Cowboy boots
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Seul- yep, those are ostrich. Commonly referred to as "full quill", since they have the bumps all over (from where the feathers were plucked out). "Smooth" ostrich comes from the belly, where there aren't any feathers, and the Lucchese boots that gbougard posted are from the ostrich leg, which is why they have such a weird texture. That didn't come off as too pretentious, did it? :-\
gbougard- Lee Miller isn't taking new clients is he? Last time I checked, he was trying to work through his backlog (about 2 years worth of orders). Man, his work is beautiful, though. Nice guy, too. If you're ever in Austin, you should stop by his shop just to talk.
I'd recommend the ostrich leg over the caiman; reptile hides just don't seem as durable. From the pictures, they look like they're better quality, as well.
I love boots. I could discuss them for, well, quite a while.
-Chris
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@HoustonChris:
Seul- yep, those are ostrich. Commonly referred to as "full quill", since they have the bumps all over (from where the feathers were plucked out). "Smooth" ostrich comes from the belly, where there aren't any feathers, and the Lucchese boots that gbougard posted are from the ostrich leg, which is why they have such a weird texture. That didn't come off as too pretentious, did it? :-\
gbougard- Lee Miller isn't taking new clients is he? Last time I checked, he was trying to work through his backlog (about 2 years worth of orders). Man, his work is beautiful, though. Nice guy, too. If you're ever in Austin, you should stop by his shop just to talk.
I'd recommend the ostrich leg over the caiman; reptile hides just don't seem as durable. From the pictures, they look like they're better quality, as well.
Your comment about the texture is so true, I was so surprised not to see the usual bumps on this ostrich. I kinda like this model's texture because of that. 25 years or more ago I had a pair of bumpy ostrich boots and I just dont have the same feel for those bumps as then…
As for Lee, I did not even dare ask him (actually his wife) if they were taking new orders because their prices are out of my league at the moment. But shit, if I had the money (or the patience to save some every month for x years!), I'd fly to Austin and visit him and MAKE him put me in his backlog!
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I have a pair of Lucchese goatskin classics that I love to bits. Bought in good ol Dallas last time I was there…G
Hi Giles: how do they size? The only thing really stopping me now from pulling the trigger is that I hesitate between 11.5 and 12 and D and E. If they are true to size, I'd go for 11.5, but I havent been able to find any comment on the fit (like those endless discussions about denim fit on sufu for instance!!!)
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HC: thanks for that bit of info lad!.. I'd love to hear you talk about boots… Pop around for some beers when you find yourself in Belgium!..
I'll have to take you up on that someday- I love Belgian beer.
-Chris
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@HoustonChris:
HC: thanks for that bit of info lad!.. I'd love to hear you talk about boots… Pop around for some beers when you find yourself in Belgium!..
I'll have to take you up on that someday- I love Belgian beer.
-Chris
I can see the photos already….
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I am 10EE in Lucchese and 10CE in Alden. G
thanks boss, sice CE in Alden seems to mean wide (E) and EE on Lucchese is wider than wide but not extra wide, do you interpret this as meaning that Lucchese sizes their boots wider than Alden? And did you check with a third brand to see if you are really EE or E? That shit is confusing and there is nothing worse than a pair of ill-fitting boots…
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Can't find them on the site though…
Hi Seul
what size are your Lucchese (beautiful by the way) and how does the Lucchese sizing compare to other brands for you?
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You might want to try calling a store that sells Lucchese boots- they might be able to give you better information about fit and sizing options. Here are a couple of places I've been to and been generally satisfied with the sales staff:
Pinto Ranch:
800-393-8001
Allen's Boots:
512-447-1413
Cavender's
866-826-4865
Shepler's
888-835-4004Pinto Ranch is pretty upscale; they have trunk shows from JB Hill, Stallion, Rocketbuster, Black Jack and other high end makers. They also have a really good selection of top quality boots in stock. Allen's is a renowned shop in Austin. As I recall, Charlie Dunn worked there for years before he started Texas Traditions. They make custom boots in-house, as well as selling lots of premade boots. Shepler's and Cavender's are chain stores that specialize in western wear. I've always found their staffs to be friendly and generally well trained.
I'd like to help you myself, but I've never owned a pair of Luccheses (or Aldens, for that matter). I do own a couple of pairs of cowboy boots from other makers, though:
I'm trying to cut back. Not that you can tell…
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Apropos this thread, check this piece of randomness I found:
http://customcowboybootsandshoesforum.com/discus/messages/16/1925.html?1243313651
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Wow Houstonchris, that's a nice selection. I like the ones with the flowers on the top shelf and the black one with the red flower on the lower shelf. Man all of them are beautiful! Who made the black ones with the red rose? I love the white lining.
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I am 10EE in Lucchese and 10CE in Alden. G
thanks boss, sice CE in Alden seems to mean wide (E) and EE on Lucchese is wider than wide but not extra wide, do you interpret this as meaning that Lucchese sizes their boots wider than Alden? And did you check with a third brand to see if you are really EE or E? That shit is confusing and there is nothing worse than a pair of ill-fitting boots…
I'm wide in every brand. G
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hectic- I used to read that forum a lot, but kinda drifted away. That thread brought back some memories for me. The pictures in the "New Photos Topics" really show some amazing work and how boots can be art, as well as just footwear. Thanks for posting the link.
gbougard- the pair on the top shelf came from Caboots; there's a closer pic of them on the WAYWT thread, about a week or two ago. The black ones on the bottom shelf are actually my wife's.
Kind of a funny story- my wife has long & narrow feet and has a hard time finding shoes. When she does, they're usually expensive. She wanted a pair of cowboy boots to complete an outfit for an event she was attending and wanted something cheap, since she never wears them otherwise, so she bought a pair off eBay from some lady in Kentucky. I was stunned when she showed them to me- they're custom built by Dave Wheeler, a magnificent 2nd generation bootmaker here in Houston. I'd talked with him years ago about having a pair made, but couldn't afford it. My wife's eBay find probably cost over 2K when they left the shop. She still occasionally jokes about how she has nicer boots than I do. And dammit, she's right.
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I just pulled the trigger on those
http://www.brumbysaddlery.com/mad-dog-goat-chocolate-burnished-mad-dog-l1601.html?quantity=1
8 weeks before they ship, for fuxake, but I can already picture the 634S' with those… on the motorcycle with the by-then-arrived IHD-01 or, even better, the IH-7526J
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I found this bootmaker called Lee Miller out of Austin Texas. He started as an apprentice to the late great Charlie Dunn and took over when Charlie passed away.
I fucking fell in love with his work and decided to rearrange all my spending plans for the next few months.
Check these beauties out
http://gallery.me.com/carrlyn#gallery
I'm going for a kangaroo. There is a 3 year waiting list, just perfect 50th birthday present for me…
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The gallery of Lisa P.'s boots being made shows the incredible amount of work and artistry that goes into a really good pair of boots. That summarizes why Lee Miller is an amazing craftsman and why people are willing to wait 3 years to get a pair of boots made by him.
