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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Random questions to which you seek an answer

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    • G
      grandmasterben
      Joined:

      Engineer/boot/leather aficionados: Was leather say 50 to 60 years ago super nice? I see these vintage boots and they look like they've seriously held up well and the leather looks amazing. What surprises me is I feel like these are just boots that you would get at sears and such…. Was it really just so nice back then that you could just hit up sears and get a nice engineer?

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ChrisC
        Chris
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        I'd guess the answer is mixed.  50-60 years ago, there was less automation and fewer decent artificial materials, so most boots & shoes were made of leather and by hand.  So overall quality was generally better than the stuff you find in stores today.  However, after 50-60 years, the only boots that are still around are the ones that were well cared for, well made and made out of quality materials.  Everything else died somewhere along the way.  Even the best leather and the best craftsmanship isn't capable of lasting for 50 years of daily hard use.  Anything less than that and it's in the trash bin in short order.

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        • B
          beautiful_FrEaK
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined:

          An answer from Ray (Vintage Engineer Boot guy) about the topic of vintage voots:

          b_f there is actually a substantial difference in the quality of some of the older leather used on these older pairs, which I have personally seen. The leather on the pairs from the 40s-50s is genuinely more supple, tougher wearing, and appears to be better tanned. I haven't seen leather that is oil tanned in the same way the stuff from Chippewa was at that time period (and Chippewa and others like Santa Rosa and the pre-cursor to Georgia made the Wearmaster boots for Sears).

          A lot of the smaller tanneries from that era are now completely gone, and their methods might be lost entirely. I'm not sure what the main reason for the difference is in the leather quality, but it is very noticeable.

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          • SeulS
            Seul
            Joined:

            I'd love a pair of vintage voots…

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B
              beautiful_FrEaK
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined:

              those are not for little pigs

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Finn666F
                Finn666
                Joined:

                @Giles:

                Soon I hope….H said about 6 weeks to make the ones I ordered......

                how many you have incoming sir?

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  Not enough…....

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                  • Finn666F
                    Finn666
                    Joined:

                    -.-

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • GilesG
                      Giles
                      IHUK Crew
                      Joined:

                      BUT as I said somewhere, I can and probably will get more made (and in different sizes if need be)….

                      "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • irishexpatI
                        irishexpat
                        Joined:

                        I'm starting my search for a pair of jeans I can wear in the summer. As much as I'm loving my 21oz IH…I can't see myself wearing it through an Ohio summer.....who knows though.

                        Anyway, I'm looking for something fairly opposite to the 21oz. Lighter, with a lot of slub and/or nep....something that will fade intensely and have a lot of character. Honestly, I'm looking more for something hairy and neppy more than slub.

                        The search is half the fun....but for an initial pass I'm planning to look at PBJ, Strike Gold, Oni, Red Cloud. WHat brands am I missing, and what denim should I be including in my search?

                        Iron Heart, Empty Wallet

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • natehateN
                          natehate
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined:

                          flathead and rbj!
                          the pbj stuff is nice too

                          don't you know there ain't no devil? only god when he's drunk!

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • mclaincauseyM
                            mclaincausey
                            見習いボス
                            Joined:

                            Strike Gold has a new 15oz slack slubtastic fabric dropping soon. I'd wait, I think we will hear something from Kiya any day now and SG is always worth consideration.

                            Think it, be it.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • seanoconoS
                              seanocono
                              Joined:

                              It may not be as hairy as you're looking for, but I think TW's hank-dyed, natural indigo, organic cotton, 15oz is definitely "different" and is a relative bargain. I think once we see some pics of faded pairs, it will vanish quickly.

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                              • B
                                beautiful_FrEaK
                                Raw and Unwashed
                                Joined:

                                Samurai 15oz Texas Cotton (0500 or 0510 cut) could be something for you. If you like Flathead denim, the Eternal denim could be also something for you.

                                edit: if you are eyeing Red Clouds standard denim, Fullcount's 13,7oz denim is similar

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                                • Finn666F
                                  Finn666
                                  Joined:

                                  what about UES…really can't wait to wear my pair in the summer months. comfiest pair ever...so far!

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • madmondayM
                                    madmonday
                                    Raw and Unwashed
                                    Joined:

                                    Can anyone tell me about PISTOLERO boots?

                                    Thanks

                                    head high, middle finger higher

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • D
                                      davito
                                      Joined:

                                      This is a pistolero engineer listed in the Lightning denim boots bible page 86. Maybe some japanese speaking Forum friends can translate it?

                                      And found on rakuten

                                      http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/crouka/item/pistol-0412/?s-id=borderless_recommend_item_en

                                      From the authentic Boots brand PISTOLERO, 7 inch engineer boots.
                                      Form the channelled material, detail.
                                      Production country to Mexico Mecca of Western boots,
                                      And use high-quality ステアハイド leather upper with tenacity, while
                                      Value of wear without scaring, will make up the taste.
                                      Moderate height is 7 inches, easily detachable, active in various scenes.
                                      Also the upper also features of engineer boots, leather buckle
                                      Is made in the original design, and attention to detail.
                                      Is known as a complex and heavy manufacturing rugged, lovely
                                      Using the グッドイヤーウェルト process the outsole is made of Vibram adopted.
                                      Upper and outsole as well as inside of the boots and leather specification has become,
                                      Achieve high quality finish detail around the attention of producers.

                                      Boots was born in suitable to be called the "city of shoes".
                                      Because of high technology, sleek, firm and understand the history.

                                      In 1993, it established full-fledged faction Boots brand PISTOLERO (pistoleros).
                                      Pistoleros are factory town in the State of Guanajuato Mexico Leon, moving it into the production of shoes from old town is local industries of this town's population of approximately 100万 people.
                                      Suitable for multinational companies involved in the shoe industry, shoe factory and shop shops deal with only a cardboard box, not to mention those shoes and leather to sew sewing specialty stores, such as exactly what "city of shoes" and the call center.
                                      Has the backbone as famous Boots brands for the pistoleros are founded 1993 and relatively short history, but have a deep history in shoe-making, is the birth place is no exaggeration.

                                      Pistoleros dropped into work boots form was christened with the technical expertise of the traditional Western boots.

                                      Cheers,
                                      David

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • S
                                        sabergirl
                                        見習いボス
                                        Joined:

                                        Check out this blog, it has some good pics:  http://blog.needsupply.com/2012/12/06/introducing-pistolero/

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • CutlasshoundC
                                          Cutlasshound
                                          見習いボス
                                          Joined:

                                          They used to stock them in garbstore. Both the 7" and 11" engineers look pretty damn good for the price

                                          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                          I ain't got time to bleed.

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • Megatron1505M
                                            Megatron1505
                                            見習いボス
                                            Joined:

                                            I've been eyeing a pair this week too MM, couldn't decide between black and brown but now black has sold out in my size the decision is easier.

                                            Made in England, clothed in Japan, fed in America and drunk in Belgium !

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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