Mule Ear Boots

[Steel Horse Bailey]

 

Greetin's to all y'all and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

Now for my question.  I have a pair of Tony Lama Gunfighter boots with Mule Ears.  On these boots, the M.E. were sewed to the barrel of the boot from the factory.  ( They are also the most uncomfortable footwear I own, but I paid pretty good cash for them LONG before the very comfortable Fort boots came out! )

Didn't the original Mule Ear type boots have loose ears?  If so, I'll do a little creative thread cutting.  (They are only sewed in one small place: just enough to keep 'em from flappin'!)  

And yes, that's almost the punchline from a very old joke of questionable taste.  

[St. George]

They do - and the loose 'ears' were popular from the mid-1870's on - but eventually - the style changed to the more 'standard' stovepipes.

Unless your Impression's set in that earlier time frame - most guys who own a pair will have them shortened to become draw loops - rather than have them flap against the shaft of the boot.

Scouts Out!

[Fox Creek Kid]

I believe that there is more misunderstanding about boots & hats than any two items we use in NCOWS. What we term the "cowboy boot" did not come into being until the mid to late 1870's and as with most fashions of the time it took some time for this to "take root". The most popular forms of footwear were some sort of brogan and an ankle boot. Most period photos document this as well. Almost all boots were one piece fronts which today is almost a lost art as it is more expensive to make as well as more difficult to make. By far the most comfortable (at least for me) as well as authentic boot offered today is the Civil War ankle boot offered by Fugawee. Their website is a veritable plethora of historical footwear info. http://www.fugawee.com/

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks for the replies, pards.

I think I heard that one of the most common boot that was seen were the ones brought back from military service; though I agree that the brogans and other non-boots were probably most prevalent.

[Books OToole]

According to Ten Dollar Horse, Forty Dollar Saddle, mule ear boots were not popular among cowboys.

Books

[Silver Creek Slim]

According to Ten Dollar Horse, Forty Dollar Saddle, mule ear boots were not popular among cowboys.

Books

Sodbusters? 

Slim

[Cuts Crooked]

According to Ten Dollar Horse, Forty Dollar Saddle, mule ear boots were not popular among cowboys.

Books

Sodbusters? 

Slim

Nah, miners!

[Silver Creek Slim]

According to Ten Dollar Horse, Forty Dollar Saddle, mule ear boots were not popular among cowboys.

Books

Sodbusters? 

Slim

Nah, miners!

Ooooooooooooooooooooh! 

Slim

[Forty Rod]

...an' us fat guys who can't bend over far enough to reach their boot tops without 'em.

[Old Top]

Hey Forty Rod,

I represent that remark 

Old Top

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy,

I picked brogans for my footwear understanding that they were common.  Found a picture from 1871 of a reunion of vetrans of the Battle of San Jacento [Texas Revolution].  Of about 10 people in the front row, you could see at least 5 pairs of brogans.  I also have a pair of one piece front boots with a rounded toe that I got about 20 years ago from Montana.  I can get the name and address if anyone is interested, but not tonight.  About 10" of new snow on the ground between the front door and the truck where they are.  Only 12 degrees F. and I just got warm from coming home.  25 mph on I-70 and happy to be moving.  Some folks got stuck for 3+  hours on I-35.  Look out SHB, it's coming your way! 

Often the rub is finding dated pictures.  Sometimes books on the history of clothing can be helpful.  They often go by the history of costume.  Not meaning stage, but what people wore. 

Good hunting!  [In the books I mean. ]

[Delmonico]

For Living History events I still wear the 1 piece front boots, a pair that has many a mile on them and need the holes in the soles patched right now.  For work and every day running around on hard surfaces I wear the Durango Mule Ear boots with the tougher sole and the cushion insole.  I am going to have the ears redone when I have the heels redone, because I keep getting them shut in the car door.

Mule ears were a flashy decorative item, period.  Since most folks tend to dress on the decorative side of the period if yer dooing a late 70's or beyond perrsonna, wear them along with yer tooled rig, fake or real ivory grips or other fancy gee haws that so many of us are fond of.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Thanks, y'all!

[Bristow Kid]

Where can I find a picture of these type opf boots?

[Bristow Kid]

Would those boots be something a 2x4 rancher would wear in like 1887 or later?

[Wymore Wrangler]

These boots were designed by Terry Lane at the Fort, the Fort had a two year exclusive for these boots, now Durango is flooding the market with the other vendors, I say give the business to the folks that are constantly trying to get better CAS duds to us at the best prices in the country....

[Bristow Kid]

Who would be a good person to ask about boots for that time period?

[Wymore Wrangler]

One other point, The Fort has always been a very generous supporter of NCOWS, they vend at the Convention and at the NTR Midwest Regional, and have also vended at the National in Ackley and the FDMR Spring Regional....  I still say support those that support us...

[Books OToole]

Another good source is River Junction Trading Co.  They handle quality merchandise, including boots & shoes, and their service is outstanding.  [I ordered some Christmas Presents on Tuesday and recieved them on Thursday.]  The proprietor is an NCOWS member and Senator.  He was schedualed to give a presentation on men's clothing at last years convention, but health issues kept him from attending.

I am not a boot expert but River Junction Trading's boots appear to be well made and researched.

Books