Cowboy Boots

[Hurricane Jack]

HJ, I thought the same thing after seeing the interior shot as they look like maybe they've seen a little wear but they are 40 years old. Those boots don't have a mark on the outside of them. I've never worn anything that needed resoling that didn't have some scuffing, even my most prized ones. Maybe Bond did that on his soles in the in the 70's? If not, they went somewhere other than a cobbler for a resole. Had to go to someone with a last to fit or Tulsa shoe re-builders. I still think original.

My tops & vamps were fine. I had my soles rebuilt by them (Bonds) in the mid to late 1990's. They cut the soles off in front of the pegs & penny nail shank because they don't want to get into that. New heel blocks & caps but mine were still not painted. I'm thinking someone besides Bond's resoled the boots.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I wouldn’t begin to dispute anything bootwise with you guys. I’d be a fool to try and act like i knew s^^t. Same with hats.
One thing that struck me with these is the stitch count on the soles. Much much higher than any others i have, none being customs.
You guys got me getting out the magnifying glass for a inspect.
B
Ps: i suspect a close look for wear etc on the inside might tell the tale.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Bowen, I can see where your soles have been cut & sanded for fit at the cut line, so they definitely have had half-soles put on them. Whether Bonds did it or not, I can't say. I've just never seen them paint before.

 

[Bamaboots]

I enjoy these discussions and mysteries. I just looked through all the Bond listings on the bay and the ones that showed the soles all had the arch area painted as they are on, B's though there was a little contour on each side of the shank. I did find these and they have the same look sole and heel caps. Not that it matters but these are on a pair of partial quills. Not definitive but I'm building a prima facie case.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

See where they have been cut & sanded for fit?

 

[Bamaboots]

See where they have been cut & sanded for fit?

View attachment 146280

HJ, I see a line and a worn area near it but if that's a half sole, it's the cleanest I've seen. Looks like the foot fall line to me.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

HJ, I see a line and a worn area near it but if that's a half sole, it's the cleanest I've seen. Looks like the foot fall line to me.

Well, let Bowen examine with his magnifying glass. I'm sure he will see the cutline. I can think of no reason how a sole would wear like that.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Judging from the outside edge of the sole it appears the cut line is forward of where the welt stitches end, & angles across and back to the inside. I may be wrong but would think that is in front of the foot fall line & therefore couldn't be a wear line.

 

[dh66]

View attachment 146238 View attachment 146239 View attachment 146240 View attachment 146241 View attachment 146242 Greetings All:
Sheeze....tough act to follow but i’ll give it a shot.
Bama....thank you, thank you!!
These mystery boots are dedicated to Greg. He alerted me to them, told me what he thought and that they looked well made.
Right, right, f^^kin-A right you were Greg!! You sure have a great eye.
The mystery turned into...
Paul Bond 77s unworn....Hell Yeah!!
Can you tell i’m happy??
Thanks Greg for your direction and generosity!!
B

That is the most impressive looking ostrich vamp I have ever seen. Works of art.

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[AbbaDatDeHat]

That is the most impressive looking ostrich vamp I have ever seen. Works of art.

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Wow dh!!
Thank you. That’s high praise. Much appreciated. I will wear them with pride.
B

 

[Bamaboots]

That is the most impressive looking ostrich vamp I have ever seen. Works of art.

Have to agree with that, Cuz. Don't know that I've ever seen a pair with such impressive skins between the quill area and the smooth area of the skins. Matched as well as they could be.

 

[Bamaboots]

See where they have been cut & sanded for fit?

View attachment 146280

I don't, HJ.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I don't, HJ.

Ok, no problem. But I'm left to wonder why this pair has no sign of half-soles & looks like they painted them with a roller:

And Bowen's pair of boots looks like they used painters tape:

 

[Bamaboots]

But I'm left to wonder why this pair has no sign of half-soles & looks like they painted them with a roller:

Original?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Original?

If they are original soles than Bowen's can't be original. They would have been half-soles.

 

[Bamaboots]

If they are original soles than Bowen's can't be original. They would have been half-soles.

HJ, at this point in my inebriated night, I have to say that Bowen's boots are all original. I may be wrong but I've seen nothing to contradict that. If I'm wrong then it's a first, maybe a second but I bet it won't be the last time.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

HJ, at this point in my enebriated night, I have to say that Bowen's boots are all original. I may be wrong but I've seen nothing to contradict that. If I'm wrong then it's a first, maybe a second but I bet it won't be the last time.

My final comment would be in all the new boots I've had in my life, painted & unpainted, I have never had a wearline develop at an angle like that across the width & have the rest of the sole look like it's never even been off carpet.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Greetings All:
Thanks for all the kind words and conversations guys with the Bonds. Always interesting and always insightful!!
Meant to post up an inspection docu-drama but no one likes a dissertation.
So...after i put on my science guy eye and hat i can find no evidence of any cut-line anywhere. I did not get out my 20x loupe the mag was good enough.
Further, there are no wear marks anywhere on the boots inside or out. No smudges, rubs, frays, nothing inside except someone’s name printed.
So i can only conclude these are virgins that prob didn’t have many feet in them ever.
Now i can wear em. Almost ashamed too...almost!!
Thanks again guys.
Here’s a Stingray/Borsalino update pic. Pose stolen from Bama. Lol
B

 

[Desert dog]

View attachment 146558 Greetings All:
Thanks for all the kind words and conversations guys with the Bonds. Always interesting and always insightful!!
Meant to post up an inspection docu-drama but no one likes a dissertation.
So...after i put on my science guy eye and hat i can find no evidence of any cut-line anywhere. I did not get out my 20x loupe the mag was good enough.
Further, there are no wear marks anywhere on the boots inside or out. No smudges, rubs, frays, nothing inside except someone’s name printed.
So i can only conclude these are virgins that prob didn’t have many feet in them ever.
Now i can wear em. Almost ashamed too...almost!!
Thanks again guys.
Here’s a Stingray/Borsalino update pic. Pose stolen from Bama. Lol
B

I am thrilled you got those Bonds! True works of art. The Stingrays look really good too.

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[Richard Morgan]

I bought thee TLs in ‘94 or ‘95. Just standard TLs probably made in Mexico but they’ve held up well. There was a long period in the ‘00s when I didn’t wear boots at all so not really that much wear on them.

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