A Boot Collector Feature
Twenty-five years of shoe repair, five years building holsters, and direct training under a legendary Oregon bootmaker — then a move to Prescott, Arizona turned into a year-long waitlist almost by accident.
Paul Krause came to bootmaking through decades spent on the repair side of the trade: 25 years in shoe repair followed by five years manufacturing holsters, with design training picked up through community college art classes along the way. In 2006 he trained directly with Oregon bootmaker D.W. Frommer II, then continued building his skills through further classes and workshops with other established footwear professionals.
After retiring from shoe repair in Phoenix, Krause kept working leather out of a home shop. When he relocated to Prescott, word got around, and locals started asking him for Western boots. Within three years he'd built up a waitlist stretching a full year for his bespoke work.
Custom Western boots built with a repairman's eye for fit and durability, often in French calf, kangaroo leather, and vegetable-tanned cowhide, finished with hand-tooled detail and hand-skived elements. His boots have won awards in national competitions, including pieces like the Wellington-pattern "Black and Tan" and the opanka-soled "Hillbilly Hollywood."
A repairman's eye for fit, turned into a year-long waitlist for custom boots.
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.