RM Williams Boots - Everything You Wanted to Know - Page 194

That's hugely surprising to me. This is going back a couple of yrs now but I purchased two pair of standard yearling craftsman in chestnut and black w/leather sole a few months apart, for $242 and $252 (shipped from AUS to the US) from Barry at bootsonline. The main reason for ordering online was the huge difference between the Manhattan RMW store's price of ~$450. I tried them on w/the intention of buying there until I saw the price differential. Barry's process was flawless and I had the boots in hand in something like 5 business days.

Try this place: http://www.portphillipshop.com.au/RM_Williams_Boots_Shoes_Mens_and_Womens.html

Lear,
That's good to know. What sole was on there prior to the addition of the screwed leather sole? I have the standard leather sole and am considering the screwed version. It looks real sharp.

Standard rubber sole, before the x-ray scanner friendly stuff.

Well i bit the bullet and ordered a pair of Craftsmen in French Veal Calf in the colour of Black with the screwed leather sole. A very classy dress boot. About time i stepped up a notch and after all this time go to the top of the tree in the RMW range. After all these years in Yealing leather and recently a pair in Kangaroo. Will be well worth it as you only live once........;-)
Edited by SpeedBird - 1/4/12 at 4:15am

Congratulations! How long will it take before you get them? Post pics when you do! 

I already got then. I walked into a company store here and the pair was a cancelled order so it was the exact right size and all so i went for it. It took a few minutes to try on and that was a done deal. Plus saved waiting six weeks made to measure. It was my lucky day i have to say. Im pretty happy, something like this comes along.

The MTO French Veal Calf Craftsmen with screwed leather sole are the same as AMCE got. Here is the link to the post and photos of AMCE's pair. They are the same except for the size. AMCE has a bigger foot than me.

http://www.styleforum.net/t/21179/rm-williams-boots-everything-you-wanted-to-know/1455#post_2052712

Enjoy......Any questions? ;-)

Sorry if this has been answered before but it's a bloody long thread to trawl just to find out.
My Craftsmen need resoling: the New Bond Street store recommend sending them back to Adelaide so I'll be without them for two months. But they said they can get them done at their local place if I'm in a hurry. Given it's just the soles that need done and not the full recrafting that Lear went for, is it worth sending them back to Oz?

Hi Oleg

Yep, it's a problem when these threads become massive.

A couple of years ago the RMW store in Bond Street sent 'simple' stuff to a cobbler just off Tottenham Court Road. Maybe they still do. He uses approved materials and methods etc. Travel North up TCR and it's a tuning on the left, near to Goodge Street Underground. He also sells a small range of RM boots. I can't remember the name of the road or shop. If nobody chips in I'll try to get back to you on this. Other than that, all major repairs are sent back to Australia.

Lear

Cheers, Lear.
For a simple resole, I'm minded to just get them done myself but I think that means that RMW won't touch them if I did subsequently want a more substantial overhaul. The RMW shop charges the same, whether they go to their local place or back to Adelaide which is a wee bit of a liberty, IMHO. If it's essentially the same treatment here or in Oz, I might as well just get them to do the soles locally and get them back a bit sooner. But the shop suggested that something miraculous would be done if they went back to Adelaide: not only would they be resoled but made to 'look as good as new', world poverty would be cured, the financial crisis resolved, the weather improve, etc. So it's really a question of whether there is any value to be had in sending them around the world. If all they get is a decent polish, I'll just get the shoe shine yin in the Burlington Arcade to give them a going over.

Heh, or next time just get the screwed soles and you will have no option but to send it back to motherland.

I know... that's not very helpful. Actually my last pair I had resoled locally. The RM store here in NYC uses a shoe repair right next door. The only downside I saw was that I did not get the Orange sole stamped with the RM logo like new shoes come with. Also there was a small gap between the heel rubber & leather but on the inside of the sole where you wouldn't ever see it. It bothered me for about a week but ended up lasting through the entire life of the sole.

I don't think the RM store did anything magical to restore the boot as Adelaide presumably would but I keep them polished and brushed anyways so maybe I didn't notice. I feel your concern as I currently have a pair held up in AUS for replacement... won't get them back until March/April-ish I am told.

Stockyard boots - finally got them worn in (lots of blisters from the vertical heel seam!).

I understand that RM Williams Saddle & Leather Dressing is what's recommended to keep the original slightly waxy brown finish, but the leather isn't very tough and mine have collected a lot of scuffs, cuts and scrapes on the toe box in light "yard" use, which are very obvious due to the lighter colour exposed underneath.

Any recommendations as to what to sort it with? Normal shoe polish/cream? I'm disappointed that they're not tougher given their work-boot status.

These are dress/riding boots first and foremost. If you wanted a tougher workbook then red wings should've been the go-to. That said though, some conditioning and then polish with a spit shine should have them looking smart again.

They're certainly marketed as a work boot:

"The R.M.Williams Stockyard Range

Tough on the land, not on the pocket.

R.M.Williams is proud to introduce the latest Stockyard range, created for people working the land, day in, day out.

Derived from demand, the R.M.Williams Stockyard range has been developed in conjunction with the people of the bush in order to deliver a practical, stylish and durable range at extremely competitive price points."

I don't want to lose the matte waxy finish so I think I'll just dab the scuffs and missing bits with brown polish before applying the Saddle Dressing.

Perhaps I should have ordered some Kellys (although the leather looks the same) - I can't see these holding up like the Blundstones they've replaced.
Edited by Real_Politik - 1/24/12 at 5:35am

On further scrutiny, the Bond Street shop seemed to concede that the boots would get the same treatment in London or back in Adelaide though that's just for the regular leather or rubber soles. The comfort models and, it seems, the screwed soles have to go back. Given that, I just went with the local option: I bought mine when I lived in Australia so didn't think they'd mind missing out on the vacation. They've already seen the sights.
Edited by Oleg - 1/24/12 at 8:02am