2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 30, 2016 16:46:31 GMT -5
I know there is some variation in leggings issued to GIs and Marines. OD leggings were typically late war while Khaki reflects early war. (Khaki of course were seen throughout). What I am a bit confused by are the number of books which seem to vary quite a bit. I had heard that USMC spats had fewer hooks although Army leggings were also issued to Marines who were the "hand me down" princes of the US military. I had heard that USMC leggings featured seven hooks where GI leggings had 8? I came across some unissued size 3 khaki leggings with only five books? What's the deal with these? Other than white parade spats I'd never seen less than six hooks?
Is there a story to these?
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shiftysgarand
Corporal
BangbangbangbangbangbangbangbangPING
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Post by shiftysgarand on Dec 30, 2016 17:06:39 GMT -5
Some GIs apparently cut down their issue leggings to make them faster to put on and take off. I'm not sure how much came out of their paycheck for that, but I'm pretty sure they weren't issued with 5 hooks.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 30, 2016 19:01:11 GMT -5
I considered that as a possibility and I have heard of that being done by both GIs and Marines but these do not look alterred. They are very factory finished and these appear absolutely unissued. Thus far it is a puzzlement. They are still tall enough to provide additional ankle support and of course additional protection from snake bites, brush and obstructions so they would still function as designed. Definitely easier than regular leggings to put on and take off! Which is like saying for a fat girl she doesn't sweat much.
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Post by volkssturm on Dec 31, 2016 14:14:52 GMT -5
My understanding is that the Rangers usually cut their leggings down. Leggings are another one of those things you'd like to be able to go back in time and ask the designers "WTF were you thinking?"
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 31, 2016 14:37:34 GMT -5
It is true! They are a pain in the ass to put on and take off but are so iconic of a WW2 look that you gotta love em. I actually wore them when I was in the Army as my unit had the freedom in the field to pretty much do what we wanted. I hated the issue jungle boots which did not agree with my feet and instead wore some "liberated" NVA bantam boots (low quarters canvas tennis shoes). The leggings which are late war OD shade provided additional ankle support and with tape applied kept the bugs out. You quickly learned the importance of putting them on right with the hooks on the outside and hooks facing the rear. Seeing them put on wrong (which is fairly common) always make me laugh.
I wonder if the Rangers managed to get special shortened spats and this set is one of them? These are Size 3 (which is nice) George S Rumley Shoe MFG stock 72-L-71104 date 11-17-1943. They are definitely easier to put on!
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Post by brownien on Dec 31, 2016 15:26:00 GMT -5
My understanding is that production started off with them being made with 8 hooks, and after reports and evidence of GI'a cutting them down to 5-6 hooks, mfg companies began to take note. The overall height didn't change much, but the number of hooks and eyelets varied greatly later war. Some reduced the number of hooks and eyelets and spaced them out greater to maintain length and just use less to fasten them. Some may have taken note of the USMC method of halving the number of eyelets and reducing hooks so that the lacing pattern is more of a spiral rather than in and out. Keep in mind that smaller sizes usually dropped a hook set or two.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Dec 31, 2016 17:09:23 GMT -5
In stepping through my 12 sets of leggings most are eight, one is seven, one is six? And of course this set is 5. I really hadn't noticed the variations.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Apr 19, 2017 22:08:26 GMT -5
My research now confirms that in a move to economize and use less metal manufacturers were asked to cut in half the number of eyelets and use less hooks. They also transitioned from brass to steel. These five hook leggings are unissued factory produced with five hooks.
I also learned that if the have the letter designation after the size 3-R for example of 2-L they are Army issue. Size without letter designation would be Navy. USMC often received old stock Army.
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