Capitol Saddlery (Austin, TX)

Saturday book signing in Austin, TX

Come meet me this Saturday, Sept 27th from 1-3pm Heritage Boot. I'll be signing books (...and no doubt, trying on some boots.)

Texas Custom Boots (Austin, TX)

Texas Custom Boots is truly a full-service boot shop.

Noel Escobar will be happy to make you a brand new handmade customfit cowboy boot. He is happy to sell you one of his vintage boots. He will also take your broken-down chewed-up vintage factory boots and restore them to wearable condition.

Noel has more patience and expertise for restoring worn and vintage cowboy boots than anyone I know. Noel will strengthen boot tops with new linings. He'll relast boots... sometimes adding a wingtip or foxing as an attractive repair. He'll resole & polish. Click through to the end of the photos to see what can only be called "extreme makeovers."

Also, Texas Custom Boots adjoins Martinez Brothers Taxidermy, which makes for some great pictures. Come for the boots, stay for the BBQ.

Cowboy Boots at Allens (Austin, TX)

I walk into Allens Boots and ask if it's okay to take some photos.

Steve says... "Sure, do you want a ladder?"

"Really? I can have a ladder? Oh, yeah...gimme a ladder."

Which begs the question, "How many boots are there in Allens Boots?" When I asked Steve, he guessed 4,000. But no, the fella in the back with computer and the keyboard (whose job it is to keep count) says... 7,248. Wow... walk into Allens Boots and all the odds are in your favor. Lots of makers, styles and sizes.

With rows and rows of boots, it gets easy to see what's popular. Lucchese, Old Gringo, Frye, Justin, Tony Lama and Sendra. The girls like all sorts of punchy colors... and the boys in Austin, go for the "car repair" colors... distressed, black, gray and greenish browns leathers. Cowboy boots to match the stuff that drips outa your pickup... to match your scraped knuckles.

Texas Traditions (Austin, TX)

I first visited Texas Traditions almost ten years ago. Nowadays, I go every time I'm in Austin.

These are some photos taken during my last couple of trips. Why aren't there more? ...because that would mean I'd have to put down my coffee cup and get up out of my chair. (Please note... even Lee Cooke, a local Austin dignitary, scored only one out of two.)

Visit my Flickr page to add some comments and notes of your own.

Heritage Boot Launches New Website

Visit the grand re-opening of Heritage Boot's website. Get a sneak peek at new their "top shelf" Rancho Deluxe boots. Limited sizes available in each style... so they'll sell out fast. Call early and reserve your pair.

Hold the Date! Come meet me at Heritage Boot... Saturday, September 27, 2008 from 1-4pm. I'll signing books (...and no doubt, trying on some boots.) Stay tuned for more details.

Kowboyz

I remember the first time I actually FELT LIKE A COWBOY BOOT EXPERT. It was when Evan Voyles held up a boot and said "Do you know who made this boot?"

And I did.

Not only that... but, I could tell the bootmaker and the where Evan had bought the boot just by looking at the sole.

That's when I knew I had met enough makers and peered into enough cowboy boots to call myself an expert...and now when the newspapers and magazines printed it, I believe it's true.

Clues:

• You can tell from the lightning bolts inked on the sole... this cowboy boot was made by Pascal (Riff Raff Leather.) There is also a pirate ship stamped inside the boot on its heel slide.
• You can tell by the big ol' "red ink" size and price...the boots were purchased at Kowboyz, a vintage cowboy boot shop once located in Los Angeles, now recently moved to Santa Fe, NM.

Here's a great article about Kowboyz... full of dishy Hollywood-style namedropping. And yes, that's $99 for a "custom" boot made of nubuck and foil leather... you really oughta pay Kowboyz a visit.

Check out my newly-updated vintage cowboy boot dealer page for other shops!

Vintage Cowboy Boots, Tough Love

Yes, I know how much you love those great old Acme patterns. They're great. They've got the tiniest bits of colored inlay with those 2 rows of stitching swirling around them. .. factory-made minimalism at its best. They are indeed wonderful.

BUT, let's get couple things straight...

1. Your feet are too big. Only people like me who are too short to be seen over a deli counter can wear 'em. I can wear vintage Acmes... and you get to order your sandwiches with dignity. That's just the way things are. Don't worry, you are a member of a very big club, so to speak.

2. It is now 2008. Many of these very cool boots were made a looooong time ago. Don't believe me? I hate to break it to you, but a cowboy boot made in 1945... is now 63 years old. Bargain leather, once worn, now boxed and brittle. And these boots aren't getting any younger.

Save yourself a pile of grief. When you're in Austin, TX go to Heritage Boot. Jerry & Patti Ryan are remaking many of the favorite old patterns in present day sizes.

With lots and lots of boots on the shelves...their stock boots range from the $250 to around $700. (Those old Acmes are costing about the same.)

Heritage Boot also sells custom boots made in the Rio Grande Valley. Prices start at $600 for calfskin and bullhides. Delivery is approximately 8 weeks.

Heritage Boot
Jerry & Patti Ryan, Owners
117 West 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 326-8577
sales@heritageboot.com
www.heritageboot.com

Cowboy Boot Treasure Hunt

I like Austin, not just for all the chorizo tacos and free wifi ...but because it's a big city that keeps its sense of possibility.

My last trip to Austin was in October. Here are a few photos I took at Uncommon Objects. I go every time I'm in town, even if my suitcase is full.

(You can see more photos of Uncommon Objects here.)

Uncommon Objects
1512 South Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 442-4000
www.uncommonobjects.com