About
The Nail Shank-2 is a limited edition service boot manufactured by KREOSOTE. Released in 2019 as the Second Edition of the original 2018 Nail Shank design, the boot takes its name from the forged railroad tie nail used as its shank component. The limited production run consisted of 25 units, each custom-built to the client's foot measurements using made-to-measure methods. The boot features a 5-inch shaft height with 11 antique brass eyelets and incorporates KREOSOTE's signature XXX back-curve heel counter design.
About
The Nail Shank-2 is a limited edition service boot manufactured by KREOSOTE. Released in 2019 as the Second Edition of the original 2018 Nail Shank design, the boot takes its name from the forged railroad tie nail used as its shank component. The limited production run consisted of 25 units, each custom-built to the client's foot measurements using made-to-measure methods. The boot features a 5-inch shaft height with 11 antique brass eyelets and incorporates KREOSOTE's signature XXX back-curve heel counter design.
KREOSOTE, formerly known as MYG Handmade, is a one-man operation run by St. Louis-based bootmaker J.D. Gabbard. Each pair requires between 50 and 100 hours of labor using traditional European shoemaking methods. The boots retail for $2,500 as of 2024, representing the maker's philosophy of "American Built Folklore Boots" that blend traditional cordwainer techniques with American heritage design elements.
Design and construction
The Nail Shank-2 uses the NS40 last with a 5-inch top height featuring 11 antique brass eyelets. The heel counter incorporates KREOSOTE's distinctive XXX back-curve design. The boot's namesake feature is its forged railroad tie nail shank, which is hammered flat and provides arch support through a labor-intensive construction process.
The upper construction employs hand-crank stitching using a Gritzner machine with number 207 nylon bonded thread. A three-quarter inch 360-degree welt is hand in-seam stitched to connect the components. The insole consists of leather with an 11 iron hand-cut channel, covered with full-grain leather over a removable one-eighth inch blue-cloud padded insole.
The midsole uses 10-millimeter vegetable-tanned leather. The outsole is constructed from 12 iron with a 1940s-inspired half-sole cutting pattern. The sole receives a whisky barrel bottom hand-dyed treatment with black and brown rough-sanded oiled edges. The heel features a straight-cut design with a 1-inch leather stack and rubber cap.
Materials
The uppers are constructed from Wickett & Craig Harness leather at 5.5 ounces, finished as semi-rough-out with a natural base. The leather receives a custom color treatment using what KREOSOTE describes as a "flesh side out" hand application process, creating a dark aged patina through traditional methods. The laces are full-grain flat-cut leather weighing 7 ounces.
Ordering and pricing
The Nail Shank-2 is currently out of stock with a wait list of approximately four and a half years according to the manufacturer's website. The boots are made-to-measure, custom-built based on the client's personal foot measurements. New clients must schedule an appointment and participate in a phone consultation before ordering. Full payment of $2,500 is required at the time of order.
The pricing represents an evolution from the original Nail Shank model, which was offered at $900 under the MYG Handmade brand name in 2015. An intermediate Nail Shank 2.0 pricing point of $1,850 preceded the current $2,500 price.
References
"NAIL SHANK - Limited Edition of 25". KREOSOTE. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
"St. Louisan J.D. Gabbard Crafts Footwear to Last a Lifetime". Ladue News. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
"BootHunter Collaboration Series #1: A Conversation with Master Boot Maker Gabbard of MYG Handmade". BootHunter Blog. July 16, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
