Vintage 1977 Stewart Boot Co. Custom Cowboy Boots
Size: Men’s 12.5 D
Maker: Stewart Boot Co. Inc. (Tucson, Arizona)
Era: 1977 (Copyright Date Confirmed on Interior)
Condition: Good Vintage Condition
The Boots
These vintage 1977 cowboy boots are a masterclass in traditional, bench-made Western footwear. Crafted by the legendary Stewart Boot Co. of Tucson, Arizona, these boots showcase a stunning cognac/pumpkin leather that has developed a rich, warm patina over nearly 50 years.
The tall shafts feature an elegant, sweeping tulip-style stitch pattern in contrasting yellow/gold thread. The stitching is executed with the kind of precision that only comes from a master bootmaker operating a vintage Singer sewing machine by hand. The classic pointed toe and underslung riding heel maintain the authentic 1970s Western silhouette.
Inside the shaft, the boots proudly bear their provenance: a stamped copyright date of “© 1977 / STEWART BOOT CO. INC.” positioned just above the original woven yellow and blue label reading “STEWART / FINE / Hand Made Boots / TUCSON, ARIZONA”.
Stewart Boot Co.: The Last of a Dying Breed
The story of Stewart Boot Company is the story of American craftsmanship refusing to compromise. The company was founded in 1940 by master bootmaker Ronnie Stewart, who originally operated out of León, Mexico, before moving the business to its permanent home in Tucson, Arizona, in 1955 [1].
In 1970, the company was purchased by Victor Borg, an engineer who taught himself the grueling art of bootmaking from the ground up [1]. Under Borg’s leadership, Stewart Boot Co. became a quiet giant in the custom boot world. At their peak, they employed 44 master bootmakers and shipped to 150 Western stores across the country [1]. They built a reputation for uncompromising quality, refusing to use plastic or paper components, relying instead entirely on premium leather, full leather liners, and hand-cut leather heels [2].
Their boots earned a devoted following among working cowboys and Hollywood elite alike, with clients including Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Kevin Costner, and Billy Crystal (who famously wore Stewart boots in City Slickers) [1] [2].
Stewart Boot Co. was widely considered the “last hand-made boot factory in the country” [1]. A single pair of Stewart boots required over 50 hours of labor, utilizing vintage machinery dating back to 1913 [1]. Tragically, after 84 years of operation and 53 years under Victor Borg’s ownership, Stewart Boot Co. announced its closure in 2024 as Borg, at age 86, finally retired [1].
Condition and Rarity
These boots are in good vintage condition. The leather remains supple and the stitching is fully intact. The leather soles and stacked heels show honest wear but retain solid structural integrity.
Finding a pair of vintage Stewart boots is increasingly difficult; finding a pair in a men’s 12.5 D with a confirmed 1977 production date is a genuine rarity. With the recent closure of the Stewart Boot Co. factory, these boots are no longer just vintage footwear—they are a finite piece of American bootmaking history from a company that defined the craft.
