Vintage Paul Bond Mule Ear Cowboy Boots — Black & Red
Size: Men’s 10 D
Maker: Paul Bond Boot Co. (Nogales, Arizona)
Era: Late 1980s / Early 1990s
Condition: Good Vintage Condition
The Boots
Made by a legend, built to be noticed. These vintage Paul Bond cowboy boots combine tall black pebbled leather with bold red inlay panels and dramatic mule ear pull tabs — a striking, old-school design from one of the most revered custom bootmakers in American history. Everything about these boots speaks to the artistry and showmanship that made Paul Bond a household name among cowboys, rodeo champions, and Hollywood stars alike.
The tall shafts are crafted from rich black pebbled leather, with large scalloped panels of vibrant red leather set into both the front and back. The red panels are framed by elegant black leather scrollwork borders and filled with flowing leaf-and-feather stitchwork in cream/tan thread — the kind of intricate, hand-guided stitching that defines a true custom boot. The contrast of the deep black against the bold red is dramatic and timeless.
The standout feature is the mule ears — the long, pointed leather pull straps that extend down the front and back of each shaft. Beyond their striking visual appeal, mule ears are a functional, traditional design element that makes these tall boots easier to pull on. They’re a hallmark of classic, old-style cowboy boots and a detail rarely seen on modern production footwear.
The black leather vamps feature a clean round toe, and the boots sit on a tall stacked leather riding heel — the kind of heel built to hold a stirrup. The interior is lined in golden tan leather. These are genuinely tall boots with serious presence.
The Paul Bond Legacy
Paul Bond (1915–2012) was one of the most legendary custom bootmakers in American history. Born into a New Mexico ranching family, he apprenticed to a bootmaker at age 14, became a rodeo bronc and trick rider, and opened his first boot shop in 1946 before establishing his iconic Nogales, Arizona, shop in 1955.
Over the decades, Paul Bond crafted boots for an extraordinary roster of legends — John Wayne, Gene Autry, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley among them. His connection to the rodeo and film worlds made him “bootmaker to the stars,” yet he treated every customer the same, whether they were a Hollywood icon or a hard-scrabble working cowboy.
Paul Bond boots have always been made the old-fashioned way: handcrafted and hand-sewn with premium components, right down to the stacked leather heels and lemon wood pegs in the arch. The company — still operating today at the same Nogales shop on Paul Bond Road — was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame and named “Bootmaker of the Year” multiple times by True West Magazine. A pair of Paul Bond boots is a genuine piece of Western craftsmanship from a name that defined the trade.
Condition
These boots are in good vintage condition. The black pebbled leather is supple and shows honest creasing and wear consistent with use. The red inlay panels remain vibrant and intact, with the cream stitchwork crisp throughout. The mule ear pull straps are solid and fully functional. The leather soles show wear with the original pegged construction visible at the toe. The tall stacked heels show wear and scuffing at the base, with intact rubber heel caps. The interior golden lining is clean. These boots have been worn and enjoyed, and they carry the kind of broken-in character that only comes with quality leather and years of wear.
