Cowboy Boots

[MtnBob]

I had a disappointment today, I've been looking for some 1950's style Peewees and made an offer for these Acmes last week on Ebay. Nice style and great condition, my size 10D.
View attachment 217682
They came in the mail last night and it wasn't even close that my foot would go into them even though stamped 10D. The seemed like a size 9 or smaller.

View attachment 217683

Then it occurred to me, they're a Women's 10D. Womens nominal sizes are 1-1/2 smaller than men's. A women's 10 is a man's 8-1/2 with the according shrink in width.

Hated to see them go back.

Sorry for your disappointment, Rob. I had the exact same thing happen to me. Bought a 9.5EE cheap, thinking there was a good chance they’d fit my 10D, but they were ridiculously small. Turned out to be women’s (and not an EE width either). My wife normally wears a women’s 8.5, but is comfortable in the 9.5 with an insole. At least someone got new boots!

 

[belfastboy]

Sorry for your disappointment, Rob. I had the exact same thing happen to me. Bought a 9.5EE cheap, thinking there was a good chance they’d fit my 10D, but they were ridiculously small. Turned out to be women’s (and not an EE width either). My wife normally wears a women’s 8.5, but is comfortable in the 9.5 with an insole. At least someone got new boots!

My wife got a new jacket in this way last week. She keeps telling me to stop buying her stuff......if she only knew the full story

 

[dh66]

I had a disappointment today, I've been looking for some 1950's style Peewees and made an offer for these Acmes last week on Ebay. Nice style and great condition, my size 10D.
View attachment 217682
They came in the mail last night and it wasn't even close that my foot would go into them even though stamped 10D. The seemed like a size 9 or smaller.

View attachment 217683

Then it occurred to me, they're a Women's 10D. Womens nominal sizes are 1-1/2 smaller than men's. A women's 10 is a man's 8-1/2 with the according shrink in width.

Hated to see them go back.

I hate that for you, Rob. Those are some real beauties. They likely aren't ladies....their shoes and boots aren't sized in D widths. A ladies medium width is a B....which can be confusing because that also used to be a men's medium width way back when. Its still a pretty safe bet that an A or C is narrow, though, just to add to the confusion. What's even more confusing is how vintage boots that old just tend to run a half to a full size smaller than modern ones. Believe me.....I have learned this the hard way. If you normally wear a 10 and you're hunting some old ACME peewees, or any kind really, shoot for a 10.5 or even an 11. Better to have them a little big and shove some Dr. Scholls in them than have them too tight. Good luck with the next pair.

 

[dh66]

Here's a pic of a pair of 11.5 ACMEs (the brown ones) from the 40s or 50s next to some size 11 D modern Luccheses. The heels of both boots are tight to the wall. I can wear the ACMEs because the toe is,a little wider, but theyre still pretty snug.

And here's a pair of size 12 ACMEs next to the Luccheses

 

[MtnBob]

Wow. Looks like you could easily size up 1.5-2 sizes.

 

[dh66]

Wow. Looks like you could easily size up 1.5-2 sizes.

It's always a crapshoot buying from the ebay. Same with hats.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Thanks for the info about sizing. I still think they were women's 10D. I've done a bit of Googling and there is a D width for women, at least it's listed on charts. No matter, nice as they were I couldn't even start to get in them.

OTOH, my other purchase from last week turned out OK. I've wanted some Lucchese Hippo boots for a while. I got a pair of 10D's last year but they were too tight, I could get in them with some struggling but couldn't walk in them. I was lucky to get out of them...

Last week an identical pair came up on Ebay in 10E, they have the Falconcrest label but a little research shows they are Lucchese's. New they have a great rough suede texture, and the shafts on these still do, but the vamps have a few shiny spots.

I want to clean them and then see if I can raise the nap on them. Finally I'd like to condition them. I have Bicks for Exotics but I think that's mostly for reptile skin.

Anyone have experience with hippo? Any advice appreciated.

 

[MtnBob]

I want to clean them and then see if I can raise the nap on them. Finally I'd like to condition them. I have Bicks for Exotics but I think that's mostly for reptile skin.

Anyone have experience with hippo? Any advice appreciated.

View attachment 218165

I don’t have any hippo, Rob, but I have used the Bick's Exotic spray for my elephant boots to good effect. Spray, set, brush.

I’d bet a suede shoe brush would work to raise the nap.

Good luck; those are sharp boots!

 

[Bamaboots]

@Recoil Rob, I have some hippo boots and use bick 4 on them as well as all my smooth leather and exotic boots. The hippo you have appear to me to be what I’ve seen referred to as “sanded” hippo in which some of the pebble grain is sanded down creating a finish very similar to suede. I’d be very cautious about applying any smooth leather or exotic cleaners and conditioners to them w/o some more research. A cleaner made specifically for suede may be what you need.

 

[Recoil Rob]

They are sanded hippo. I'll be calling both Bicks and Lucchese for more info before I do anything.


thanks,

Rob

 

[MtnBob]

Wearing Black Jack elephant boots today. These are fairly new, and my first pair of elephants. I always expected “tough” to equal “stiff.” These are very soft and supple, while still having a very rugged exterior.

Show your elephants, FL!

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Greetings All:
Today....no ice out today so i took the Elephant Nocona’s out for the day.
Anybody know what part of the critter they cut the hides from for boots? Just curious.
Be well. Bowen

 

[MtnBob]

View attachment 218381 View attachment 218382 Greetings All:
Today....no ice out today so i took the Elephant Nocona’s out for the day.
Anybody know what part of the critter they cut the hides from for boots? Just curious.
Be well. Bowen

Nice boots, Bowen. Great minds think alike today.

My understanding is that most boots are made from the main body of the elephant, while the ears and trunk are used for smoother items like wallets or purses, etc.

I am on the lookout for a nice round toe pair. I try to have a square and a round toe in all the leathers I like.

 

[Bamaboots]

Anybody know what part of the critter they cut the hides from for boots? Just curious.

B, I do not but likely the entire body with maybe the exception of the belly. Bootmakers buy the leather typically in 4x5 panels or 20 sq. ft. I have a pair made from elephant ear as well.

 

[Recoil Rob]

Just an FYI for anyone interested in Hippos, not my auction, these are very nice.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283810670590?ul_noapp=true

They're listed as a 9.5D, my experience is these can be tight. I'm a 10D and tried a 10D once, it took me a couple minutes to finally wriggle in and wasn't sure they would ever come off. I now have a pair of 10E that I can get into.

 

[Bamaboots]

Just an FYI for anyone interested in Hippos, not my auction, these are very nice.

Just like my hippos, the toe bug and wrinkles are a waste.

 

[Recoil Rob]

I know toe bugs are purely decorative but I seem to remember the horizontal lines or "wrinkles" served some purpose.
Foumd this on "cultured Cowboy"

Toe Bug: Another name for the fancy stitching on the top of the vamp. This is used on certain leathers to help the boot break over properly. Sometimes it surrounds cording that is sewn into the vamp for more support, or looks. Exotics such as lizard do not need this feature.

 

[jonesy86]

Just an FYI for anyone interested in Hippos, not my auction, these are very nice.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283810670590?ul_noapp=true

They're listed as a 9.5D, my experience is these can be tight. I'm a 10D and tried a 10D once, it took me a couple minutes to finally wriggle in and wasn't sure they would ever come off. I now have a pair of 10E that I can get into.

Just an FYI for anyone interested in Hippos, not my auction, these are very nice.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283810670590?ul_noapp=true

They're listed as a 9.5D, my experience is these can be tight. I'm a 10D and tried a 10D once, it took me a couple minutes to finally wriggle in and wasn't sure they would ever come off. I now have a pair of 10E that I can get into.

Those are nice. Not that I can wear boots much where I live, but I have started looking for a pair of Lucchese Classics exotics in 12 D. To my eye the chocolate hippo looks a little more low key than some. Not sure if I could pull off climbing out of my Prius at the local watering hole wearing snake skin. LOL

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Those are nice. Not that I can wear boots much where I live, but I have started looking for a pair of Lucchese Classics exotics in 12 D. To my eye the chocolate hippo looks a little more low key than some. Not sure if I could pull off climbing out of my Prius at the local watering hole wearing snake skin. LOL

Cowboys go way back in Hawaii.
Prius...not so far.
Just wear shorts...lol
B

 

[Bamaboots]

horizontal lines or "wrinkles" served some purpose.

To ensure the boots break across the tops at consistent (almost right) angles. It does NOT matter and won’t make a difference on a deeply grained hide such as hippo, elephant and shrunken shoulder unless it’s surface corrected. Even then it’s barely visible w/o contrasting stitching.