Cowboy boots
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Thanks for the suggestions and that awesome list
It's absolutely batty how many boot artisans are concentrated in Texas. Been reading about a lot of them and its been a challenge trying to find a prospective bootmaker. Some have retired as Chris mentioned, some have passed away (Paul Bond passed away this past February), and others understandably can't take on any new customers.Stallion boots are pretty wild in their use of rare stuff like this salt water gator:
amazing boots but like Chris pointed out, not practical in the slightest haha. I pretty much thought all reptile skins had to have backing leather til I saw the inside of a pair of python boots at the Buffalo Exchange in NYC. They looked and felt like a sheet of sushi seaweed, distressingly thin, crispy dry and the scales had all curled up…for shame.I am really leaning toward ostrich or kangaroo. Would like to compare the texture of the two in person as it appears that the roo is pretty smooth where the full quill ostrich has that phenomenal texture...Can't argue with what Lee Miller did with this full quill:
smooth ostrich looks incredible as well:
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Here is the cowboy boots forum
http://www.quicktopic.com/25/H/8BcDPHgDYXz6/pAnd some websites
http://www.paulbondboots.com/
http://www.davelittleboots.com/catalog.html
http://www.rjboots.com/boots/pictures.html
http://www.maidas.com/boots.php
http://www.stallionboots.com/flashintro.html
http://www.heritageboot.com/
http://www.blucherboots.com/catalog.html
http://www.dorwartcowboyboots.com/index.html
http://www.customboots.net/Sorrell_Custom_Boots/Portfolio.html
http://www.kimmelbootcompany.com/Boot_Gallery.html
http://www.paulbondboots.com/
http://www.richardcookcustomboots.com/
http://www.stephanieferguson.com/
http://beckboots.com/Beck%20Custom.htm
http://olsenstelzerboots.com/docs/OlsenStelzerBootExamples.pdf -
Either would be a fine choice. If you can, you should go to San Antonio just to check out the Little shop. One of the biggest and nicest display collections of boots I've ever seen. I've heard nothing but goods things Eddie and Kathy Kimmel, though I've never meet them personally. Comanche is a bit out of the way for me. I believe Eddie does most of the work himself, whereas Little runs a small team of a half dozen or so craftsmen. Not sure if that matters to you, but some care about things like that.
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I actually do like the idea of it being the product of a single person. The video from the Little's shop shows the boots being put together by hand by Little's team who no doubt are incredible artisans themselves but there is something uniquely wonderful about a singular master of the craft putting together something just for you.
Will be driving into TX to do the deal once I make up my mind. would love to visit most of those shops but the state is just unforgivably big
what do you say to deer skin boots? love the color!
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Just to clarify, I'm not sure that Eddie Kimmel works alone. Lots of makers have someone sew the tops for them, which allows them to focus on the more technical construction aspects. Plus, some of the older guys just hate sewing tops…
Deerskin is supposed to be really soft and comfortable; not sure of its durability, though. I agree, the color on those is sweet. I need (well, want) some boots in lighter leather. Might be able to get a similar color in another hide type, if you change your mind about the deer.
Those boots are beautiful- I love Lee Miller's work. His attention to detail and eye for graceful lines is amazing. Someday I'll have to try and talk him into making a pair for me.
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Not affiliated, I just think they make some bad-ass boots!
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any thoughts on french calf leather? i've also seen it used on white's smokejumpers:
Shit, those look super dope
Are those made by the mighty mighty Lee Miller from Austin Texas? -
Yes, they're his work.
French calf is good stuff; calf skin is finer grained than leather from grown cattle, so it takes a shine better and is more comfortable. It's on my list of leathers to get in a pair of boots (eventually).
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Yeah I just love everything about that boot. The colors on the tube and foot, the white piping detail, toe shape…one other awesome thing about his work is the astounding catalog he has of thread pattern designs for the tubes. Check these out
At this point I'm narrowed down to kangaroo or french calf. Like the softness and durability both provide and i think they should age well with a bit of care
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Beware! Lee does'nt take new customers, he is so backlogged that existingcustomers are on a 3 year wait list
Dave Little in San Antonio has a 6 months turnaround time -
if anyone has any pictures of well made elephant leather cowboy boots I'd love to see them. Was in LA this last week and saw two that piqued my curiosity…in fact I saw what Chris had mentioned as one pair was very smooth and supple while the other had much more pronounced lines on the leather.
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Kinda like this?
and a close up of the differences in the leather
Both pairs are from Black Jack Boots, a San Antonio based company that makes really solid, reasonably priced boots.
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Was in San Antonio today and visited Dave Little's shop. It's a fucking trip going there, so many pairs are exposed, you want them all.
Anyway, I ordered a pair
http://www.davelittleboots.com/calf.html
check out the pair on the right handside and imagine the following: replace the black top by a yellow one with yellow stiching, a black rim, black and yellow ears.
this is going to be fucking dope! Gonna have to wait about 6 months, but I'll be fine. I hope.
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I grew up on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. They mainly train cutting horses, and we usually have somewhere around 500 head of cattle grazing. In fact, here's a picture of my dad working horses in the barn.
It seems like the real "in" boots in the younger ranch/rodeo community where I live is Anderson Bean. They're an affordable hand made boot by Rios of Mercedes, and are probably my favorite daily wear cowboy boot. They may not be the most fashion forward pair of boots, but have real working cowboy credibility, which feels kind of cool when wearing them. I love rocking them and have this pair:
And even posted a pic in WAYWT the other day.
If you want to check them out, here's their story:
http://andersonbean.com/?page_id=2
Oh, and this'll probably be my next pair:
