OK, Cappy Cappites. I need your help.
Here's the story.
As you know my exploits and adventures have me coming into contacts with rattlesnakes on a regular basis. They are actually cowardly creatures and unless provoked will scurry away from you, rarely biting you.
However, it dawned on me how cool would it be to own a pair of rattlesnake boots? And not just a pair of snakeskin boots, but made from snakes I actually captured myself.
So the ole Captain goes out on teh interwebz and searches for snake skin boot manufacturers. He can only find retailers. He goes to a local skin/hide store in Custer, SD and asks the guy there WITH SNAKE SKINS AND RATTLESNAKE BELTS and even he doesn't know where to send me. I call taxidermists, shoe repair people, all the way from Wisconsin to Wyoming.
Nothing.
It's like NOBODY makes snakeskin boots, even the retailers don't know who ultimately manufactures them.
DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE KNOW A TAXIDERMIST OR A BOOT MAKER OR A SHOE REPAIR GUY WILLING TO ACCEPT PAYMENT TO TAKE SNAKE HIDES AND MAKE THEM INTO BOOTS?
Swear to the patron saint this would not have been a problem in the 1940's.
On an interesting side note. Not to go "Zuckerberg" on you guys or anything.
Did you try asking the organizers of one of the snake roundups (such as the one in Sweetwater Texas).
ReplyDeleteI got lizard skin boots from Sheplers in Denver. Try them.
ReplyDeleteIf snake skin boots are hard to find, they either might not be popular, might not be profitable, or might not be good quality.
Who knows, they might even be endangered species.
Here ya go....
ReplyDeletehttp://jksalescompany.com/ken/bootmakers.html
Hmmm. There are a number of custom bootmakers in Texas (surprise), and most will work w/your supplied materials....
ReplyDeleteHere's a list to get you started:
http://www.joenickp.com/texas/bootmakers.html
http://www.dinkytownminneapolis.com/services/fast-eddies-shoe-repair/
ReplyDeleteNice guy who does all my key copies, not sure if he can make boots, but I'm happy to send him the business.
Beins' how your're in SD, perhaps this gent would assist you:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stockmanboot.com/
I'm not familiar with the area, but I know where I live, the Aboriginals, Natives, Indians, etc would do it for a price.
ReplyDeleteBut that was bear skins and beaver pelts not rattlesnake skins. It still might be possible that there would be aboriginals who could do it.
Possible http://www.cobrarock.com out of Marfa Texas could help.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a two step (seriously, no pun intended, it is really a process with two steps) process.
ReplyDelete1, get the hides tanned
2. find a cobbler that is willing to make custom boots with the leather you bring in.
Getting the hides tanned and made into leather for boots, I think pretty much any taxidermist/tanner can handle that process.
Finding someone to make custom shoes/boots. Might be a bit harder.
Have you tired Bates? Bates makes the best motorcycle boots in the world imo, and the do custom work. I don't know if they do snakeskin, and if you can persuade them it will not be cheap.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dimlights.com/custom-boots/cowboyboot-makers/
ReplyDelete