting, trapping, and long-distance hikes in dense forests. Its width and shortness provide efficient and silent movement in forest areas, and better flotation in deep snow. The style was known among the Wabanaki and Mi”kmaq people, and very popular among “les voyageurs” and throughout New England.

Measures: 21-1/4 L x 10-3/8 in W