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Post by 2ndbat2 on Jan 8, 2021 21:37:21 GMT -5
On Facebook I have been getting hit up for seemingly great deals on real leather and sealing bomber jackets for $79.00 and leather aviator jackets for $55.00. A deal that struck me as pretty impressive was M42s for $47.95. . my first reaction was I bet they kill you on shipping but the quote was 9.95 which actually seems quite reasonable. I doubt the quality is great but the pictures look quite good.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Jan 16, 2021 21:22:03 GMT -5
Same company is selling repo M43 field jackets for $62.00
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Post by CPL. Mills 2nd Rangers on Feb 4, 2021 13:45:34 GMT -5
I've seen those too, I don't trust it. Price is to good to be true
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Post by 2ndbat2 on Feb 4, 2021 14:19:53 GMT -5
The same firm has low low prices on Leather bomber jackets and type 1 Macinaw coats. They look great in the pictures and supposedly are so cheap as they are over stocks but like you I am quite suspicious of the ads?
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 2, 2021 21:53:15 GMT -5
I took a gamble and purchased some items via facebook. I have my fingers crossed and will keep everyone posted. I have sold off a bunch of original items and am seeking to replca them with inexpensive reproductions that I wont mind loaning out.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 17, 2021 18:22:38 GMT -5
In so much as facebook purchases I did buy some secondhand stuff from marketplaces and have been very pleased with the purchases. I bought a pair of double buckle boots on May 10th for a too good to be true amount. So far I havent received them so who knows? I am seeing in the facebook comments a lot of upset customers for the leather bomber jackets while others with the same exact pictures (but a different facebook site) seem delighted.
I'm thinking its a bit of a crap shoot.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 18, 2021 23:23:16 GMT -5
I got a shipping confirmation and tracking number for the double buckle boots which were under $75.00 shipped so I am expecting to be disappointed but fingers are crossed. Says they are real leather, pictures look awesome but...? I should get them in the next few days according to the tracking number.
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adrg
Private
Posts: 210
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Post by adrg on May 19, 2021 14:41:02 GMT -5
fingers crossed!
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 22, 2021 19:14:46 GMT -5
So I received the boots which set me back $66.00 (Delivered). As their arrival approached I became more and more hesitant and skeptical. Imagine my suprise when the arrived in a soft packaged envelope in my mail box. Hmmmm. This is going to be awful. I opened the package and removed the boots. The weight was perhaps 1/5th of what a legitimate pair of WW2 boots would be. The leather required close inspection to insure that it was indeed leather. The jury is still out. If it is leather its the thinnest boot leather I have ever seen. Rather than rough outs its smooth leather in a russette brown. They appear smaller than the size I ordered but I think I'll be okay as I ordered one size larger than I wear. The soles arent anything like WW2 GI Boots. More like the heel and sole of a dress shoe. I think scuffed up and with mud caked on they would look fine in pictures. How well will they hold up? Very debatable. Let's face it we aren't doing 20 mile forced marches at Airsoft events. On some levels the lighter weight will be nice. The photos in the ads show actual WW2 double buckle boots. These are absolutely NOT what's shownin the ads. Am I disappointed? Absolutely! Am I pissed? Not at all. Given the low low price they are quite in line with my expectations. Whether I would recommend them depends on my experiences at the next few events. I just sold a beautiful actual pair of double buckles on Ebay for crazy money. ($250.00). Knowing their value I couldnt wear them. These I can wear with no worries so there is that! I'll provide an update. For now I'm going to mow the lawn in them.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 22, 2021 22:20:25 GMT -5
So I mowed the lawn, used the weed whacker and general yard work. They were comfortable which was something of a suprise. They didn't self destruct, split or unravel. I cleaned them up then took some sand paper to the shiny russette outers. The result of the light sanding improved the overall looks considerably. I'm thinking for the shiney tan soles I might try spraying some of that rubberized undercoat spray and create a waffle iron pattern and at least somewhat approximate the iconic look and improve the field functionality of these boots. Time will tell but at this price the risk was low.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 22, 2021 22:43:04 GMT -5
Incidently the size was correct although thinner than a regular western size. If anyone decides to buy a pair (I'd recommend you let me beat the bejesus out of mine first to see if they hold up.) I'd suggest you buy a size too large and put cusioned inserts in and wear heavy sox. In WW2 the rough outs were typically dabbed in water proofing that made the rough out leather look like a dulled smooth leather and there were some smooth leather private purchased boots (often referred to as Provost boots) but these were typically rear eschelon, high ranking officers or MPs involved in ceremonial duties. My wifes uncle Tets was with the 442nd and he said they took heated spoons to smooth out the suade areas and with shoe polish and a whole lot of elbow grease got a shiny finish to their double buckles. When I was in the Army I always had more than one pair of boots. I had my garrison boots, spit shinned and gorgeous and my field boots. My biggest regret with these boots so far is they dont feature rough out where they should be roughout. Probably because they arent really leather? Interestingly they do smell like leather. They have a cheesy white felt throughout (even on the double buckle upper areas) so you cant see the underside of the "leather". I am going on a 5 mile hike today with my wife and I am going to wear these.
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Post by 2ndbat2 on May 23, 2021 15:00:28 GMT -5
Back from the hike with these boots somewhat broken in but still intact I am glad I installed spongy inserts and wore heavy wool socks. Their light weight on the hike was a plus rather than a negative. The hike was to the base of Snowqualmie Falls. A rocky trail 2 1/2 miles in and 2 1/2 miles back. The boots with their upper double buckles provided ankle support as you might expect with canvas high tops. Not as supportive as actual WW2 boots but I didnt expect they would. The soles gave no traction and thats probably my biggest complaint. They didnt sllit or tear ( so far so good). I am going to experiment with treating the soles with a rubberized coating. Who knows that may prove to be a disaster! Cheap boots, no doubt but thus far I'm pleased. It turns out I paid for them on the 27th of April. Got my confirmation on the 10th so they took about a month to arrive. I sort of expected that as well.
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