Anyone have any experience with good custom bootmakers that will use your game hides? Have some buffalo and elephant lying around and looking for a croc this year.

Little Boot Co in San Antonio. I think that Lucchese still does custom orders too.

Leddy Boots or Olsen-Stelzer in Dallas, not inexpensive but will work with your leather (or would ).

I’ll chip in for Armando’s in Raymondville, they made me a nice pair a few years ago

Look up custom made boots in Texas.

they list about 15 top makers and some will use your hide.

I just had a pair of boot make while I was in Jordan Montana, and he used one of my eland hides and sent what as left over back. took him about 6 weeks.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Just a question, from someone who's ignorant in leather processing. When you have your animals dipped and backed in Africa, are you asking for any type of special tanning process of your backskins? I might have an interest in making some boots when I finally put an eland in the salt.

quote:

Originally posted by gsganzer:
Just a question, from someone who's ignorant in leather processing. When you have your animals dipped and backed in Africa, are you asking for any type of special tanning process of your backskins? I might have an interest in making some boots when I finally put an eland in the salt.

It is known as Dipping & Packing and nothing more.
Tanning is a different process which turns a salted, bacteria-free (dipping) hide into leather.

You would likely instruct the tannery back home to process the hide according to your needs, e.g. with or without fur or hair.

Two weeks ago I dropped off my ele hide for me and one of my zebra hides for my wife......I'm encouraging Go-Go boots! I dropped the hides off in Caldwell (Tx) where he lives.

Meyer Custom Bootmakers

www.meyerranchboots.com

713 864 3808


ps This was my backup plan: I knew he would be able to cover a trombone case for my son and ultimately shall buy the shell from that Brazilian mfg. (sorry for the hijack)

Another maker that will use your game skins is JB Hill in Texas. I believe it's www.jbhilltexas.com

Check out their site.

Good luck.

James Leddy Boots in Abilene, Tx. made me a pair of Safari boots & Cowboy boots from my hides a few years back and did an outstanding job. The owner,Al Dos Santos, did all the work himself & was a fast turn around.His prices were very reasonable compared to others I checked with.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Originally posted by gsganzer:
Just a question, from someone who's ignorant in leather processing. When you have your animals dipped and backed in Africa, are you asking for any type of special tanning process of your backskins? I might have an interest in making some boots when I finally put an eland in the salt.

It is known as Dipping & Packing and nothing more.
Tanning is a different process which turns a salted, bacteria-free (dipping) hide into leather.

You would likely instruct the tannery back home to process the hide according to your needs, e.g. with or without fur or hair.

Got it, realize now that tanning is a process that continues with a dipped and packed hide (autocorrect screwed it to dip and back in my original post).

Another experience-based vote for Armando's of Raymondville.

James Leddy Boots in Amarillo..

Al (a Rhondesian / American) makes excellent "safari" boots as well as western/cowboy boots at very competitive prices.. his turn around time is much faster than other custom makers too...

https://jamesleddyabilene.com/

Ive had boots made by Al from my cape buffalo (both safari hunting boots and western boots), and my wife and I are going to take him our ostrich hides soon...

Since when does AL Dos Santos have a shop in Amarillo ?????

Amarillo, Abilene, it's all the same, right?

I had Al in Abilene make me a pair of safari boots. He does great work.