Cowboy boots
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Elephant isn't much heavier or stiffer than bullhide. In fact, depending on the tanning process, elephant can be really supple from the very start. I have a couple of pairs that have never given me a moment's trouble. I highly recommend elephant hide as a boot leather choice.
On the other hand, if you're looking for something for regular everyday wear, I wouldn't recommend water buffalo or any reptile hide. Water buffalo is pretty light and needs a backing leather to be strong enough for boots. It also scuffs really easily, in my experience. All reptile hides, whether snake, lizard, alligator or crocodile, tend to split between the scales. You'll have to be really careful with keeping them clean and conditioned. Snake is also pretty thin and needs a backing leather to work in boots.
Strong, good looking leather for dressier boots would be kangaroo, ostrich (you can get either full quill or smooth) or a simple calf skin. Depending on the rest of the details, you can make a pretty dressy boot with elephant or shark, despite the texture. Talking with your bootmaker will help narrow down the best choice for your needs.
Be careful with that Top 25 list, too. It's from 2002 and much of the information is out of date. Tex Coleman is semi-retired and has moved to Abilene, Maida's has either relocated or closed, J.L. Mercer died and the shop closed, Rusty Franklin retired and sold his shop to Robert Brest (who makes great quality boots, by the way), M.L. Leddy only has their factory in San Angelo and runs all their sales out of the Ft. Worth store, and there are probably more changes that I don't know about right off the top of my head.
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Chris is 100% right
I just stumbled upon this in the cowboy boot forum. Check out the pix on Duck Menzie. Way cool.
http://www.quicktopic.com/25/H/8BcDPHgDYXz6/p
also, I had put together a small spreadsheet last year when I visited Texas, hope it helps
City Name Address Website Tel
Houston Wheeler 4115 Willowbend (713) 665-0224
Abilene Tex Robin 2081 Sayles bld, 79605 (325) 691 5700
Austin Capitol Saddlery
Abilene Brian Thomas 325-672-2344.
Bowie Mike Vaughn
Vernon Dew Westover
Houston RJ’s Boot Company 3321 Ella Blvd, Houston, Texas 77018
Saint Jo C.T. Chappell Boot Shop 105 S. Main (940) 995-2901
Houston Palace Boot Shop
Austin Heritage Boot 117 West 8th Street (512) 326-8577
Mercedes Rios of Mercedes
San Antonio Little's Boots 110 Division Ave, San Antonio, Texas 78214 (210) 923-2221
Stonewall 830 - 372 4470
Richard Cook 9150 FM 1101 Seguin TX 78155 830 - 456 9411
Austin Lee MillerI didnt get to visit them all, my wife and kids would have killed me.
last, https://www.facebook.com/dimlights.cowboy.boots this page belongs to a woman who has written books and has a website, but this is more current
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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.
