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Boots / shoes to wear with your flight jacket s...

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Grant
Great comparison photos. Those Dead Stock originals are in pristine condition for boots close to 80 years old. While the differences are subtle, you’re right in that the repros are a slight bit off from the originals. I guess it’s a bit like the repro A2 compared to an original A2. No matter who makes it and how close it comes to the original there’s always going to be just a slight difference in the two . Cool post
Thanks
 

jack31916

Well-Known Member
I like this sort of reviews / comparisons very much. So thanks Grant !.

Buzz Rickson did the best repros but those were expensive and no bigger than size 9...

ATF, WW2Imp and SM Wholesale are very good repros but as B-Man2 stated, always a bit off from the originals.
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
I like this sort of reviews / comparisons very much. So thanks Grant !.

Buzz Rickson did the best repros but those were expensive and no bigger than size 9...

ATF, WW2Imp and SM Wholesale are very good repros but as B-Man2 stated, always a bit off from the originals.
The nice thing about comparison photos is, that you can save the photos and start your own data bank of original items for later comparison of a repro item you may want to purchase down the road, weather it be a jacket, boots or clothing. Then you will be able to purchase the repro item that most closely duplicates the original item.
 

MikeyB-17

Well-Known Member
Really interesting to see the two pairs together. I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t prefer the shape of the repros, that toe on the originals is pretty damn ugly, authentic or not. A lot of companies produce boots using a similar design, Red Wing Iron Rangers for instance, and most of them seem to flatten out that slightly comical upturned toe and make it a bit less rounded. Mind you, it looks like ATF have changed their design, because a quick glance shows a more rounded, sticky-up toe here:-
 

BarnCats

Member
Swedish M59 Surplus Boots. I bought a pair of these last year. Not my pic. They take polish really well. I swapped out the issue laces and put rawhide laces in mine.

m59 boots.jpg
 

BarnCats

Member
Swiss Army Surplus Alpine combat boots, 1970's vintage, I think. I've had these since '06 or so. I saddle soaped the black shoe polish out of them and wear them as rough out boots. I might have paid $15 for these from Sportsman's Guide back then. I use these as work boots around my property, too. They are incredibly tough.
IMG-5147.jpg

IMG-5145.jpg
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Swiss Army Surplus Alpine combat boots, 1970's vintage, I think. I've had these since '06 or so. I saddle soaped the black shoe polish out of them and wear them as rough out boots. I might have paid $15 for these from Sportsman's Guide back then. I use these as work boots around my property, too. They are incredibly tough.View attachment 49120
View attachment 49119
Question ??
Are they still available for sale anywhere?
 

BarnCats

Member
Question ??
Are they still available for sale anywhere?

Yeah. They look really black. They're all over the place. Ebay, Esty, and a bunch of surplus vendors. The pics usually show them black, and they don't look so good. As rough outs, I think they look a lot better.

Here's a random Esty link (assuming I'm allowed to do that). boots here


They're really ugly when still black, IMO. Mine looked exactly like this before I removed the boot polish. (not my pic).

ETA the eyelets are a crapshoot. Sometimes they have the first row with a D ring eyelet, sometimes not.

swiss boots.jpg
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
Yeah. They look really black. They're all over the place. Ebay, Esty, and a bunch of surplus vendors. The pics usually show them black, and they don't look so good. As rough outs, I think they look a lot better.

Here's a random Esty link (assuming I'm allowed to do that). boots here


They're really ugly when still black, IMO. Mine looked exactly like this before I removed the boot polish. (not my pic).

ETA the eyelets are a crapshoot. Sometimes they have the first row with a D ring eyelet, sometimes not.

View attachment 49121
Thanks BC !
 

BarnCats

Member
Can't forget a belt for those trousers. I like the Finnish Service belt (has a Sam Brown look to it, without the shoulder strap).

Also like the Hungarian Surplus Enlisted Infantryman's belt. They're available undyed, so if you have a mind to, you can pick your own color.

finnish service belt.jpg


hungarian belt.jpg
 

BarnCats

Member
Also, if you find yourself wearing an olive drab jacket, you might want to consider a pair of Vellies from the Courtney Boot Company in Zimbabwe. They were very popular with the troops of the losing side back in the Bush War days. They're hand made.

May I suggest the olive green to go with your olive drab jacket? They fit and feel like slippers.

velle.png
 

Bombing IP

Well-Known Member
Barncats where do you find the Vellies from the Courtney Boot Company for sale .Look very similar to Afican stalking boots .
BIP
 

AlexLutov

Well-Known Member

Clark J

Well-Known Member
For someone who wears a 9.5 this would be a great pick up . Fit true to size and are really comfortable
 

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Dimitry M

Well-Known Member
I'm considering getting the SM Wholesale rough out double buckles. How are the cut? I have a wide foot. I'm currently a 9.5 i might grow. Its an investment so I don't want to blow it and grow out of it.
 
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