Paul Sargent (formerly Alfred Sargent) Appreciation Thread

[Trusar]

Are these cracks or creases?

 

[Betelgeuse]

Are these cracks or creases?

From my perspective, creases.

 

[Reiver]

From my perspective, creases.

I see nothing untoward there

 

[Trusar]

From my perspective, creases.

Thank god

 

[Stani777]

Are these cracks or creases?

Really beautiful shoes, Trusar. Happy marriage of pattern and last. Cheers!

 

[Meyboom]

Are these cracks or creases?

Leather is a natural product and shoes are handmade. These very slight 'flaws' are cherished by shoe lovers because they prove it isnt an industrial product made by machines and the leather wasnt coated with layers of chemical finishing. The most important thing is to wear and love your shoes. I for one think that well worn quality shoes look just as good as pristine new ones...

 

[Reiver]

Leather is a natural product and shoes are handmade. These very slight 'flaws' are cherished by shoe lovers because they prove it isnt an industrial product made by machines and the leather wasnt coated with layers of chemical finishing. The most important thing is to wear and love your shoes. I for one think that well worn quality shoes look just as good as pristine new ones...

agreed. Well worn and cared for quality shoes are better than new in my opinion

 

[Trusar]

Don't mind minor creases, but not cracks.

 

[Trusar]

Has anyone oiled their full grain leather shoes before? I did it on a pair of barkers I got from tk max. It's definitely good for creases and most probably for cracks too. The colour went from light tan to reddish brown chestnut colour.
My formula was she's butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil

 

[wurger]

Do not oil creases, only apply cream. Oil attract dust, will eventually lead to cracks on the leather.

 

[Trusar]

Does cream contain oils in it?

 

[Luigi_M]

Does cream contain oils in it?

In the right, measured and small amount.
While pure oil only greases the creases and has dust and grit stick to the leather, as @wurger pointed out

 

[Trusar]

Just wondering because of all the conflicting into on the internet.

What about on the none creases parts? Or if the shoe is new and has no creases. Then is it OK to oil it?

 

[LPMIII]

Just wondering because of all the conflicting into on the internet.

What about on the none creases parts? Or if the shoe is new and has no creases. Then is it OK to oil it?

The first question that comes to mind is why oil over a standard conditioner?

The oil itself isn't necessarily the problem (it can be but that's not what this is about). In general, anything that makes your shoes tacky or more likely to have dust stick to them is bad. It doesn't matter that creases have yet to form, they will, and when they do, abrasive dust and dirt will be in them.

I have had very good luck with Bick 4. It is cheap, water based, absorbs well, and has never darkened a piece of leather I've put it on. I use it for both the outside of the shoe, as well as the leather lining.

 

[Reiver]

Just wondering because of all the conflicting into on the internet.

What about on the none creases parts? Or if the shoe is new and has no creases. Then is it OK to oil it?

The only footwear I oil is my oil tanned Red Wing boots and this is just a light coat very occasionally.

For your Alfred Sargent I would just use a standard shoe cream or conditioner.

@LPMIII recommended Bick4 conditioner but I am going to assume you are in the UK as you mentioned T K Maxx. Last time I checked Bick4 wasn’t available in the UK unfortunately. I’ve heard good things about it.

I would recommend Saphir products from @Afinepairofshoes such as creme universelle conditioner, coloured shoe cream etc

From the photo you showed earlier your shoes looked in great shape. There were creases but this is normal and the creases looked minimal to me indicating good quality leather.

Regular brushing with a horsehair brush is the most effective way of avoiding cracks. Conditioning is only needed occasionally. Shoe trees kept in between wears will help keep creases minimal also.