Final pour from Clyde's farrier shop • In 9 active carts • 180 left
Clyde's No-Bend Cast Iron Snail Boot Jack
Clyde's No-Bend Cast Iron Snail Boot Jack
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Clyde's No-Bend Cast Iron Snail Boot Jack
Poured by hand behind a farrier shop in Big Timber, Montana
Clyde Tillman, 76, shod horses for 41 years. Since 1989 he has poured iron snail boot jacks in the small furnace behind his shop. A new hip ended the pouring. These are his last 180.
“A rancher laughed and called me slow as a snail. So I made him one he could pull his boots off with. Folks my age shouldn’t have to bend over to get their boots off. That’s all this snail was ever for.”
Clyde Tillman · Big Timber, Montana
What comes in the box
One solid piece of cast iron, 9.84 in long
No screws, no assembly, nothing to set up
Porch, mudroom, back door or hallway
Wrapped and boxed for the trip to your door
What makes Clyde’s snail special
The two feelers rise at an angle and curl at the tips. Your heel sits deep in the fork and does not slip out.
Your other foot stands on the flat iron shell. That keeps the snail in place while you pull, instead of sliding away.
The whole snail is one single piece of iron. No welds, no screws, no plastic parts that can crack or wobble.
You stay upright with one hand on the door frame. The boot slides off without you reaching down.
Cowboy boots, work boots, riding boots, rubber boots and ankle boots. The fork is 5.12 in wide.
A dark, rustic finish that looks like it has always been by your door. Outside, it only gets richer with time.
“Taking off boots is one of the moments I ask my older patients to think about. Standing on one leg, bent forward and pulling hard puts all your balance on one ankle. A boot jack lets you stay upright and hold on to something steady. It is a small change, but it is exactly the kind of change I recommend.”
Marcy Ellingson, PT · Physical therapist · Billings, Montana
Perfect for
Why Clyde’s snail lasts
- Solid cast iron. One piece, nothing to break off or come loose.
- Stays put. The flat shell holds the snail on the floor while you pull.
- Kind to leather. The smooth, rounded feelers do not scratch your boots.
- All-weather. Can live outside on the porch all year round.
- Tested the farrier’s way. Clyde made sure the snail takes a boot off before it ever left his shop.
If the snail doesn’t earn its place by your door, one email to info@craft-folk.com is enough. Clyde would rather have it back than have it sit in a closet.
Tip from Clyde: Put the snail right by the door where you can hold on to the frame. Step on the shell with one foot, set the heel of the other boot in the fork, and pull your foot up and back. Each snail is cast by hand, so the patina can look slightly different from piece to piece.
Product details
| Contents | 1 cast iron snail boot jack |
| Material | Cast iron, one piece |
| Finish | Rustic rust-brown patina |
| Size | 9.84 in (25 cm) long · fork 5.12 in (13 cm) wide |
| Fits | Cowboy, work, riding, rubber, Chelsea and ankle boots |
| Use | Indoors or outdoors — porch, mudroom, back door, hallway |
| Care | None needed; wipe with a dry cloth if you like |
| Made by | Clyde Tillman, Big Timber, Montana — final pour, 180 remaining |
| Sold so far | More than 2,600 since 1989 |
The Last Pour
The Last Pour
A note from the farrier shop:
Clyde Tillman shod horses on the ranches around Big Timber, Montana, for 41 years. In October 1989, after shoeing eleven horses in one day, he couldn’t get his own boots off, and the rancher laughed: “Clyde, you’re slow as a snail.” The next weekend Clyde carved a snail from an old corral post and poured it in iron in the little furnace behind his shop. Since then he has poured about 2,600 of them, and tested every one on his own heel. A new hip in 2025 ended the pouring. 180 snails are left on his shelves. When they are gone, there will be no more.
Free US Shipping
Free US Shipping
Free shipping across the United States
- Delivery time: 5–8 business days
- Every snail is carefully packed and sent with tracking
- Approx. 9.84 in long, fork 5.12 in wide
- One solid piece of cast iron, rust-brown patina
- No assembly, just set it down by the door
- 30-day money-back guarantee — just email info@craft-folk.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Email us anytime at info@craft-folk.com. We answer Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm. Whether it’s about your order, where the snail works best, or just to say hello — a real person writes back.
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. 30-day money-back guarantee. Put it by your door, use it for a few weeks, and if it isn’t right for you, email info@craft-folk.com within 30 days for a full refund. No questions asked.
How is it made?
How is it made?
Each snail is cast in one piece: molten iron is poured into a sand mold made from the pattern Clyde carved out of an old corral post in 1989. Once it has cooled, the snail is cleaned up and gets its rust-brown patina. There are no welds, screws or plastic parts. It is about 9.84 in long, and the fork between the feelers is 5.12 in wide, so it fits cowboy, work, riding and rubber boots.