I’m launching a fundraising drive to help cover my web page expenses. If you see a value to my custom bootmaker list, if you like “kickin’ it around” on the bulletin board, or enjoy what I have to say on this weblog…there are a couple of ways you can let me know.

You can use Amazon’s Honor System to give as little as $2 (or as much as $50) with a single click. Amazon.com won’t tell me your name or the size of your gift …unless you use the button on the Thank You page to “send info”.

I’ve also opened an online souvenir stand where you can now buy my Vintage Cowboy Boot Mousepad. (Hey! I know everybody here could use a mousepad.) A portion of each sale will return to me and help pay my expenses.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Unfortunately, many international travelers visiting the United States hope to find a pair of cowboy boots wherever they land. Visitors should know that there are not nearly as many western wear stores and custom bootshops on the Eastern U.S. as there are in other parts of the country. And while you may be able to find a pair of boots in the airport gift shop in El Paso…this doesn’t hold true for other destinations. (See my custom bootmaker list for shop locations.)

If you are headed to the East Coast, I recommend you visit New York City. There are two shops that take custom orders for cowboy boots, and both sell ready-made pairs in stock sizes that you can wear out right out of the store. Each of these shops have a variety of “sample” boots…which provide you with a good idea of what your boots will look like when your custom order is finished. Even though your boots might be purchased in New York, they will likely be made in Texas.

Buffalo Chips Boot Company (…read more.)
426 Washington St. (TriBeCa) …near Vestry St.
(Subway Stops 1, 9 to Franklin St.)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 965-0300
Visit: http://www.buffalochipsbootcompany.net

Billy Martin’s
220 E 60th St
New York, NY 10022
(212) 308-7272
Visit: http://www.billymartin.com
(Billy Martins offers a “private label” boot with custom style options. They will take your measurements and fit you with the best fitting stock size. They do not offer a custom-fit boot.)

Custom Fit Cowboy Boots

If you would like the opportunity to meet your bootmaker (and get additional fitting and style choices)… I would recommend you travel about 2 hours away to visit Wild Bill’s Boots.

Wild Bill’s Boots
Bill Niemczyk, Bootmaker
20 Lakeside Drive
Granby, CT 06035
(860) 844-8440
Wild Bill was one of the select bootmakers featured in Tyler Beard’s book, The Art of the Boot; pages 116-117.

Also, about 4 hours from NYC in Massachusetts, you can see Jim Covington’s work.

Jim Covington Bootmaker
418 Parker Street
Gardner, MA 01440
(978) 632-1869
Visit: http://www.jimmielukecovington.com

Mr. Covington runs a one man shop. Originally located in Colorado.

Custom shops often ship out to their customers as soon as they are done. I recommend making an appointment, often bootmakers will hold any finished boots for a day if they know you are coming.

(See my other tips on visiting a custom bootmaker.)

Enjoy your trip!

Reading The New York Times article, Foraging: Shopping for Boots in Calgary is somewhat of a tease…the article features Alberta Boot Company, mentions its 12,000 boots in stock…even courtesy tours of the factory, but alas…no pictures online! (Access to this article is free, but you must register a username.)

You just might want to pay visit to www.AlbertaBoot.com instead.

One of the treasures found at Falconhead.com (a.k.a. custom bootmaker, Tres Outlaws) is the page dedicated to custom design choices.

Learn the “anatomy of a cowboy boot”…both plain or fancy. Toe styles, heel styles, collars and scallops are all photographed here, not drawn, which helps build confidence (and excitement) for any first-time buyer.

Cowboy boot toe styles come in differing degrees of “pointy,” “round” or “box” (meaning “square”)…then toes are further described with words like “narrow” or “wide.” Personally, I’m fond of 3/4 inch wide box toe…but my next pair is gonna be as pointy as they come!

WARNING: The letter given to different toe styles (for instance “x”, “h”, or “j”) varies among bootshops.

If you aren’t sure what toe or heel style you want, discuss the options with your bootmaker, he or she can help you make design choices that compliment one another. Custom boots aren’t only supposed to fit your feet, but your personality too…have some fun!

Folks who are new to cowboy boots are often confused by the label “roper.” What is a roper cowboy boot? How is it any different from a “regular” cowboy boot?

A “roper” is a low-heeled, almost flat-heeled cowboy boot. Most often it has a rounded toe…and usually shorter top height, maybe ten inches or so. Ropers are usually plain work boots, with very little stitching. Pull straps or pull holes are often their only decoration.

Justin was the boot company to give the roper its name, and the first boot company to mass produce the roper boot. Legend has it that up until the early 1950’s many of the rodeo calf-ropers were wearing baseball caps and tennis shoes in the arena. “The cap wouldn’t get in the way of the rope and the tennis shoes allowed them to jump off the horse and run real fast to catch the calf and throw and tie it in the fastest time possible.”

But, the Rodeo Cowboys Association didn’t think it was good for the “rodeo image” for their cowboys to be running around in tennis shoes. So they made a new rule that all contestants had to wear proper “cowboy attire” which included a western hat and cowboy boots.” (Source: Standard of the West: The Justin Story)

John Justin Sr. was approached by some old-time calf-ropers who wanted something different in their cowboy boots. After some trial and error, Justin adapted a Wellington boot pattern to fit their company’s flat-heeled 9315 military-style last (originally used to make boots for the ROTC cadet officers at Texas A&M; University.)

The roper has remained an inexpensive and popular work boot. Justin still makes several different ropers today…one with a traditional leather sole, and some others with new “performance materials” and polyurethane outsoles.

Many custom boot shops build roper-style boots…although rodeo calf-ropers don’t make up a big part of their business. (Rodeo guys spend all their money on entry fees and gasoline.)