I have a deadstock mid century pair of ivory suede bucks to offer anyone interested... I think they're a size 10 or 11. I need to double check.
The lighter shoes in both the bottom photos are what I understand to be 'dirty bucks'. The Sanders win hands down in the quality stakes and are repairable where as the others are throw away items.
I have the Sanders Jack in the snuff brown. They're excellent, Tommy. Very comfortable. My brother has the Buckinghams and loves them. They are on my list, too. Great shoes at either end of the spectrum.
I wonder why Bass don't release them here, instead of the fugly shite currently on offer...?
But as to other brands to suggest I have zero experience, really just wanted to endorse those two on your shortlist.
WM loves his Buckingham's and i think Bop has some made by Orvis.
Walk Overs always looked good but never had a pair myself.
I have some dark chocolate brown Buckinghams with a matching dark brown sole that I wear as a sort of beater shoe. They have held up pretty well, but the nubuck has started to get a bit soft and ragged. Mind, they're beaters, so I'll just keep them going until they fall apart. They still fit the bill very well with some khakis or jeans and a sweatshirt or what have you. I also have a pair of the lighter tan brown, I think they call it taupe on the box, with the red brick soles (pictured above). I've only worn them a few times, but they really are a classic looking shoe and I think they're decent for the price. If you look around online you can probably find them for about $60 USD. Don't pay full price for them. I'm sure the Sanders are far better, but the Buckingham is still a nicely-shaped buck at 1/4 the price.
Yeah, the Walk-Overs are nice, and have real Goodyear welt construction. Price more in line with the Sanders.
Walk-Overs are what I bought at ye olde Barrie Booters, a celebrated now-defunct shoe shop located on York Street right by J. Press in New Haven.
1982. Still have them. Good purchase.
I really like the buck style of shoe.
Have a pair of the newer Walkover dirty bucks, they were ankle biters like the sperry but not a bad show, apparently nothing like the old originals but just wear them as a beater shoe.
Tommy, I've got a pair of Bass Buckingham that you can have if you are in the market.
I've got a vintage pair of LL Bean's that I wear instead.
US9 I think, but let me know if you are interested and I'll check.
My Bass wore through quite quickly but i was wearing them everyday..the best so far were those 1818 ones that were making for Orivis..lasted bloody ages
+1 on the Orvis,
I've worn the f**k out of mine and they still are in decent shape ,
Rushtons reckon that they can do the brick red resole for about £40, so relatively cheap to get a few more years out of them.
No ,you are all wrong ,1818 was when the Christmas carol "Silent Night" was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber. It was first sung at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria on 24/12/1818.
Are they the same as the model you tipped on eBay, Sid?
No, these are new.
http://www.walkover.com/Walkover-Abram-in-Loden-Suede-color
My friend owns a pair of modern Walk-Overs and tells me that the toe is all wrong.