Shoes that look better with age...

[rayw44]

I had the chance a while back; auction on german ebay for 700$; I asked for some info but they were sold soon after, bummer.

Were they just slightly used, with a bit of wear to the soles? If so, I may have been the one to beat you to it. But they are well worth it, especially if you can find them at a discount. I'm planning on posting pics soon, just need a day with some nice weather and decent light.

And the leather on these is fantastic. It's grainy and thicker than you would think it is. I'll do a bit of a "review" after I get some pics.

[CrashTestBrummie]

Oddly asymmetrical evo on the C&J Arran's rough-out:

And, in response to the high-top boots posted by riff, the Crockett & Jones-made 'Pickering' shooting boot for the world-renowned gunmakers, Purdey:

Crockett & Jones make, or have made, a lot of the boots for the proper, upper-class gunmakers and outdoor clothiers, such as Purdey, Holland & Holland, Brocklehurst et al. Most eBay sellers don't realise this, and list the footwear solely under the name of the company for whom the boots were made...

Will have slimmed down my collection to about half its original size by the end of the week. The above two pairs are going nowhere...

[Paul T]

Crikey, when did you buy those? (I"m only just staving off another footwear-envy moment)

[kenzie]

i'm trying to decide between the clarks DB and the hawkings mcgill DB, does anyone have any information on the comparative fit of the two? i wear a size 9 in chucks, typically around a 8.5 for boots, but i don't have the chance to try on either of these before i buy them. (there are pictures in the this or that thread if you want to see them). thanks in advance

[hysteric]

Abington Guide Boot (christy resole) in need of a cleaning from the last few camping trips.

[pepper davies]

Just lost these on eBay. If you bought them please sell them to me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150658915747?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[rayw44]

Just lost these on eBay. If you bought them please sell them to me.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150658915747?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

12s don't come up too often, but you can always snag these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-50s-HOT-BOOT-Engineer-BOSS-Motorcycle-Buckle-BIKER-Boots-12-/140599321284?pt=US_Men_s_Shoes&hash=item20bc5f62c4

Not the nicest leather (looks to be split, not full grain), and they aren't super old either (60s at best) but they have a great toe profile.

Or these deadstock Carolinas from the 60s or 70s: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-MENS-WORK-ENGINEER-LINEMAN-STEEL-TOE-BOOTS-SHOES-12-/250864680241?pt=US_Mens_Vintage_Shoes&hash=item3a68b33d31

And you might be able to get either seller to go down from the base price.

[smittybat]

I was watching that auction as well. From 20 to 152 in the last 3 seconds.

[pepper davies]

Yeah. I put in 155 at the last second, but the bid didn't go through. I don't know enough about Engineer boots yet to know if 150 is a steal or not, but it seemed fair for those boots.

Thanks for the information Ray. I might just send in an offer.

Edit: Put in an offer. It was accepted. Makes me wonder if I could have gone lower.

[rungo]

Another post from Edmonton (sup hysteric), got me some new AS Kelsos. Fortunately for me, the Shoe Healer had on pair on clearance in my size, and they fit great the way I want to wear them (heavier socks). Big thanks to CTB for sizing advice.

Seen hear next to what they're replacing, my 5 year old Clarks desert boots, which have seen many an application of Obenauf's as well as a few of beeswax for that crinkled effect.

\

Here's a picture of how the welt has completely separated on my Clarks, this has lead to many a damp foot, although somehow the integrity of the shoe remains completely intact, and I'm actually surprised the sole has held up as well as it has. These have taken two years of intermittent wear, and three years of daily driver harsh wear.

Half assed fit pic.

And a question for anyone who might know, what colour of Sahpir polish would work best for these?

[rayw44]

Yeah. I put in 155 at the last second, but the bid didn't go through. I don't know enough about Engineer boots yet to know if 150 is a steal or not, but it seemed fair for those boots.

Thanks for the information Ray. I might just send in an offer.

Edit: Put in an offer. It was accepted. Makes me wonder if I could have gone lower.

Which pair did you go for, and how much did you get them for (if you're willing to discuss)?

I think 150 on the other pair was a bit much for them, since they were steel toed, black interiors, and likely from the 80s. Not that these are bad things, just features I look to avoid on my vintage boots.

[superBobo]

In other news... Do we have an "ugliest boot" thread? Who's gonna be the first to trade in their Red Wings for these? Lol!

These are heavily inspired by the north scandinavian Same people, who were indigenous to the region, predating the indo-europeans.. Supposedly the Denim Demon dudes are related somehow.

The last style is actually pretty popular here among women. I think theyre pretty cool.

[CrashTestBrummie]

And a question for anyone who might know, what colour of Sahpir polish would work best for these?

Burgundy...or you could use dark brown, or even black. Cream polish for a glow, wax for a shine:

Although not made by Saphir (yet), C&J's polishes also do the job nicely.

[bahnahnahs]

a quick question..

between redwings 9014 and wolverine the original 1000 mile ( http://www.wolverine.com/us/1000mile/# )

which have a smaller shaft? my jeans hem is rather small.. so looking for a pair of boots that my jeans can sit on them nicely.

[meschan]

can someone tell me what would be the difference between celastic toe and none overtime?

[k4727]

the wolverine shaft and redwing is about the same, the difference would be that redwings is wider while wolverines are longer. but they but id suggest wolverines because the quick ties mean that u can pull em as tight as u need to.

[rayw44]

I promised pics of my MFRCs, and I was able to take a few good shots today. These boots really are worth it, and I think they may be the nicest engineer boots I have ever seen. They are just like a vintage pair of boots from the start, and they are also incredibly comfortable.

I currently own some vintage pairs, and these rival or surpass every pair I have ever owned.

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[Tiro]

so my RW 2904's are about ready for a new sole, since the RW crepe sole isn't very grippy or durable, I was wondering if it would be worth it (and possible) to have it resoled with a Vibram Morvis or Morflex instead?

any of you ever had a pair of crepe sole RW's resoled with Vibrams?

[pepper davies]

Found this sign in an old, closed down shoe repair shop in downtown Baltimore. Makes me wish I had been here 5 years earlier.

I guess this brings up a question - do you need to send off to Japan to get a Takeshi-San style resole or are there competent cobblers in and around that can handle a resole on a pair of boots? Right now I've got 5 pairs of boots in need of a resole, and I can't afford all 5 of them being 250 bucks or more.

[smittybat]

^ I've had some success with Tulsa Shoe Rebuilders

Here's a pair of wolverine 1000 milers I got resoled

Here's the Carolina's I got resoled and then sold because they didn't fit (lost money on that deal)

The resole on the Wolverine's was around $95 and the Carolina's was around $185 (needed a re-welt and swap out the heel with leather). Turn around time is a couple of weeks and that price included return shipping.

I'm thinking about resoling the Carolina's I just got with them but doing a brown edge this time around.

Problem with Takeshi-San is it's gonna cost $50 each way for shipping, but his work is second to none.

[Megatron1505]

Looking good SB, on a side note I wish I could scrape the dough together for your SD's, they look amazing.

[sweapea]

Beautiful boots smitty & ray!!

The only good thing about coming back from vacation is getting to wear these again! I have a very small window of opportunity before the snow hits

[CrashTestBrummie]

The only good thing about coming back from vacation is getting to wear these again! I have a very small window of opportunity before the snow hits

Very nice! Gotta spread...

Crikey, when did you buy those? (I"m only just staving off another footwear-envy moment)

Sorry, mate, only just seen this.

Had to find some way of balancing the collection now that so many pairs are on their way to either Japan or the Home Counties! Beautiful, no?

[Bodyslam]

so my RW 2904's are about ready for a new sole, since the RW crepe sole isn't very grippy or durable, I was wondering if it would be worth it (and possible) to have it resoled with a Vibram Morvis or Morflex instead?

any of you ever had a pair of crepe sole RW's resoled with Vibrams?

i am contemplating on resoling my old 875 with vibram #100 honey. did a bit of searching around the net and found these pictures.

hope they helped.

[ah_long]

you guys don't even need to look far, just look @ the posts and links I posted on the previous pages

[onehundy]

Found this sign in an old, closed down shoe repair shop in downtown Baltimore. Makes me wish I had been here 5 years earlier.

I guess this brings up a question - do you need to send off to Japan to get a Takeshi-San style resole or are there competent cobblers in and around that can handle a resole on a pair of boots? Right now I've got 5 pairs of boots in need of a resole, and I can't afford all 5 of them being 250 bucks or more.

where are you located?

[TheNorthern]

i can recall a number of users asking where they themselves could buy the L.L. Bean boots I own

Link..

it turns out i had mine two seasons before they where released..

& mine where marked down $105 compared to the listed price

pretty sweet

[marineabilly]

Found this sign in an old, closed down shoe repair shop in downtown Baltimore. Makes me wish I had been here 5 years earlier.

I guess this brings up a question - do you need to send off to Japan to get a Takeshi-San style resole or are there competent cobblers in and around that can handle a resole on a pair of boots? Right now I've got 5 pairs of boots in need of a resole, and I can't afford all 5 of them being 250 bucks or more.

Nice photo. I snapped this one in Alameda, CA right after my return from Afghanistan back in March/April. It was a super small shop.

I've featured quite a few Cobblers on my blog with corresponding photos, to include the Tulsa shop. I don't think you can go wrong with any one of them. Just type in "cobbler" in the search bar in the right side.

I just received an e-mail the other day from Takeshi announcing the arrival of a pair of my Engineers.

[pepper davies]

Onehundy, I'm in Baltimore, Maryland but I regularly travel up and down the east coast as far north as Boston and as far south as North Carolina.

And thanks for the information Marineabilly. I'm eternally indebted to all of the guys on here that constantly help me learn more about engineer boots and cobblery. Rayw44, Marineabilly, Spencer, onehundy and probably a few more people I can't recall off the top of my head.

[heinrich BCN]

Seen hear next to what they're replacing, my 5 year old Clarks desert boots, which have seen many an application of Obenauf's as well as a few of beeswax for that crinkled effect.

@ rungo : How did you size the boots, compared to your Clarks db?