A Boot Collector Feature
A third-generation Texas bootmaker who, beyond building boots in Saint Jo, teaches the craft to the next generation through his own seminars.
Carlton T. "Carl" Chappell runs C.T. Chappell Boot Shop in Saint Jo, Texas, a small town north of Fort Worth near the Oklahoma border. He's a third-generation bootmaker, having learned the trade from his father, and his boots have been recognized for hand-tooled tops and fine stitching. Beyond building boots to order, Chappell has made a point of teaching the craft onward — he runs regular seminars, including introductory "Basic Boot Making" classes offered several times a year, plus advanced and one-on-one instruction covering boot repair, machine maintenance, and leather tooling.
Hand-tooled, finely stitched custom boots with a wide range of leather, stitch, and inlay options, plus matching belts, wallets, and purses. Just as notably, Chappell is one of the few working bootmakers who runs structured seminars to pass the trade on to newcomers rather than keeping the technique in-house.
A third-generation Texas bootmaker who also teaches the trade.
Pairs from smaller, custom, or long-closed makers rarely come up for sale, so this search may not find anything. It’s worth checking back now and then.