Category Archives: Featured Bootshops

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.

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.

Cowboy Boot eBook

I love looking through Tyler’s book, Cowboy Boots…nearly 400 pairs of cowboy boots.

Did you see all those great Dave Little Boots? What’s that?!
You say, you can’t find them?

And those five pairs made by Joe Patrickus, you mean to tell me you don’t know what pages they’re on?

Well here you go, the “Missing Index” for Tyler Beard’s book, Cowboy Boots. It’s my first eBook.

I originally created this index for my personal use. It’s great, an indispensable reference tool for recognizing the individual styles and skills of America’s best known bootmakers. I used this index over and over again while I was writing my cowboy boot book, and now I am sharing it with you.

Tyler’s Cowboy Boots should be on every collector’s shelf. By purchasing this index you’ll get the most out of your book. Here’s why, it’s…

  • Fast. Less time hunting for a famous bootmaker’s work. Don’t miss a single boot!
  • Accurate. Errors in the book’s captions (First Edition) have been corrected in this index. Nine pairs of cowboy boots were labeled with the wrong maker. Do you know which ones?
  • Easy. A separate index means less page-flipping. And a larger font for more comfortable reading.
  • Practical. There is a convenient space for note taking. By writing your notes on this index you can keep your book in a fine ‘collectable’ condition.

Click here to download your free copy. (File size: 370 KB)

Jack Rowin (Video)

Click over and watch a short film called “Boot Camp” made by Kristin Windbigler.

A portrait of storyteller, philosopher and bootmaker
Jack Rowin
by an admiring apprentice.

I met Jack Rowin, back in 1999. He makes a hardworking cowboy boot, occasionally decorated with a brand or initial. Ms. Windbigler’s film was like stepping back for another visit.

Here are some my old photos…

Contact Jack to place your order for custom cowboy boots, or to learn the craft of bootmaking.

Jack Rowin, Bootmaker

21595 S. Powerhouse Road

Manton, California 96059
(530) 474-5146

bootmaker@shasta.com

(Video link courtesy of Deep West Videos.)