Cape Buffalo Back Skin

31 December 2008, 17:04

I just got delivery; or more accurately, my son just got delivery of two pair of custom western boots, and matching belts I had made from my 2006 cape buffalo back skin. He sent me photos. I'll have to see them in person, and try them on, to tell whether I really like them. He says his pair fits good. I had them made by James Leddy. He recommended a Ruff-Out which I've never worn before. He said the hide had too many scars to have boots made the normal way. I can thank lions for that. Whether I like the boots and belt or not, they sure are going to perpetuate a memory of the hunt and the buffalo.

What have you made with your buff back skins?

On my most recent bull I'm having a soft rifle case and pistol case made.

31 December 2008, 17:55

MJines

I had Dick Murray make me a rifle case out of a portion of mine. Looks really nice and Murray's quality is legendary.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=996105938#996105938

31 December 2008, 19:04

Bwanna

Do you have a website for the place that made the boots?

31 December 2008, 20:12

Kensco

James Leddy doesn't have a website, but below is a link to his address and phone. Talk to Debbie Meek.

http://www.marriott.com/city-g...=36893071&topPicks=N

If the link doesn't work search James Leddy Boots

The only other bootmaker in Texas that I found that was willing to try using my cape buffalo skin was The Tres Outlaws Boot Co. in El Paso. They have a very nice website, and I really like their work. Their price was about 20% higher than Leddy, and maybe it would have been worth it. Their website is the falconhead site below.

http://www.falconhead.com/index_site.php

Don't waste your time with Brian Thomas in Abilene. He never could make up his mind what he could do, and said it might be a year or two before he got around to it. He was pretty full of himself.

Lucchese boots are my personal favorites and I spoke to them. They were nice about it, but said they didn't make boots from someone's skin. They couldn't guarantee the work.

If someone wants to volunteer their expertise I'll e-mail my cape buffalo boot photos to you to upload to this topic. My son says the photos don't do them justice. I had the skin tanned a chocolate brown, but the flash he used give them a decided reddish tint.

31 December 2008, 20:25

adrook

Hey this is a great thread, thanks for posting. My backskin is going to the tannery soon. You guys have given me some good ideas for using the leather.

31 December 2008, 20:27

Die Ou Jagter

I had Loveless boots in OK City OK make two pairs of boots and two vests (made locally) from my Buffalo. The tannery split the hide and I got two full hides. One black and one tan. I had black foot with my Zebra tops and the other tan bottoms with black top with my leopard stiched in the tops.
Gary Loveless is and orthapedic Dr and makes great boots. He will be in Dallas for sure and probably in Reno. I am planning to have them make two pairs from my Hippo.

As an aside it is my understanding Lucchese is now owned by another boot company and don't produce the boot they use too. I hava two pair of their boots one off the rack and one custom made (ten yrs ago) and Loveless boots are better IMO.

Google Loveless Boots.

31 December 2008, 20:43

RVL III

It's been years since I've been to the Ft. Worth Stockyards, but....is Leddys or Ryans still there? They make custom handfitted boots, just not sure about bringing in your own leather.
Robert

31 December 2008, 21:26

Kensco

To me the better looking boot would be either Tres Outlaws or Loveless, rather than the Leddy boot. Leddy's are about $750. Tres Outlaws $900.

31 December 2008, 23:09

Use Enough Gun

Do you know what Loveless charges for a pair of custom made boots?

01 January 2009, 01:21

LionHunter

+10 on Loveless. Elephant boots & belt, Sable boots & belt, and more pending. He is always at SCI Reno and will fit you there. I still have two Buff - 1 Brn & 1 Blk, Kudu and Wart Hog tanned hides along with more Ele and some Elk hides around here.

01 January 2009, 17:03

Die Ou Jagter

UEG, check their web site for current pricing and add ons. If I remember correctly my last pair were about $600 with $300 for the leopard stiching. They offer various stylings. My black buffalo/Zebra are of the spanish style where the vamp front and heel are buffalo and Zebra top comes down to the sole in the middle. They did my initials in the mule ears and corporate logo on the top. I don't remember the charge for the logo but not much.

01 January 2009, 18:22

Bill/Oregon

I agree, great thread. I have a partially tanned kudu hide out in the shop that I would love to have fully vegetable tanned. Anyone know who might do this for me?

01 January 2009, 20:05

Bwanna

Here's a question for those of you who might know, once a hide has been tanned "hair on" can it be retanned to a leather tan (kind of the same process my head went through years ago

) so that it can be used for some leather product. Like everyone else on this forum, I have a pile of backskins with nothing to do with them. In fact, in recent trips I haven't even been saving any of the plains game backskins.

01 January 2009, 20:26

Use Enough Gun

DOJ: Will do. Thanks.

20 January 2009, 16:53

Kensco

Coming back from Ecuador I had a 14-hour layover in Dallas. My son met me with the cape buffalo boots. I'm pretty impressed. Leddy did a good job. They look better than the photograph and fit well. (The belt, ruff-out, is a little bit iffy though, but I'll give it a shot.)

At least now in Jakarta I can give my ostrich Luccheses a rest occassionally.

20 January 2009, 21:21

MacD37

quote:
Originally posted by Kensco:
James Leddy doesn't have a website, but below is a link to his address and phone. Talk to Debbie Meek.

http://www.marriott.com/city-g...=36893071&topPicks=N

If the link doesn't work search James Leddy Boots

The only other bootmaker in Texas that I found that was willing to try using my cape buffalo skin was The Tres Outlaws Boot Co. in El Paso. They have a very nice website, and I really like their work. Their price was about 20% higher than Leddy, and maybe it would have been worth it. Their website is the falconhead site below.

http://www.falconhead.com/index_site.php

Don't waste your time with Brian Thomas in Abilene. He never could make up his mind what he could do, and said it might be a year or two before he got around to it. He was pretty full of himself.

Lucchese boots are my personal favorites and I spoke to them. They were nice about it, but said they didn't make boots from someone's skin. They couldn't guarantee the work.

If someone wants to volunteer their expertise I'll e-mail my cape buffalo boot photos to you to upload to this topic. My son says the photos don't do them justice. I had the skin tanned a chocolate brown, but the flash he used give them a decided reddish tint.

Kensco, I Thought I had seen some of the ugliest boots in the world till I opened your link here for Outlaw! Man! If it weren't for the German Air base a Biggs Field, and the yankee soldiers in Fort Bliss they wouldn't sell ten pairs per year! No self respecting real Cowboy would even walk into that shop! Talk about rhinestone cowboy crap!

.............. space

21 January 2009, 08:29

DCS Member

quote:
Originally posted by RVL III:
It's been years since I've been to the Ft. Worth Stockyards, but....is Leddys or Ryans still there? They make custom handfitted boots, just not sure about bringing in your own leather.
Robert

Yes, Leddy's and Ryon's/Luskey's are still there. From what I remember, they will allow you to use your own skin.