Church’s Custom Grade Semi-Brogue Cap-Toe Derby — Walnut Brown

From Church’s of Northampton, England (est. 1873) — one of England’s great shoemakers. This is their Custom Grade line, Church’s top bench-made ready-to-wear grade: Goodyear-welted construction, full leather soles with stacked leather heels and rubber top pieces, and “Custom Grade / Made in England” stamped on the sole waist of both shoes. Semi-brogue cap-toe derby (open 4-eyelet lacing) in glossy walnut-brown calf with medallion perforations on the cap toes.

PRIVATE LABEL: the insoles are stamped “Church’s famous English shoes — MADE ESPECIALLY FOR M. BARDELLI — MADE IN ENGLAND” (insole also blind-stamped LEATHER UPPER / LEATHER SOLES). Church’s made private-label pairs like this for select retailers, and the Bardelli stamp makes this pair a genuine collector detail — see the insole photos in the gallery.

SIZE: Church’s UK 8.5, G fitting (WIDE). The size is handwritten inside the lining of both shoes — “8½ G 35 / Bardelli / 9409 / 118” in one shoe, “35 G 8½” with the Bardelli name in the other (the final gallery photo is a close-up of these marks; the writing is photographed upside-down/mirrored, and is transcribed here exactly as read) — and the G fitting is also stamped on the sole waist of both shoes (see the outsole close-up photo). Per Church’s own UK-to-US conversion, UK 8.5 = US men’s 9.5, so this pair is listed under US 9.5.

CONDITION: Pre-owned — Good, honestly described. Please study all 13 photos; they are the exact pair you will receive. The uppers present noticeably better than the soles:

• Glossy walnut calf uppers with light vamp creasing and light scuffs; medallion broguing crisp
• Insoles clean, Church’s / M. Bardelli stamps legible; original laces in place
• Heels worn but intact; welt stitching sound throughout

FLAWS / WEAR (all visible in the photos):

• The leather outsoles are HEAVILY WORN — darkened, scuffed, and thinned at the toes with real mileage on them. This pair is a strong candidate for a resole, and because it is Goodyear-welted, a resole is straightforward and worthwhile on a shoe of this quality
• Small fray/wear spot at the top edge of the right shoe’s heel collar
• Normal creasing across the vamps of both shoes
• No box included

SHIPPING: Flat $10.99 via our shoe policy, USPS Ground Advantage. Ships within 1 business day from Apopka, Florida. From Mjfadeaway83 — visit our store for more finds like this.