Michael Haines
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2012
- Messages
- 764
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- 82
Nope not yet on the Espresso pinch. I will post some pictures. I will upload se higher quality pictures of the Caramel later to
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Ah, is Caramel natural? I'll double check before ordering, but I wouldn't have assumed that from what I've read, or from how it looks. It looks slightly dyed, and people have referred to it as a color. It looks more like a walnut color, rather than a natural leather that's darkened on its own.
Okay, I think I've settled on what I want: Blake Boots in natural shell cordovan, a rubber tread half-sole (like Red Wing GTs), and eyelets and speedhooks (if possible) like Wolverine 1000 miles have (I don't know if that can be customized, but doesn't hurt to ask, right?). I've fallen in love with natural leather, and think that the natural shell is just going to look more and more amazing over the years. Might as well get it now and start the aging/patina process, right? I'm assuming they can make that, though I haven't actually seen anyone get natural shells from them. Seen it from a few other places on the web though. Looks amazing.
Anyway, still up in the air about sizing. 9 or 9.5. I wear 9D's in Wolverine 1Ks, 9EE in Rancourt's boat shoes and ranger mocs, 8.5EEE in Allen Edmonds lined boots. Which means I have not the slightest idea of how to size. If I had to say, the Rancourts are a bit on the snug side, but I've been bitten by comparing hand sewns to boots before, and ended up with boots that were much, much too big on me. Anyone have any guidance on how they compared their Blakes to their mocs? Or Blakes to Wolverine 1Ks? Too big can be just as bad as too small, I've found, if I never want to wear the boot.
They showed a pic on their instagram once of natural shell, before and after they buffed it to a finish.I don't think caramel is the same as natural. But Rancourt does say that they custom dye shell, so perhaps they can offer natural on request.
I can measure some shoes for you later on. What do you want me to measure? The inside length of the Blake and the boat shoe? Any others that I mentioned? Sounds like you could have slightly wide feet, correct? I know they say the blake is a little narrow. I find it to be only slightly narrow if at all. My forefoot is "normal" if not just ever so slightly wide. My heel is slightly narrow if not "normal".Yup, out in Bay Shore, right by the water. So these boots are going to not be dress boots. My 744s get dipped in the bay, salt, sand and snow pretty regularly. Why I want the naturals, because just think what the patina will do when I kick the **** out of them. That said, I have a business casual office, so they'll be going to work too. Cordovan is perfect for both worlds.
And it helps a bit. If you wear a 9 in Barrie, and 9.5 in Blake, I'd imagine 9.5 in blake is good for me, since 9 Barrie is roughly the same as 9 W1Ks.
The real question is (and perhaps you can help with this, Bakes): What's the actual length of the 9.5 moc and the 9.5 Blake, in comparison? Handsewn mocs should have less toe room than a boot. So the ambiguity (and Rancourt isn't really clear on this) is whether their shoe sizes correspond to the length of the shoe, or the length of the intended foot. That is, is the 9.5 Blake the same length as the 9.5 moc (i.e. the 9.5 corresponds to the actual length) or is the 9.5 Blake longer than the 9.5 moc (i.e. the 9.5 corresponds to the size of the foot that belongs in it.)
Got my Brown CXL beef roll loafers. Very comfortable. A bit of slippage in the right foot, but the left fits perfectly. I don’t think it’s worth swapping for the smaller size.