What era(s) were leather lower leg and ankle protectors worn?

Just got a pair of them in real great shape. No pics yet. I am guessing SW War.

It appears that the items are opened up. Put on the lower leg. Then a attached metal blade on the bottom is slid into a small metal plate on the other side. Then the top is tightened with leather strip that looks like a small belt with a buckle.

Inside is stamped but hardly readible:

ROSS or O or N WASSOI (?:) BROS,Inc

Contract No. C.E. 215??

General Supply Depot N.Y.


There also is No. 67 New York Depot. Name above that but can't read

CE probably means Corps of Engineers, so they might be items used by the Engineers but not by the army in general.

Jim

There is a great picture on the Service Pistol forum right now showing a WWI soldier in camp near Paris in 1918. The soldier appears to be wearing lace up high top shoes, and the leather "leggings" held on with straps.