$275 cobbled with steel clincher nails
Traditional Lord/Lady of the Rings
Your choice of half-soles and heels
$375 saddle-stitched $275 cobbled with steel clincher nails Lord/Lady of the Rings
no strap between the toes
Honey Vibram Full sole
All sandals have a 10 year guarantee
for fit & finish
Custom-built entirely
by my hands for your feet
Top-grain vegetable tanned cowhide bridle leather
is used for straps, insoles & midsoles
Click on photos to enlarge
Most of the photos with feet in sandals are taken at the wet-fitting so feet have not yet stretched the arch straps and moved forward, closer to the front.
1977 LOTRs - ready for replacement straps
Sheet bend knot - learn to tie it!
Breaking-in Your Sandals
"Thanks Davy! They are still on my feet as I wander the garden, hang the wash, trim the bushes and now have lunch. They are a very special addition to my day. Thank you for mastering your artistry!" GP 7/2014
"Everyone is amazed and loves my sandals, good work Davy." CO 8/2014
"I receive complements on them almost every time I wear them. They became my regular casual slip-ons and I've really taken a lot of pleasure in them.” DF 9/2014
"They look great! I love how they turned out!" KK 10/2014
‘Thank you Davy, for your beautiful craftsmanship. I know my gorgeous custom change pouch will give me so much pleasure for many years to come. Each time I use it I will be reminded of you and my very special holiday on Pender Island." Anne – Maple Bay, BC 7/2015
“We’re showing off our beautiful sandals to others who are interested.” J & MH 7/2015
"Your sandals are a hit with my dentist, and he is a mormon.” JS 4/2016
"I find when the weather is fine they're all I wear. I love them!” AF 4/2016
"I love my sandals and my purse and my pouch and my key lanyard, and my keyring and my bracelet. Thank you thank you thank you :)” JS 5/2016
“Saddle-soaped and dubbed my sandals. They look great!” JS 5/2016
"So kind. Thank you so much! I love this Sandalmaker.” BS 6/2016
"I have saddle-soaped and dubbined my sandals about 6 times. The strap stretched a couple inches and I trimmed it down. I love them, my only observation is my feet have distinctive tan lines." JS 7/2016
"Thanks again for the beautiful sandals, it was nice to spend that time with you. I've worn them all afternoon! My toes just have to get used to having a wedge between them, and all else feels fine." RM 7/2016
"I have them on and they feel pretty good.” SM 5/2017
"I will probably never make it to Pender Island, but I'm happy that someone like you exists and I appreciate so much that there's still commerce out there that requires face-to-face.” WK 7/2017
"Your sandals look like they will last 100 years!” JH 7/2017
"I am i m p r e s s e d! You earned your stars, your craftsmanship and quality are incomparable. I'm breaking in my sandals now, and they feel wonderful, solid."
DB 12/2018
μὴ κρίνῃ ὁ σκυτεὺς ἔξω τοῦ ὑποδήματος
“Let a cobbler
not judge beyond the sandal”
Pliny the Elder 23 – 79 AD - Natural History XXXV, 85
“The foot is at such high risk for injury largely because it has so many small, frangible parts -- 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 tendons, ligaments, and muscles,
any of which can fail.”
Gretchen Reynolds Unhappy Feet The New York Times Sep 11, 2008
The importance of saddle-soaping and dubbin - how to apply them
Tanning methods and the danger of using chromium-tanned leathers
Repairs, Soles & Heels Replacement
Head knives, skivers
Keep your sandals going for year after year after year
Repairs, Soles & Heels Replacement
Rob puts his best foot forward
#49
Stephen’s #49 five years later
Newly-fitted sandals have room at the front to allow
arch straps to stretch-to-fit
Your feet will migrate forward as the newly-fitted
arch straps stretch-to-fit
Ready for wet-fitting at my South Pender Island shoppe
Ready for wet-fitting
Ready for wet- fitting
Return to top
Saddle-stitched w/honey Vibram sole & P&P ⅜” latigo straps
ready for final fitting $375
Orthopaedic design has forefront-trimmed-fleece padding and 7/8 oz bridle cowhide slim straps & saddle-stitched insoles & outsoles with Italian Vibram
half-soles and medium heels - ready for final wet-fitting $375
After final fitting, ready for damp break-in
A year later
2017 Summer Solstice LOTRs ready to be wet-fitted
Feet will migrate forward as newly-fitted arch straps stretch
Ready for wet- fitting
Ready for wet- fitting
Ready for wet- fitting
"Love the new LOTR heel strap lock washers! Now I can wear them loose up front and have a tight heel strap. Fantastic fit. Hard to believe that you improved upon my favorite footwear ever, but you did!" JS 2/2019
First Place winner of the 2017 Pender Island Fall Fair
Applied Arts & Crafts section
Ready for wet- fitting
Ready for wet-fitting
First Place winner of the 2023 Pender Island Fall Fair
Applied Arts & Crafts section
Orthopedic lift for left sandal
On our post-fitting walk up Castle road your newly-fitted sandals will allow your feet to ride to the rear. Returning down the road your feet will stretch the arch for them to move forward.
Left to right: before wet fitting; single strap replacement; patches on insole cowhide where Mathew wore it away.
"Hello! Just found your page and LOVE your Lord of the Ring original style sandals." JB 9/2016
"Davy, those sandals are works of art! I love reading about your process and the history of the materials." MP 9/2016
"Thanks Davy. I have them on and they feel pretty good." SM 5/2017
"I wore the first pair you made for me to a costume/art competition and I'm convinced they were an integral part of the reason we won second prize :-) People were very impressed with them.” OT 5/2017
“You don't have to be Jesus to walk 10 km in Davy’s sandals. I walked from Sydney to the airport yesterday and I’m putting them on again today for a walk.” SA 6/2017
"I wear my LOTR sandals all the time!” JS 6/2017
"Strap fits perfectly. Couldn't be better. Thank you.” PM 7/2017
"Thank you again! I love them!” DM 8/2017
"Thanks Davy for the information and your talented expertise. I was a little hesitant at first thinking of spending a lot of money on sandals until I spoke to you at the Pender Saturday Market, and until I watched and read your documentary on how they are produced and with such love and care. The fitting today was educational and informative. I've worn the sandals for much of the day and can't find anything to complain about. You obviously know your stuff and I love your design! We will keep in touch and I'll let you know how how the breakin period turns out. I believe you will have another customer sometime soon, my wife!” RE 6/3018
"You made sandals for me last May sometime when I came to visit Pender Island. Words cannot express how amazing they are. As are you and your commitment to your craft.” HB 5/2018
"Hello, I love your work! Davy, I've looked and looked and keep on looking but your sandals are the ones I want. Is it possible for me to carefully measure my feet where necessary and send you the measurements in lieu of traveling 2,558 miles?” DB 10/2018
“Merry Christmas morning to you Leathersmithe! I am impresssed! You earned your stars, your craftsmanship and quality are incomparable. I'm dancing on leather!” DB 12/2019
“I really like that your design doesn't use fastening hardware and that the knot is on the inside of the ankle--you are a genius! I'm definitely going to get to work soon on my first pair!" AP 5/2020
"Hi Davy, You just made a pair of sandals for Richard. Can I convince you to make me a pair as well? They look fantastic on him!" JA 9/25
"You were the spark that inspired me to start working
with leather back when you had a shoppe on Lonsdale and Third. I
have always admired how deeply you understand the nature and
characteristics inherent to leather, and how you prefer to apply
them in your work. Why use stitching or rivets when two pieces
of leather have their own effective and simple way of being
joined together?”
JS 10/2024
"I was sorting through some old papers and came across your Victoria shop business card with the time for the fitting of my sandals, so out of curiosity I consulted the google god about you. Interesting website, thanks for the history. I remember your little shop well and in sleepy Victoria of the time, you in your brown leathers on your BMW were memorable. I thought you might like (or not) a picture of my 45 year old used and abused sandals which continue to get hauled out every summer. I have always appreciated them.” 5/2020 JE
"Thanks for all your care and time Davy. I'm wearing my beautiful sandals and they are getting more comfortable with every minute as we become accustomed to each other. I hope we have a long life together. Lets plan on celebrating in 10 years!" 7/2023 LB
The entire epidermal layer of your skin turns over every forty-eight days
Fine Leatherworking page on Leathersmithe sandal-making guide
Sandals
Build Your Own Pair
Care for Your Leather
Leather Terms
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While Hernando Cortes was fighting the Aztecs in 1519, he lost a sandal in the mud and could not recover it. So he landed with one bare foot. From Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs
Begun December 201
