Cowboy Boots

[Desert dog]

I seldom wear reptile, but I pulled these Justins out today.

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[Bamaboots]

I seldom wear reptile, but I pulled these Justins out today.

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Not a snake fan but those look great with the color and stitching.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I seldom wear reptile, but I pulled these Justins out today.

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I don't wear snake either since some TL's brought me bad luck once, in the form of a motorcycle accident. I still feel & deal with that everyday.

 

[Desert dog]

I don't wear snake either since some TL's brought me bad luck once, in the form of a motorcycle accident. I still feel & deal with that everyday.

I'm not a big fan either, I have 3 pair that sit in the back of the closet.

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[Woodtroll]

Yes, cold hardy, they have been snowed on and winter temperatures here can get below freezing at night. Here is one of its displays, a couple others too.

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Those are beautiful, and definitely not something we have in our part of the country. One of the things I love about this forum is how the threads can stray off topic and still be so interesting. Thanks for posting these!

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I seldom wear reptile, but I pulled these Justins out today.

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Prob the nicest looking snakes i’ve seen. Like Bama, great stitching too!

 

[Rosecitymike]

Got these pair off eBay. Lucchese stamped made in San Antonio. Fit me like they were custom made for my feet. Best part (for me) is that the shaft is narrower than my others and are nice and snug against the calf.

 

[Desert dog]

Prob the nicest looking snakes i’ve seen. Like Bama, great stitching too!

Thanks Bowen!

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[Desert dog]

View attachment 149313

Got these pair off eBay. Lucchese stamped made in San Antonio. Fit me like they were custom made for my feet. Best part (for me) is that the shaft is narrower than my others and are nice and snug against the calf.

Good looking boots! I have never had Luchese, but I like the looks.

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[Hurricane Jack]

DD, is that you?

 

[Richard Morgan]

Olsen-Stelzer I got on the bay last week. These were listed as 13B but no size markings anywhere. Don’t appear to be custom since they were sold at Stewart’s Boot and Saddle in Rusk, TX. The previous owner put the Toppies on because he lives in Seattle. Really comfortable, maybe after all these years thinking I am a 12.5D, a 13B is a better fit.

 

[Richard Morgan]

This stamp from Stewart’s Boot and Saddle I didn’t include in the last post.
I have been tempted by a pair of Black Jack Hippos but the pics aren’t very clear and In some of the pics they just look ugly. Does anyone have any input on the beauty or lack thereof of hippo skin?

 

[Bamaboots]

View attachment 149443 View attachment 149444 View attachment 149445 View attachment 149446 View attachment 149447 View attachment 149448 View attachment 149449 Olsen-Stelzer I got on the bay last week. These were listed as 13B but no size markings anywhere. Don’t appear to be custom since they were sold at Stewart’s Boot and Saddle in Rusk, TX. The previous owner put the Toppies on because he lives in Seattle. Really comfortable, maybe after all these years thinking I am a 12.5D, a 13B is a better fit.

Wow, Richard. Good get. I was wondering if you bought those. Look much nicer than the sale pics. My guess is that those have some age on them. O S at one time was a decent sized operation that had stock boots, sold through other retailers, mail order and MTM and their own store front. I bet it's been a long time since a retailer sold any. Don't know, but in your runs through the area you might be able to get an idea on age. O S used to be in Henrietta but I'd read that they relocated to Wichita Falls. Don't know if that's right or not.

 

[Bamaboots]

Does anyone have any input on the beauty or lack thereof of hippo skin?

This is a pic of my hippo boots from O S, Richard. Similar to elephant. There are other pics around here somewhere. I can post others tomorrow if you want. B J make a nice boot.

 

[Richard Morgan]

Wow, Richard. Good get. I was wondering if you bought those. Look much nicer than the sale pics. My guess is that those have some age on them. O S at one time was a decent sized operation that had stock boots, sold through other retailers, mail order and MTM and their own store front. I bet it's been a long time since a retailer sold any. Don't know, but in your runs through the area you might be able to get an idea on age. O S used to be in Henrietta but I'd read that they relocated to Wichita Falls. Don't know if that's right or not.

You're right Greg, the offices and, I believe, the manufacturing facility are now in Wichita Falls and they have a store in Ft. Worth. They have completely moved out of Henrietta as far as I can find out. I know one of the older Callahan brothers who have been selling tack, boots and feed here in Austin for a really long time. He may have information or he may have sold them. I'll find out. I think I call O S too, they may be more helpful than Stetson is. At least it is still the same family.
The Ebay pics were not very good but the boots also really needed conditioning, fortunately most of what I thought was damage to the leather was just crusted polish and crud. A good cleaning and conditioning really made a difference.

 

[Richard Morgan]

This is a pic of my hippo boots from O S, Richard. Similar to elephant. There are other pics around here somewhere. I can post others tomorrow if you want. B J make a nice boot.

Thanks, if you can post a couple more without too much effort, I would much appreciate it.
The Hippos got my attention because they are Black Jack, I have a pair that are plain but really comfortable and appear to be well built.

 

[Woodtroll]

The previous owner put the Toppies on because he lives in Seattle.

Very nice boots there, Richard, glad they cleaned up to be better than you expected. I am curious about the Toppies comment, if you will pardon my ignorance... How does Seattle necessitate Toppies? I'm guessing the prevalent wet weather and the boots originally had leather soles that were slick in rain, perhaps? I'm a bit of an amateur cobbler and leatherworker at times, enough to try to be self-sufficient, so I'm just curious. I'm always learning useful things here!

Thank you,
Regan

 

[Bamaboots]

Thanks, if you can post a couple more without too much effort, I would much appreciate it.
The Hippos got my attention because they are Black Jack, I have a pair that are plain but really comfortable and appear to be well built.

I'll get you some up as I don't save pics. Had two pair of Black Jacks, both in smooth ostrich. Really good boots. You probably know but rumor has it that Black Jack was started by former Lucchese employee's. I wouldn't doubt it as they are great boots but there is probably a little more refinement in a Lucchese. I like the Classic's but I sold the only pair I ever owned.

All of this got me to thinking; what "factory" boots are still being produced to exacting standards that all of us appreciate. I'll define factory as those that are shop produced on standard lasts and offered up in retail or online settings. I'll define exacting standards as hand lasted, fine quality leathers, hand pegged, leather wrapped steel shank and..... I could go on and on. I'll just say hand made as most of us have an understanding of a quality boot and for those that still have questions, this may answer them. Lets keep it U S made for the sake of this discussion.

I know of a few but I'm gonna start with a couple of obvious ones because I've owned and worn some of their boots.

1. Lucchese

2. Stallion

3. Rios of Mercedes

 

[Richard Morgan]

Very nice boots there, Richard, glad they cleaned up to be better than you expected. I am curious about the Toppies comment, if you will pardon my ignorance... How does Seattle necessitate Toppies? I'm guessing the prevalent wet weather and the boots originally had leather soles that were slick in rain, perhaps? I'm a bit of an amateur cobbler and leatherworker at times, enough to try to be self-sufficient, so I'm just curious. I'm always learning useful things here!

Thank you,
Regan

Toppies are eponymous name for thin rubber subsoles that people glue or have glued to leather soles, usually on expensive shoes to protect the original sole. In this case the previous owner said he put them on so the leather soles oh his boots would be more stable on rain slick streets and sidewalks in Seattle.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

View attachment 149443 View attachment 149444 View attachment 149445 View attachment 149446 View attachment 149447 View attachment 149448 View attachment 149449 Olsen-Stelzer I got on the bay last week. These were listed as 13B but no size markings anywhere. Don’t appear to be custom since they were sold at Stewart’s Boot and Saddle in Rusk, TX. The previous owner put the Toppies on because he lives in Seattle. Really comfortable, maybe after all these years thinking I am a 12.5D, a 13B is a better fit.

Good looking classy boot Richard. Totally changed my mind about smooth blacks!