Shoes that look better with age...

[DaveyB]

Also, I ordered locally and got them for $159. Cheaper than anywhere I saw online by quite a bit.

[ADDIC]

anyone can help about wolverine 1000 mile boots sizing? my size an 8.5D in RW

Im a 9.5 in rw 8130.

9 in 1000 mile

[mikecch]

Pull-up!

[smittybat]

The indy's are looking good Mike. Here's mine from last night at the ballgame.

I've realized I need to downsize my boots so I'm selling a pair White's SD and a pair of Loake Burford boots. I want to give you guys first crack at these. They're up in the marketplace.

[coleslawyum]

Was interested in getting a pair of Chippewa engineers reworked by Takeshi-San. Can anyone comment on which pair to order?

Chippewa Engineer Boots:

Shorties:

USA Release:

27872, Black Oil tanned, Steel toe

27910, Brown Roughout

Japan Release:

91096, Black Rough Out

91070, Sand Suede

91065, Tan Renegade (similar to Chromexcel)

91067, Burgundy

11 Inch:

USA Release:

27899, Natural Welt, Black Oil Tanned, Steel Toe

27863, Black Welt, Black Oil Tanned, Steel Toe

97863, Black Oil Tanned

27921, Black Rough Out

27911, Brown Rough Out

Japan Release:

91071, Sand Suede

91068, Burgundy

91066, Tan Renegade

You can find some deadstock models on fleabay for dirt cheap. Most USA models can be found online for less than $150 if you spend some time looking for them.

Vintage pairs are harder to find, but also cost at least $500 and up depending on year.

Here are mine:

27911, worn for about 4 years.

Early 1990's deadstock

1970's

[ranonranonarat]

^this guy has so much footwear porn!

great information i have to say though.. someone rep this guy for me.

[pepper davies]

Thanks so much Spencer. That post should be saved for reference. I'm sorry I can't rep!

[CrashTestBrummie]

Might be worth contacting R.J.&S. Parkhouse down Exeter way, as they have a number of Vibram soles listed as available options. They're closed till Thursday though - I tried calling today with a view to getting a Ridgeway sole put on a pair of veldtschoen boots.

Just a little footnote to this: contacted the cobbler today and they quoted a provisional price of £59 for a resole with a Dainite or Itshide sole. I didn't ask about the Vibrams, as I don't know my arse from my elbow when it comes to these foreign brands

The fella said that he was simply unable to get his hands on the Dainite Ridgeway or Medway sole, and said that this was down to Harboro (Dainite's parent company) simply having appalling customer service. Apparently he's been waiting six months for a simple order of rubber heels from them...

There's a "nominal" charge of five quid for postage once the work is done, or a little more for a tracked service. I'm going to see how my latest round of eBay sales go and look to send some boots down in a week or so, followed by the personal grail-like Lotus shoes that are on their way to me.

On a different note, anyone UK-based in need of a formal or semi-formal dress shoe really should track down some of the Alfred Sargent pre-price-increase shoes that are available at discounted prices - I needed a pair of oxfords for more formal occasions and picked up the Edgeware model for a steal and the quality is up there with the best of them. Expect big price hikes when they're reborn and revamped this month, so this could be your last chance to pick up a top drawer pair of shoes for less than the standard price of a pair of Loakes...

[TheBlackGoat]

Just got my RW 2991 back from my local cobbler.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

[fre-co]

Personally I prefer the before picture. No hate.

[smittybat]

I think they need more arch perhaps a taller heel.

[baldy]

interesting choice u went with... it looks ok but most my dress shoes have that sole and im not sure how it would hold up and it looks stiff as hell with all that leather.

[TheBlackGoat]

thanks for the comments guys

the RW 2991 boot style is supposed to be a lower profile heel and arch, then the standard RW Engineers. i tried to keep with that vibe.

they are a tad too thick!!! i am not 100% happy with the result myself. but thought it would be cool to post them up anyway

but whatever, they will probably look a bit better after the natural leather darkens up a bit.

[lance]

high desert boots are very nice. moto website? i googled it but not luck. thanks

[pwing]

the RW 2991 look amassing

[beautiful_FrEaK]

^this guy has so much footwear porn!

great information i have to say though.. someone rep this guy for me.

I repped him for you and Spencer deserves it every time!

[smittybat]

Are these the oil-tanned ones? I've found it's possible to get a shine on my 97863 with a lot of work, wondering if these came that way. I don't care for the super high gloss shine but I don't like the dull look the 97863's come from the factory with.

Chippewa Engineer Boots:

1970's

[wgmds]

is a redwing 2268 worth 120$ more than a pair of chippewas?

[smittybat]

You can get pretty much all of the chippewa's for around $150 if you look around long enough. Can you get 2268 for $270? When they are available they're usually north of $300. They look pretty nice but I don't really want the steel toe. I went with Chippewa 97863's which have a celastic toe that has a lower profile instead of a steel toe which is heavier, less comfortable and is going to look the same 10 years down the road.

If you do want a steel-toe boot the 2268's are nice if you can get them cheaper than everybody wants to sell them for.

[coleslawyum]

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Are these the oil-tanned ones? I've found it's possible to get a shine on my 97863 with a lot of work, wondering if these came that way. I don't care for the super high gloss shine but I don't like the dull look the 97863's come from the factory with.

I suspect that they were oil-tanned, but this pair is over 30 years old. I believe the original owner didn't take very good care of them. The leather was drying out by the time I bought them.

When oil tanned leather gets dry, its pretty easy to replace the oil with shoe cream and polish. It then takes a shine pretty much the same as any other polishable leather.

I would suggest not moisturizing your boots for awhile (like a year!) so the polish becomes a little easier to apply.

[wgmds]

I can get them for 295 shipped from red wing directly and chipps with oiled leather can be bought for 160 or so. I'm getting a steel toe either way (my school classes recommend steel toes). So is there any glaring problem with the chipps or are they a steal?

[not too tight]

Has anyone ordered a pair of Open Roads by White's? Are those the new engineer boots they just released? Seem pretty interesting but would like to see some more photos.

[fre-co]

Those are the standard engineers. The new one will be custom like the SD.

[not too tight]

Ahh understandable thanks!

[mikecch]

Thanks for the tips coleslawyum!

New motto - rebuild them shoes:

[Hajduk]

Fit pic of my new SD for halberdklown

please zakurie,

more infos about your herringbone pants.

[nattomoto]

please zakurie,

more infos about your herringbone pants.

Those are Stronghold jeans. I placed a custom order with them a few years back when Bill was still working there. I was in their shop 6 weeks ago and they still have stock of the denim, and I think they had some already made jeans in that denim for sale as well.

[Hajduk]

thanks a lot with your precise answer!

i will contact asap Bill at CRAFT.LA

[CrashTestBrummie]

^ Randomly, Orvis (purveyors of massively overpriced purveyors of country clobber and other stuff) have a Stronghold denim chore coat in stock for the glorious price of £425!

Seeing mikecch post that Cat's Paw pic reminded me: what's the grip actually like with those soles? Seen a couple of pairs of vintage shoes recently with pretty new-looking Cat's Paws and wondered...

A little pair of grails came today:

Toecaps have been pretty much worn smooth over the decades:

Definitely needing a resole before wearing; the pavements of Birmingham aren't quite ready for these soles:

[mikecch]

^ Nice!

Gonna give them a re-dye?

Biltrite still has (& I think still produces) the Cat's Paw heels & (?) soles.

They're just regular SBR rubber - their Imperial/nitrile heels, AFAIK, wears better...Cat's Paw is more of an aesthetic thing rather than functional now.