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Cowboy Boots

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
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8,850
^^^^or some of those cutie pie compression stockings with the hole for the toes.
I’ll never tell.
That stitch pattern is fabulous!!
I’d carry em around just to be close.
B
 
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18,209
My new Lucchese 'Boot Scoots'. They were just released .....

52611665_571915416636028_6623447608952094720_n.jpg
You a carhop at Sonic?
 
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11,374
Location
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Getting this thread headed back towards the vintage side with a little discussion and comparison. We do side by side with hats, so here we have some TL's from different eras for comparison. Both at the top of their respective game for their eras, though I imagine that the black pair were more representative of their time, in general, than the El Rey's. More of a boot for the masses, if you will. The El Rey's were a special run in the early 80's and dependent on the hides, could reach $1k. These are French calf that sold in the $6-$700 range.

TL, along with the other two from the Big Three got their start in expansion with mail order without a lot of a store presence for awhile. I've read read where TL had something in the area of 55,000 individual lasts. Just try and imagine the logistics of that. All mail order.
CIMG6041.JPG

The black boots are made with a kangaroo vamp and calf top. The French Calf El Rey's have a goat or "kid" top as is typical for TL.
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The black boots have a leather heel rand as opposed to plastic for the El Rey's.
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Full length overlays on the pulls of both boots but look how poorly finished the El Rey's are. The single row of stitching doesn't look nearly as secure either.
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Both pair are finished well around the arch support.
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Cont.
 
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11,374
Location
Alabama
Cont.

The finish of the shank area is really what stands out on the old boots. As smooth and deeply finished as a pair of customs. My pictures don't really do this justice but the arches are really rolled and pegged well. Typical of TL, one row of wooden and another row of brass pegs. Not unusual but maybe more common in a SW boot, say AZ or NM.
CIMG6051.JPG
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An El Rey trademark; three rows of pegging with two of wood and one of brass. The arches are not rolled as well but the overall construction is good. TL has used the three rows on other runs; Gold Label's and the 1984 Signature Series come to mind but I have seen it used in an almost random fashion among boots that were special but not specially labeled.
CIMG6053.JPG
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Looks at the shafts of both boots will confirm that they were hand stitched, one row at a time. The shaft of the black boots
has a row of variegated stitching among the three rows. Which one?
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Looking closely at the toe of the black boot one sees that there was a waver in the stitch along the welt. In today's world that would be a QC reject. Then, as today, proof that the boots were hand made.
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Anyone looking for a 9 1/2 El Rey, let me know.
CIMG6060.JPG
 

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
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8,850
Great images and excellent write-up Greg. I very much enjoy these types of posts. Thanks for taking the time.
You sure sharpened my eye on some boot detail. Love both pair.
Bowen
 

Aaronlowe

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