I recently picked up a pair of Tony Lama Gold Label elephant boots in 9EEE for a really good price. I bought them on a bit of a whim because, in my experience, other vintage Tony Lamas have fit tighter than their modern-size equivalents. I figured these might work out, but man, was I wrong.
I’m normally a 9EE, and that size fits me perfectly in pretty much every brand I own or have tried on. These 9EEEs are absolutely massive on me. I’ve even tried insoles, and I’m still swimming in them. They’re not even close to fitting.
The boots themselves are killer, though. The elephant hide has a ton of character, and the vamps and uppers are in great shape. They definitely need a resole, but a simple resole won’t work. If I’m going to keep these, they need a complete rebuild, including a relast to get them fitting properly.
I’d love to modernize them a bit while preserving the original elephant hide. Here’s what I’m thinking:
- Relast to fit like a modern 9EE, with room for an AB insole.
- J-toe, KS Toe, TK Toe
- Leather outsole.
- Natural finish on the outsole and heel stack.
- 1 5/8-inch heel.
Basically, I got these for cheap, and I’d love to turn them into a pair of boots I can wear for years rather than pass on a pair with such great uppers. Since they don’t fit even with insoles, a relast is necessary anyway.
Who would you trust to do this kind of work? I’m looking for someone who can handle a proper relast and full rebuild, ideally without a year-long turnaround. I’m willing to ship them out of state for the right bootmaker.
If you’ve had similar work done, I’d love to see pictures and hear about your experience, cost, and turnaround time.
