Cowboy Boots

[Herbie Hancock 7375]

Double H are a good boot. Back in the late 00’s they were having an issue with the soles and heels coming off of the ICE some early in the life of the boot, and it was finally figured out that the glue they were using wasn’t as strong as the competition because HH are made in America and the others were foreign. Pretty strict environmental regulations here on the adhesive compared to overseas. They went back to the drawing board and solved the issue (or paid off the right people) and those issues went away pretty quickly.

[tx 3 putt 77407]

I’m very happy with my pair of double H

[RMac5 1551]

On 7/26/2022 at 4:05 PM, Herbie Hancock said:

Did you ever speak to TJ the store manager?

@Herbie Hancock Just a follow up on all the AB BS. So I called TJ and explained my situation and that one of his managers blew me off and never ordered the boots like Anderson Bean suggested I do.  TJ’s first response to me was “why are you involving me?” and I explained that I was doing what AB told me to do. TJ said he would call the guy at AB that I had been talking to and call me back, never heard back from TJ, that was probably 3-4 months ago. I finally decided to hell with TJ and Anderson Bean. Went to the Waco Cavenders and ordered two pair of Black Jack caiman belly boots and couldn’t be happier with the quality. Shame on you @andersonbeanboots, you lost a great customer!

[Herbie Hancock 7375]

[mention=5553]Herbie Hancock[/mention] Just a follow up on all the AB BS. So I called TJ and explained my situation and that one of his managers blew me off and never ordered the boots like Anderson Bean suggested I do.  TJ’s first response to me was “why are you involving me?” and I explained that I was doing what AB told me to do. TJ said he would call the guy at AB that I had been talking to and call me back, never heard back from TJ, that was probably 3-4 months ago. I finally decided to hell with TJ and Anderson Bean. Went to the Waco Cavenders and ordered two pair of Black Jack caiman belly boots and couldn’t be happier with the quality. Shame on you @andersonbeanboots, you lost a great customer!

Well that’s highly frustrating. I would hope TJ lost your information and didn’t just completely blow you off as I know him to be a very good and honest man, but I 100% understand your frustration. My apologies that what I thought would be a quick solution turned out not to be.

[RMac5 1551]

16 hours ago, Herbie Hancock said:

Well that’s highly frustrating. I would hope TJ lost your information and didn’t just completely blow you off as I know him to be a very good and honest man, but I 100% understand your frustration. My apologies that what I thought would be a quick solution turned out not to be.

No biggie at all, appreciate you trying to help.  Actually wore my new Jack’s out last night and they are awesome! Maybe Bean did me a favor.

[billfromlaketravis 11522]

Well, I don't think Lucchese is ever going to restock this boot. https://lucchese.com/products/sturgis-whiskey?option1=11&option2=D&option3=R %2B 3

Could y'all recommend something similar? 

[TwiceHorn 31535]

6 hours ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Well, I don't think Lucchese is ever going to restock this boot. https://lucchese.com/products/sturgis-whiskey?option1=11&option2=D&option3=R %2B 3

Could y'all recommend something similar? 

https://timsboots.com/black-jack-bison-cowboy-boots/

Semi custom, made to order, cheaper, and a much better boot.

[tx 3 putt 77407]

buffalo hide makes a damn great boot 

[billfromlaketravis 11522]

On 1/13/2023 at 8:16 PM, TwiceHorn said:

https://timsboots.com/black-jack-bison-cowboy-boots/

Semi custom, made to order, cheaper, and a much better boot.

Do they have a store front? I’d like to see them in person. 

[billfromlaketravis 11522]

I’ll get flamed, but the Tecovas Cartwright in Scotch Goat is a handsome boot. They look just as good in person. $275 for a mad dog boot is a good price, I don’t care. 

Lucchese can make some boots that are out of stock, but it takes about 24 weeks. I’ll order the Sturgis later this year. 

[tx 3 putt 77407]

Buy what feels good. Goat is a soft skin. I only wear ropers and the luchesse fit for me. I always add a super feet to my boots 

[tx 3 putt 77407]

Edit

Edited January 30, 2023 by tx 3 putt

[tx 3 putt 77407]

I’m not sure about square toed boots, but these are damn gorgeous. Luchesse, cherry smooth ostrich. $545 

 

[tx 3 putt 77407]

Damn the ropers with the same skin and color,  are out of my size 

[Godzillatron 292]

I’m not sure about square toed boots, but these are damn gorgeous. Luchesse, cherry smooth ostrich. $545 
 

I’m a big Lucchese fan, but their square toes are either too narrow or too wide for my taste.

[GenXer 2996]

On 7/26/2022 at 2:35 AM, tx 3 putt said:

these popped up in an ad for me, nice looking boot ...

https://www.overland.com/products/mens-frank-handcrafted-suede-cowboy-boots-55265?cl=chwa

 

To my untrained eye, I like the aesthetics of these. You didn’t happen to order a pair did you?

[tx 3 putt 77407]

4 minutes ago, GenXer said:

To my untrained eye, I like the aesthetics of these. You didn’t happen to order a pair did you?

 

no, I didn't want women throwing their panties at me, out in public 

[Henry Hill 3156]

On 1/29/2023 at 10:58 PM, tx 3 putt said:

I’m not sure about square toed boots, but these are damn gorgeous. Luchesse, cherry smooth ostrich. $545 

 

Square toes are sacrilege. And spare me the “my feet are wide and I need the extra space” spiel. No, you’re fat and have fat fucking feet and shouldn’t be buying boots in the first place.

[GenXer 2996]

5 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

no, I didn't want women throwing their panties at me, out in public 

Seriously though, any thoughts on quality or fit of Overlands?

I’ve only had one pair of boots in my life; they’re Luchesse. I sized up to an 11 1/2 as they felt great and still do. However, the  instep is too small on my right foot. Not sure how the Luchesse instep compares to other makers.

[fattyflattie 4638]

39 minutes ago, Henry Hill said:

Square toes are sacrilege. And spare me the “my feet are wide and I need the extra space” spiel. No, you’re fat and have fat fucking feet and shouldn’t be buying boots in the first place.

Terrible opinion thread ————>

[tx 3 putt 77407]

2 hours ago, GenXer said:

Seriously though, any thoughts on quality or fit of Overlands?

I’ve only had one pair of boots in my life; they’re Luchesse. I sized up to an 11 1/2 as they felt great and still do. However, the  instep is too small on my right foot. Not sure how the Luchesse instep compares to other makers.

try an insole 

[Herbie Hancock 7375]

Square toes are sacrilege. And spare me the “my feet are wide and I need the extra space” spiel. No, you’re fat and have fat fucking feet and shouldn’t be buying boots in the first place.

You’re so far out of your element I debated whether to even respond to this dumbassery. Go back to your subdivision and your unwatched episodes of Yellowstone, you’ve got no clue what you’re talking about.

[RMac5 1551]

Henry with his new boots and skinny feet.

[tx 3 putt 77407]

Square toes have grown on me, I’d wear a pair 

[fattyflattie 4638]

1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

Square toes have grown on me, I’d wear a pair 

You like what you like, but sacrilege?  Contrary to what some believe, they’ve been around a long, long, very long time.  And maybe it’s true that all my awesomeness has flattened out the feet a bit, but still. 

[fattyflattie 4638]

Henry with his new boots and skinny feet.

Henry likes his boots like I like my tequila shooters.

[tx 3 putt 77407]

21 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

You like what you like, but sacrilege?  Contrary to what some believe, they’ve been around a long, long, very long time.  And maybe it’s true that all my awesomeness has flattened out the feet a bit, but still. 

I’d only wear them to like the Houston rodea bbq cook off. That’s a square toe crowd 

[fattyflattie 4638]

14 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

I’d only wear them to like the Houston rodea bbq cook off. That’s a square toe crowd 

Tell me you don't frequent working ranches without telling me you don't frequent working ranches. Or rodeo, for that matter. 

[Frank Erwin 203]

Anyone have experience with Lucchese benchmade/custom recently?  My wife won a huge gift card with them and trying to decide what to get.

[GenXer 2996]

On 3/10/2021 at 7:12 PM, Landomatic said:

Y’all want a great boot, that fits right...try Rod Patrick’s.  Great boots and a great guy who runs the place named Bobby.  Based in Ft Worth.  Every size and skin under the sun.  Thank me later.

Stumbled across this place doing a google search. Saw a pair that I like. My wife and I are going to head to Ft Worth this weekend to check the place out.

I appreciate the recommendation on the place.

[Horn Draoi 256]

On 2/4/2023 at 10:42 PM, Henry Hill said:

Square toes are sacrilege. And spare me the “my feet are wide and I need the extra space” spiel. No, you’re fat and have fat fucking feet and shouldn’t be buying boots in the first place.

Uh, hold on there, HH. I won’t debate taste, as I’m sure not excited about the looks of the square toes, but they’re actually historically authentic. Most of what we wear today as western wear is a product of the dude ranches and horse operas from the 1920’s to the ‘50’s.

40 years ago I wore 9.5 Tony Lama in a nice “R” toe; today it’s a square toe 12.  Your ears and nose aren’t the only things that grow as you age!  At least I can still pull on a pair of boots and wear ‘em all day.  And at 6’3” and 205, I don’t really qualify as “fat.”

[TwiceHorn 31535]

25 minutes ago, Horn Draoi said:

but they’re actually historically authentic.

I mean, kinda yeah.  The generally acknowledged predecessor to the cowboy boot was the "Wellington" riding or cavalry boot made famous/popular by Lord Wellington of Waterloo fame.  That boot was characterized by having a narrower top than most previous cavalry boots, that flared heavily and went over the knee.  Generally, being a riding boot, it had a rounded, narrower toe.

Cowboy boots?

At some point, slip on boots like the Wellington became standard issue in armies, even for foot soldiers, and those, like many of the laced counterparts, often had square toes.  Officers and cavalrymen tended to wear narrower, if not strictly round, toes.  But what you see from back then is a really blunt, tall square toe, or on the more refined boots, something like the modern "french toe."  You don't see hardly anything like today's square toes and certainly not any of the other accoutrement of what we consider cowboy boots, like taller, underslung heels, high arches (borrowed from the design of logger boots), and stitched tops.

Cowboy boots?

Also, a lot of laced boots of that era had square toes.  Or maybe better described as shapeless, sorta square toes. I haven't seen it explained, but I suspect that square toes were easier and cheaper to execute for a relatively crude boot than a narrower, more refined toe, square or round. 

Cowboy boots?

And, of course, officer-types, being noblemen and the closest thing America had to them, tended to get their boots handmade to a much higher standard than what the troops wore, and customized features into them, including the narrower rounder toe, which has been regarded as dressier for most of the last couple hundred years.  By the late 19th Century, cavalry boots (think aggy) were pretty standardized on a round toe.

Following the Civil War, the enlisted slip-on "wellington," often with square toes, became kind of the utility footwear for working men, and "cowboys."  The red wings of the day.  And, as stocks of those ran out, people had to have them made and began to modify the design.  Those that rode a lot tended to have them made with narrower, more rounded toes, taller heels, and higher tops.  The higher tops benefitted from stitching, which quickly became decorative, to stiffen them and keep them from falling down.

If you dig around, you can see some examples of boots with stitching on the tops, scallops, and narrower toes that are sort of transitional from the "army boots."

Somewhere along the line, the higher arches also found in logging boot designs started going along with the taller heels, maybe through the "packer" style of laced boots, which had narrower round toes and were a riding version of the logger boot.  That heel/arch combo'actually one of the more unique features of both types of boots and actually one of the things that makes them pretty comfortable for all-day wear.  And you don't see those on any of the allegedly square toe predecessors.

And yeah, it's true that "snip" or "x" toes are a product of Hollywood.

But for the things we consider cowboy boots, taller heels and the high arch, stitched tops, wide square toes like today's boots are not any more authentic than round and narrower type squarish toes.  They're not inauthentic either, exactly.  Lotta squared toed footwear of all kinds in the 19th century for some reason.

[fattyflattie 4638]

27 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Lotta squared toed footwear of all kinds in the 19th century for some reason.

Because comfort and style isn't new.  I encourage people to wear what you like.  Me, I still have a pair of custom gators in an R, but they collect dust. Everything exotic I've bought since then is square, and will continue to be even when they do fall out of style. 

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4977]

Pretty decent summary, Twice. I would add that one of the speculative reasons for square toed footwear back in the day is that it was easier to make on a straight last and fit decently on either foot. Most footwear even for wealthier folks was made on a straight last up until the mid nineteenth century or so.

[huge 3795]

On 1/27/2023 at 5:31 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

I’ll get flamed, but the Tecovas Cartwright in Scotch Goat is a handsome boot. They look just as good in person. $275 for a mad dog boot is a good price, I don’t care. 

Lucchese can make some boots that are out of stock, but it takes about 24 weeks. I’ll order the Sturgis later this year. 

I bought some last year when they finally restocked.  Love them so far.

[TwiceHorn 31535]

11 hours ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

Pretty decent summary, Twice. I would add that one of the speculative reasons for square toed footwear back in the day is that it was easier to make on a straight last and fit decently on either foot. Most footwear even for wealthier folks was made on a straight last up until the mid nineteenth century or so.

I thought about tagging you in this to confirm or deny various things.

One thing I can't find much information on is whether logging boots, of this variety

 

 

With taller, underslung heels and the exaggerated arch that goes along with them, preceded "cowboy boots."  Or perhaps there is a common ancestor.  There's an astonishing number of high-end makers of this style boot in the PNW dating back to the 19th century.  And they also tend to make "packer" boots, which may be where those features are borrowed from.  This blurb from one of them suggests that heels and arches predate the logger design, but I can't find any examples from the 19th century. https://nicksboots.com/blog/post/why-do-logger-boots-have-raised-heels/

Those remind me of those fairly abominable LaceR ropers from Justin that were extremely popular for a short time among the goatroper set.  I honestly thought square toes would go the way of the LaceR after a few years.  Square toes also remind me of Dingo and Frye boots, which kind of disgust me, as well.

 

Edited February 9, 2023 by TwiceHorn

[Fondren & Main 6742]

On 2/4/2023 at 10:42 PM, Henry Hill said:

Square toes are sacrilege. And spare me the “my feet are wide and I need the extra space” spiel. No, you’re fat and have fat fucking feet and shouldn’t be buying boots in the first place.

Strong statement from a fella that needed to go into WITSEC…

[Henry Hill 3156]

15 minutes ago, Fondren & Main said:

Strong statement from a fella that needed to go into WITSEC…

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4977]

On 2/8/2023 at 7:54 PM, TwiceHorn said:

I thought about tagging you in this to confirm or deny various things.

One thing I can't find much information on is whether logging boots, of this variety

 

 

With taller, underslung heels and the exaggerated arch that goes along with them, preceded "cowboy boots."  Or perhaps there is a common ancestor.  There's an astonishing number of high-end makers of this style boot in the PNW dating back to the 19th century.  And they also tend to make "packer" boots, which may be where those features are borrowed from.  This blurb from one of them suggests that heels and arches predate the logger design, but I can't find any examples from the 19th century. https://nicksboots.com/blog/post/why-do-logger-boots-have-raised-heels/

Those remind me of those fairly abominable LaceR ropers from Justin that were extremely popular for a short time among the goatroper set.  I honestly thought square toes would go the way of the LaceR after a few years.  Square toes also remind me of Dingo and Frye boots, which kind of disgust me, as well.

 

I haven't really looked into the history of logger boots, but I would tend to gravitate to the common ancestor theory. High heels in men's footwear was common as far back as men have been fighting wars on horseback with stirrups. They were a thing during the reign of King Louis IXV . The arch support is a necessary component of such construction.

[ohchaucer 1443]

I’m wrasslin’ with deciding what I want and figured here would be a good place to gather opinions (cuz I know y’all have them). I’m looking for a roper boot and can’t decide between lizard and full quill ostrich - either would be in a chocolate or butterscotch-ish brown.

Never bought anything exotic - if either of those would be considered to be - but those are the two I’m most drawn to.

[RMac5 1551]

IMO the ostrich would be more durable, but the lizard are more exotic and more dressy. I love lizard boots just because that’s what my dad always wore when I was young. 

[Herbie Hancock 7375]

I have two pair of black ostrich and one pair of black lizard. The ostrich are sharp and look great, but I can turn every head in the lizards. A good pair are fuckin sharp

[tx 3 putt 77407]

both. ostrich in black cherry or deep brown. lizard in black

 

[TwiceHorn 31535]

Funny, lizard was kind of the grail back when I was in high school, but it became so common as to be almost cliched and I don't give it a second thought anymore.  And hardly ever see them anymore.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4977]

Lizard and ostrich are both nice. Lizard are a bit dressier, but ostrich is more durable. Can't go wrong with either unless you are planning to use them to do actual work.

[BearSchlong 8114]

Funny, lizard was kind of the grail back when I was in high school, but it became so common as to be almost cliched and I don't give it a second thought anymore.  And hardly ever see them anymore.

[fattyflattie 4638]

On 2/10/2023 at 2:11 PM, ohchaucer said:

I’m looking for a roper boot and can’t decide between lizard and full quill ostrich - either would be in a chocolate or butterscotch-ish brown.

Ostrich if you are tied to those colors.  Lizard if going black.    Black lizard or black gator belly are my go to for when I need a suit. 

[GenXer 2996]

Picked up this pair at Rod Patrick’s in Ft Worth yesterday. Wife picked up a pair of rough outs. She wasn’t planning on getting anything but found an old school pair she couldn’t resist.

Hanging in the backyard with a Marzen beer listening to Maggie’s Song by Stapleton while smoking some baby back ribs for the super bowl.

Tossing the ball for my dogs as my german shepherd steals a couple laps of my marzen. Great fucking day.

[RMac5 1551]

All the rep to you amigo!

[4th and 5 4915]

Is there a consensus on a good place to re-sole some Lucchese in the Austin area or just send them back to Lucchese ($350 quoted, seems high)?