german jackboots

[lordashtaroth]

Capt. Zak, sign me up!

[Capt. Zak]

I'm going to start a sign up thread. I'll link it here once it is up.

[click]

captzak said:

I'm going to start a sign up thread. I'll link it here once it is up.

Beatcha to it! ;D ;D ;D

ww2aa.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1171690957

Click

[Sturmmann13]

There are Jackboots on militaria-kcs for $45 are these good?

[Capt. Zak]

Those are East German.

[kellhound]

West German parade boots:


Not the most comfortable for running around the forest, and not enough ankle support depending on your feet shape.

A pair of modern and comfortable boots that look enough to period low boots, and gaiters is much better.
Your feet will thank you. ;D

[mikkel]

Yes, and the wool uniform is too warm, so you can also use a modern BDU instead
The magazine pouches are too impractical to use right. I'd get a nice ciras setup.
And so on

The Bundeswehr wachbataillon stiefeln are some of the best, if you want to stay low-budget. Remove the forward sole. It leaves you with a nice leather sole that are ready for some hobnails.

[kellhound]

Actually, several "repros" being sold on-line (and more than a few "original"), are actually BW modified boots.

[kurtsteiner]

I use a pair of these at the moment, till i can afford a pair of jump boots. if u wear gaitors aswell you wont notice the speed lace holes at the top. dont think you will have any problems finding them on ebay either
www.1starmy.com/viewproduct.asp?Productno=934
I do alot of urban over hear in the UK, and i once experimented with hobnail british ammo boots, it was a disaster, i slipped down the stairs and tore the ligaments in my ankle. took 4 months to heal enough so i could airsoft again. I'll never wear hobnails again

[Doom]

I bought my pair of size 13 jackboots from Landser Outfitters on Ebay. Hobnails, heel irons and under 150.00 WITH shipping. Great quality and comfortable. stores.ebay.com/Landser-Outfitters_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm

[Sturmmann13]

wow this tread is still alive? I just bought a new pair of brogans (civil war shoes) and they are very similar to Low boots (I would post a picture but my beloved camera of 3 years has finaly given out and due to collage text books and drivers ed fees I have about $100 to my name meaning no new camera or airsoft, but I did just get the next installment to my impression.... a 98k bayonet and scabbord!! but still no money ) back to the boots they have heal irons and hobnails and are so close in design that it is hard to tell the diffrence once I get my gaitors I will be set

[odinfish]

Guys...don't waste your money. Try to get it right the first time. Brogans? Lets see a pic...last I recall most have a squared toe and if not, are just generally wrong in style even with gemaschen covering a portion of it. Swiss or Swedish post/war low boots are more accurate yet if you're looking for a cheaper alternative. I'm a bit skeptical about Landsers Jacks as well...I really didn't like the look of the hardware used when Jon Jensen of Landser sent me pics of them...looked more like roughed up masonry nail heads than hobnails imho. A cheap alternative for jackboots if you want to get into a hands-on project...get a pair of EM East German Jacks, the pattern is a bit different I know, but similar...buy your hobnails and heel irons, sand or dremel down the soles until the treads are gone and even. Get yourself a shoe last (holds your boot upside down) from eBay (I paid $15 for mine) and hammer in your own metal gear. If someone bitches to you about it then, hell, you just recreated a piece of history with your own 2 hands, right?

Mike

[Sturmmann13]

Not all brogans have the square toes. My new pair (wore my old ones out) have the "shark nosed" (very slight squarish shaped) toes, like the low boots. They are fairly different from "standard" CW brogans but they are still CW period. Now to their relationship to low boots, I know that they are not perfect but from the distance of most people's eye level they look pretty good. Not like paying $175 on some ATF's but good. Now I would like to apologize if I offended anyone, because the last thing I need is another flame war (remember the "impression information" thread?) So I will try to post pictures soon of my new bayonet! and brogans.

BTW odinfish, I like your idea about the swiss boot conversion, a decent cheap alternative

[Jager.Drü]

Doom, those boots look good from the side but once you get a good look at them they stink! Take a look at the link.
forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=123012
odifish, hobnails into rubbers soles isn't gonna work, the rubber will just split and the hobnails won't stay.

[odinfish]

sarge13 said:

Not all brogans have the square toes. My new pair (wore my old ones out) have the "shark nosed" (very slight squarish shaped) toes, like the low boots. They are fairly different from "standard" CW brogans but they are still CW period. Now to their relationship to low boots, I know that they are not perfect but from the distance of most people's eye level they look pretty good. Not like paying $175 on some ATF's but good. Now I would like to apologize if I offended anyone, because the last thing I need is another flame war (remember the "impression information" thread?) So I will try to post pictures soon of my new bayonet! and brogans.

BTW odinfish, I like your idea about the swiss boot conversion, a decent cheap alternative

Yeah I know not all brogans have the square toe which is why I said "most". Lol...and I certainly didn't intend to kindle a suggested flame war. It's the simple fact of getting things right the first time as cheaply as possible. For instance, buy a cheap chinese made M40...generally accepted among most groups but spat upon by the stitch-nazis. Which is also why I suggest closer and cheaper alternatives. There's a lot of "close" -looking materials and gear out there including the East German Jacks and Swiss low boot conversions. I went into this hobby of the mind that I'm not going to buy a $400 to $600 uniform and I didn't and never will. It's all about simulation imo.

Mike

[odinfish]

drewb said:

Doom, those boots look good from the side but once you get a good look at them they stink! Take a look at the link.
forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=123012
odifish, hobnails into rubbers soles isn't gonna work, the rubber will just split and the hobnails won't stay.

They're not rubber. It's a PVC type of material. Unless you're referring to East German Officer Jacks, then yes they are rubber. East German Enlisted Man's Jacks have a "simulated leather sole" that was much easier to produce than using leather and stitching. Well you don't have to take my word for it...only a suggestion I've used and am pleased with the results

Mike

[Lev]

sarge13 said:

wow this tread is still alive? I just bought a new pair of brogans (civil war shoes) and they are very similar to Low boots (I would post a picture but my beloved camera of 3 years has finaly given out and due to collage text books and drivers ed fees I have about $100 to my name meaning no new camera or airsoft, but I did just get the next installment to my impression.... a 98k bayonet and scabbord!! but still no money ) back to the boots they have heal irons and hobnails and are so close in design that it is hard to tell the diffrence once I get my gaitors I will be set

Your ACW brogans won't work too well for gemaschen. They are too low and you won't have enough overlap between the leggings and boots. When I tried this the skin between the boots and gemaschen got pinched.

[Lev]

This thread is throwing out a lot of absolutes regarding original uniforms and comparing a reproduction to an "original." I feel the need to remind people of the variation present in many original German uniforms produced throughout the war in details such as fabric, color, construction and cut.

There is no one "correct" wool color for any type of tunic. Even when Janke was making wool during ww2 it most likely varied in color and weight. Modern computer controlled dye systems still produce varied results. A survey of German bluses shows dramatic differences in shade and color throughout the war.

When one claims that his/her wool matches "originals" perfectly...thereby implying that every other variation is "wrong," I chuckle on the inside. I don't make these statements as a defense to being "authentically challenged", but because a survey of surviving examples tells a different story. The color range was as vast with German tunics as it was with allied "khaki" throughout the entire war.

Please try and avoid absolute statements about originals and reproductions. Collectors and people who really know the originals will tell you the straight story. Having quality gear is important, but so is having variation in that gear...which by producing different variants that actually existed, can be a great thing. Still it makes spotting the true junk hard to do.

If only this stuff was that simple

[valtteri]

STURM will be releasing some repro jackboots and low shoes in a couple of months. These are not conversions but ground-up repros made to look exactly like original. Hobnails, reverse leather and all - you even have to dye and polish them by yourself, like German soldiers had to when receiving brand new boots, back in the days. Retail prices about 200 euros for the boots and 120 euros for the shoes. That'll solve the problem of high price and low availability, and I don't think it'll take too long for these shoes to end up in the States as well.

[mikkel]

Actually, it's not much cheaper then the top quality Czech made repros you can get already.
And having seen the camouflage sturm have produced, i would be careful to get anything else from them before i have seen it first hand

[binarypunisher]

Sturm fliegerbluses are apparently among the best out there...their new tan+water smock is very good as well.

[odinfish]

unionman said:

This thread is throwing out a lot of absolutes regarding original uniforms and comparing a reproduction to an "original." I feel the need to remind people of the variation present in many original German uniforms produced throughout the war in details such as fabric, color, construction and cut.

There is no one "correct" wool color for any type of tunic. Even when Janke was making wool during ww2 it most likely varied in color and weight. Modern computer controlled dye systems still produce varied results. A survey of German bluses shows dramatic differences in shade and color throughout the war.

When one claims that his/her wool matches "originals" perfectly...thereby implying that every other variation is "wrong," I chuckle on the inside. I don't make these statements as a defense to being "authentically challenged", but because a survey of surviving examples tells a different story. The color range was as vast with German tunics as it was with allied "khaki" throughout the entire war.

Please try and avoid absolute statements about originals and reproductions. Collectors and people who really know the originals will tell you the straight story. Having quality gear is important, but so is having variation in that gear...which by producing different variants that actually existed, can be a great thing. Still it makes spotting the true junk hard to do.

If only this stuff was that simple

Did I miss something? I don't see many "absolutes" when terms like "simulated" are used.


Mike

[Doom]

Those Landser jackboots are ok. I have them in hand. Yeah, they are cheap repros, but they do look REALLY good with the uniform. Better than my post war jacks (which are better made and more comfortable). The soles are "eh" but I expect them to serve their purpose for a while. I'm not sending them back.

[odinfish]

If I were you, since the hobnails are so low, buy some and take them to a cobbler. The whole purpose of having hobnails was to protect the soles a bit from wear along with some added traction when running. So instead of ditching the boots altogether, in which I agree with you and just wouldn't do, make use of what you have. Like I mentioned before, based on the pics I received from John Jensen, the metal work looked awful and as if you'd bust your ass upon the first patch of wet grass you'd happen upon.

Just my 2 pfennigs worth anyway.

Mike

[Russianboy]

The ATF boots look and feel great.

[kellhound]

valtteri said:

STURM will be releasing some repro jackboots and low shoes in a couple of months. These are not conversions but ground-up repros made to look exactly like original.

Didn't see any examples last time I was there.
They told me they weren't making any new repro items until they finished the allied web equipment (unless you count Kar98 bayonets) and their M36 suspenders were "a little" late.

Oh, and the new digital and modern camo BDU repros.

[valtteri]

Well, I just gave them a call, and guess what, the low shoes are in stock, jackboots are still on the way. Be seeing them in my store after I get back from Germany, in a week. You cannot ever trust them about what they say about the future, luckily they've never lied about what they have in stock.

[odinfish]

valtteri said:

Well, I just gave them a call, and guess what, the low shoes are in stock, jackboots are still on the way. Be seeing them in my store after I get back from Germany, in a week. You cannot ever trust them about what they say about the future, luckily they've never lied about what they have in stock.

Sorry if I misunderstood, are you selling boots? I ask because you mention that you'll be seeing them in your store.

Mike

[valtteri]

Yep, I've got my own store: www.varusteleka.fi

It's mostly mainstream militaria, but I've got my own section for WW2 reenactors, who have raised their heads recently - especially when airsofters are starting to get into it.

Note on the prices: Finland has 22% VAT.. ..and I want money

STURM is a great supplier but when it comes shipping & processing orders, they're terribly slow. That's why I drive my truck there and pick the stuff up - if you show up personally, even East Germans will hustle. Since either I or some my emplyees go there twice a month, I'm pretty updated if they come up with anything new.

Another thing they're coming up with is the German canteen with everything - the canteen, the cover, the cork & straps and the cup. Preliminary information tells me I will sell this for 39,00 euros. No date set though. Now all they need to do is German gas mask canister and US Thompson mag bags and they've got basically everything you need for a basic set for either US or German impression.

[odinfish]

valtteri said:

Yep, I've got my own store: www.varusteleka.fi

It's mostly mainstream militaria, but I've got my own section for WW2 reenactors, who have raised their heads recently - especially when airsofters are starting to get into it.

Note on the prices: Finland has 22% VAT.. ..and I want money

STURM is a great supplier but when it comes shipping & processing orders, they're terribly slow. That's why I drive my truck there and pick the stuff up - if you show up personally, even East Germans will hustle. Since either I or some my emplyees go there twice a month, I'm pretty updated if they come up with anything new.

Another thing they're coming up with is the German canteen with everything - the canteen, the cover, the cork & straps and the cup. Preliminary information tells me I will sell this for 39,00 euros. No date set though. Now all they need to do is German gas mask canister and US Thompson mag bags and they've got basically everything you need for a basic set for either US or German impression.

Lol...I can't even figure out enough to navigate through the site!

Mike