Recently I read in one of the threads about the 405s and the calf vs chromexal discussion. I realize it should be Indy 101, but:
1. Which were the movie ones made of?
2. Whats the noticeable difference if shopping for used ones?
3. Were the Crystal Skull ones calf or chromexal? What color? And cotton duck lining?
4. When did they go to leather lining?
Seeing that I just made a decisions after thinking on it and doing some research as well as asking others, I can answer the difference in calf and chromexcel.
The movies used calf at least for the first 3 films.
Chromexcel is put through more treatment and is more or less broken in out the gate as opposed to calf. Its conditioned already the way you would eventually do with the calf 405s. Color is darker and it also is much softer. Even after ordering a pair I questioned whether or not I made the correct call. After recieving them last thursday even though I returned them in mail that same night for a smaller pair, I knew I had made the correct call. Tomorrow my replacement pair will be here and I will be throwing some pics up here.
If you do some looking on youtube there is a video showing both the 403s and 405s side by side after one year of about equal wear. The 403s looked cooler.
Besides, the 405s are no longer made the exact same way as they were for the ones Ford wore in the first three films.
i would say looking used will just depend on wear and tear of soles, but seeing as you can have them resoled, you might save quite a bit if you find the right deal. i would have bought used in a heartbeat, but my small size of 6D hardly pops up often enough.
