Cowboy Boots

TheOldFashioned said:

Well, I figured my western hats needed some boots, so after spending some time around this thread I decided to go fishing in the Bay. Might not be as nice as most found here nor of a preferred style, but considering my budget and the amount of rotational use they'll get I think they reperesented good value.

Chris (Cristobal) Romero:
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I was pleasantly surprised at just how comfortable these are, so I've picked up a couple more pair of boots. Still looking for probably just one more pair...

Thanks to Dale, Ed, Jack, and others, but especially Greg for their contributions to this thread.

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dh66 said:

Great find. Christobel Romero made some excellent boots. I have a pair of his from the late 50s/early 60s, they're definitely some of my favorites. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of your collection. Good luck with "just one more pair".

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Bamaboots said:

TOF, I’m sure you did your homework and discovered there’s a bunch of boot history associated with boot makers and the name Romero; from the late 20’s to boots currently made under the Don Quixote brand. So many boot makers and workers left the León area to work for the big three, I think that some of its boot making identity was lost but Romero’s carried on. Of course, w/o those folks seeking work here, the big three, along with Lucchese may not have found the success that they enjoy.

Those are some good looking, well made boots you picked up. Look forward to what else is coming.

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Recoil Rob said:

Gentlemen, what can you tell me about Larry Mahan's boots? They look well designed and tastefully designed.

From the little I could gather it seems they were made for Mahan by several different companies over the years. I've seen cloth labels stitched in with both El Paso, TX and Nocona TX. I assume Tony Lama and Nocona?

Any other possibilities?

Also, while we're at it, what about the Billy Martin line?


thanks,

Rob

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TheOldFashioned said:

Tony Lama lizard:
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Upon arrival I discovered these were stamped "FACTORY DEFECT" which hadn't been disclosed by the seller. Other than some slightly mismatched skins I couldn't say what the defect(s) might be, and at this point 35+ years later it's probably impossible to say anyway. Looks like they were sold as seconds at the Rey Store on Nov 7, 1983 per another stamp in the boot.

Half-resoled at some point in the past, but evidence of the original three row pegging remains. I figured it might have been a higher end line based on what I read regarding the two wood and one brass combination. May not be perfect but they have a history. I decided to keep them.

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TheOldFashioned said:

So here's the lineup as it currently stands:
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Brown is covered, now need something in black and/or grey.

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dh66 said:

"Just one more pair" he says....

Those are some killer looking Black Jacks. Congrats on that find! I'm sure you'll put them to some good use.

And good luck with the black pair.

And the gray pair.

And the other black pair with a different toe shape......

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TheOldFashioned said:

My most recent pair, these were listed as unbranded bullhide:
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After poking around here and looking at the toe bug and stitching pattern I had a hunch these might be some Black Jack boots, so I did some further exploring on their site. Found what looked like a match for their V-toe and a modification of their tri-star cording design, so I went ahead and made the seller an offer and agreed to a counteroffer.

After they arrived I had some suspicions about the vamp being shrunken shoulder bullhide. Not that I had anything to compare it to in hand, but it didn't feel like what I was expecting. It had a soft, almost spongy feel to it. I reached out to Black Jack's customer service rep and provided some pictures. I quickly received a response, confirming these were indeed Black Jack boots made in 2017. Turns out the shaft is burgundy goat and vamp is chocolate bison.

So here's the lineup as it currently stands:
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Brown is covered, now need something in black and/or grey.

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Hurricane Jack said:

Custom bookmakers perfected the art of "pinching leather" to get a 3-D quality dimension they couldn't get using just inlays & overlays. The pinching effect was used mostly on roses & flowers, cactus & agave plants, stars, etc. It is labor intensive requiring skill.

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The boot factories ripped it off by using pre-formed corded shapes like fleur de lys, placing them between the inner liner & outer top leather, & running one stitch around the outside. They also discovered it was cheaper than running 4 or more stitches on a top with a machine.

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Bamaboots said:

Some Blackjack boots in smooth ostrich with a goat, J cord shaft and ostrich overlays on the pulls. To me, Blackjack puts out one of the better US made factory boots at a reasonable price. Quality of build is similar to Lucchese Classics at about half the cost. The finish is maybe not as nice as the Lucchese's but leathers and construction are comparable. Got these on sale for less than half the over $500 retail. The problem is finding a brick and mortar store where you can try some on.
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TheOldFashioned said:

Thanks, Jack, for the wonderful examples and explanation. I actually was able to see a video of Black Jack making boots with the cording. Clearly not the same quality, required skill set, and thus price point of a pair of custom boots with pinched leather designs.

That being said, I feel like I got my $50 worth. Maybe they're not worth that much in the realm of boots, but for some domestic handmade footwear I think they offered good value.

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TheOldFashioned said:

Thanks, Jack, for the wonderful examples and explanation. I actually was able to see a video of Black Jack making boots with the cording. Clearly not the same quality, required skill set, and thus price point of a pair of custom boots with pinched leather designs.

That being said, I feel like I got my $50 worth. Maybe they're not worth that much in the realm of boots, but for some domestic handmade footwear I think they offered good value.

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Bamaboots said:

I recognized those boots as BlackJack as soon as I saw them. The cording was part of it but their overlay on the pulls was the certainty. Other shaft options are available from them and cost accordingly. I enjoyed both pair that I had but I eventually moved them on just as I have my Lucchese boots. Not a thing wrong with them just had similar boots in custom that I always reach for while those sat.

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