Are these shell cordovan? (Polo RL, pics)

[VMan]

Picked up this pair of Polo shoes, Benchmade in England. I assume they are C&J. I am also wondering if they are black shell cordovan. The uppers have what looks like wrinkling rather than creasing. They had a slight matte look to them and I was able to buff them with a cloth w/o any polish.

They look like these, w/ the double sole and storm welt:

http://www.shoes.shoppingsection.co....Category_Code=

 

[grimslade]

When you bend them at the hinge, what happens?

 

[jml90]

Do they smell different than regular calf? (serious)

 

[LeatherSOUL]

From the first pic, I'd say yes.

 

[Teacher]

Maybe, but it's very hard to tell. I find it odd that they wouldn't be stamped "shell cordovan," though I'm not very familiar with RL.

 

[Henry Boogers]

I know I've been negative regarding shell/not shell opinions the last day or two, but I'm voting 'not shell' again. Look at the area under the stitching that is under the eyelets. This appears to be somehow stamped, or glued and pressed, which I've seen on CG shoes but I would not expect with shell. It is visible in other areas as well. I could be wrong, however.

 

[distinctive]

This area is due to the thickness of shell. It is hard to grip a needle into the material without pressing down tightly with the machine. These would appear to be shell, however to my knowledge RL only uses brown shell cordovan (now).

 

[VMan]

Originally Posted by grimslade

When you bend them at the hinge, what happens?

A big 'ripple' forms.

Originally Posted by jml90

Do they smell different than regular calf? (serious)

Kind of, but it might just be my imagination.

I will post some better pics later.

 

[VMan]

Here are some better pics (including one bent at the hinge):

 

[VMan]

Here is a closeup of the leather:

 

[jml90]

Shell no doubt in my mind.

 

[Teacher]

Shell.

 

[Henry Boogers]

Even the skeptic thinks that those are shell.

 

[distinctive]

Those look tiny, what size are they?

Shell, no doubt

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by Henry Boogers

Even the skeptic thinks that those are shell.

Ah, Henry Boogers, you have now come over to the Dark Side.......mwahahahahahahahahaha!