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WWI Trench Boots


TrenchRaider1918
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TrenchRaider1918

Here's a solid pair i just got.

 

They were heavily oxidated around the grommets but a little cleaning up did nicely. They are still greasy from the dubbing and have all the hobnails and heel plates too.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

post-879-1228596786.jpg

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Carl,

Man those are in great shape for being almost 100 years old. Great find. Your ww1 collection is getting bigger everytime I see it

thumbsup.gif

B

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Croix de Guerre

SUHWEEET! w00t.gifthumbsup.gif Man! I need a fix! "Dear Santa,,Please stop by Carl's house and fill your sleigh with goodies before you come to VA"! :lol:

 

 

 

PS Are the laces different colors or is that from the photo?

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TrenchRaider1918
SUHWEEET! w00t.gifthumbsup.gif Man! I need a fix! "Dear Santa,,Please stop by Carl's house and fill your sleigh with goodies before you come to VA"! :lol:

PS Are the laces different colors or is that from the photo?

 

Yes the laces are different colors, the seller sent those with the boots since the originals were tattered to bits, all original though. I actually got this pair to replace another pair of 1917s which were a larger size. So if you do have a Christmas wish...

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WOW! those are beautiful! I just love preserved war history!!!!!!!!!

looks like you got the leg wraps as well....very nice.......do you have your collection in a topic thread to look at??

 

~Brad

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US Victory Museum

Outstanding to find footwear in such condition!

 

Utilitarian items were used in civilian life after the war, so it is so very much rare to find

a pair of boots in nice condition that were put away and not used to tatters.

 

I envy your acquisition, since I too must eventually find at least one nice pair, such as

yours, to add to my own collection/ display.

 

Msn

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here's a minty pair of M-1917 boots that I've had for a few years now.. Dated Feb 1917 in size 9.. They also still have the original manufacturer care tag attached.

Kration

post-107-1229871190.jpg

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Croix de Guerre
Here's a minty pair of M-1917 boots that I've had for a few years now.. Dated Feb 1917 in size 9.. They also still have the original manufacturer care tag attached.

Kration

 

 

My gosh! I have never seen a pair in as fine a condition. Human sized too! How long have you had them? Were they a quartermaster's example?

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I got those M1917 boots from another collector along with some killer WW1 rations about 2-3 years ago... I was very happy to find them especially with the care tag still attached !

Kration

post-107-1230066949.jpg

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And here is what they will look like with a little wear. I just got these today from a forum member and am as pleased as punch. After taking this picture, they promptly got their permanent parking spot in the boot display area.

 

2zz80wl.jpg

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  • 5 weeks later...

K Ration; That is only the second set of trench boots with the care tag I have ever seen. What ww1 ration items did you ick up with them. Very nice !!! Steve McG

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K Ration; That is only the second set of trench boots with the care tag I have ever seen. What ww1 ration items did you ick up with them. Very nice !!! Steve McG

 

Steve,

I got several unopened hardbread rations and a screaming mint emergency ration... never seen another in such perfect condition.

Kration

post-107-1232923534.jpg

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  • 9 years later...

Hello Everyone! New member here and very pleased to be a part of this forum.

 

I would like to ask your expertise and help with regards to a recent purchase I made. The pictures are of a supposed vintage pair of WWI trench boots. A lot of the details lend themselves to the 1918s; however, the bottoms of the boots stymie me as they do not look like anything I've seen with other vintage pairs.

 

If you'd be willing to help out a newbie, I'd greatly appreciate it! :)

 

Thanks!

 

 

post-182492-0-34090200-1529031700.jpg

post-182492-0-75337400-1529031701.jpg

post-182492-0-87325300-1529031702.jpg

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world war I nerd

It looks like the heels on your field shoes have been hobnailed using French (square) hobnails ... Or that the heels were, at some point, replaced with French made heels, or manufactured with them.

 

French-made hobnails were commonly used to repair well-worn AEF field shoes that were refurbished in France by the Quartermaster Corps Salvage Service. However, I've never seen French style heels on unused or unissued American made field shoes, which the posted shoes appear to be.

 

Closer pics of the soles and heels of your shoes would help, as well as pics of any markings found on the soles or on the inside of the shoes.

 

Compare the construction details & markings of your shoes to the various patterns of field shoes shown in the following link. That post also includes some information on shoes that were repaired using French heels & hobnails, as well as photos of both French & British style hobnails:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/226082-thin-barracks-shoes-and-great-hobnailed-hulks-part-ii/?hl=%2Btrench+%2Bshoes

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It looks like the heels on your field shoes have been hobnailed using French (square) hobnails ... Or that the heels were, at some point, replaced with French made heels, or manufactured with them.

 

French-made hobnails were commonly used to repair well-worn AEF field shoes that were refurbished in France by the Quartermaster Corps Salvage Service. However, I've never seen French style heels on unused or unissued American made field shoes, which the posted shoes appear to be.

 

Closer pics of the soles and heels of your shoes would help, as well as pics of any markings found on the soles or on the inside of the shoes.

 

Compare the construction details & markings of your shoes to the various patterns of field shoes shown in the following link. That post also includes some information on shoes that were repaired using French heels & hobnails, as well as photos of both French & British style hobnails:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/226082-thin-barracks-shoes-and-great-hobnailed-hulks-part-ii/?hl=%2Btrench+%2Bshoes

Hi. Thanks for the reply on the boots. The boots have no markings inside the boots at all. And the only markings on the bottoms of the boots are the ones shown in the pictures I attached. They say 45 / 5 on them. So these are original AEF boots, but perhaps re-soled by the French? Interesting. Would still love to find a really nice pair of AEF boots with the horseshoe and front guards.
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