dakotanorth Posted May 15, 2013 Share #1 Posted May 15, 2013 Sportsmansguide sold out of these a while ago, but I managed to score a pair at the Flea Market for $40. What do you guys think, are they close enough to a WWII Russet brown shoe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr01 Posted May 15, 2013 Share #2 Posted May 15, 2013 Pretty close but in the end it's how you feel about your look and the story you tell with that look. Nice snag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted May 15, 2013 Share #3 Posted May 15, 2013 They are actually Belgian Army shoes which date back to the 70s and 80s... I wore out several pairs on duty and still have a pair for (possible) re-enacting... Here's a WW2 pair for comparison... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Posted May 15, 2013 Share #4 Posted May 15, 2013 They were made in Belgium. Just tell your reenacting group that they were "theater made". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted May 15, 2013 Share #5 Posted May 15, 2013 Formed rubber soles with ribbing along the top edge? This screams modern to me. There are several modern shoes I have seen over the years that do look fine for class As, but this would be a fail in my opinion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakotanorth Posted May 15, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted May 15, 2013 Or, it screams "paint over the rubber edge with a leather-brown colored paint! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schofield Posted May 16, 2013 Share #7 Posted May 16, 2013 At the end of the day the question you need to ask yourself is "Do I want my impression to be as accurate as possible or do I want to just be "close enough"?" If you want your impression to be as accurate as possible then these would not get you there... If you only want to look kinda like its right then get these if you want.... Its your impression, present it how you want it to be perceived by those that see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotxxyyzz Posted May 16, 2013 Share #8 Posted May 16, 2013 They are actually Belgian Army shoes which date back to the 70s and 80s... I wore out several pairs on duty and still have a pair for (possible) re-enacting... Here's a WW2 pair for comparison... Hi Johan, those one's look pretty good with the leather sole ... Think they are still available in size 11 for a decent price? Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted May 16, 2013 Share #9 Posted May 16, 2013 Go to any decent men's shoe store (some place that sells primarily dress shoes), you probably won't have to look too long to find a decent stand-in for a pair of oxfords that really would be good enough. I have two pair, each look a lot like the Belgian example above. Neither pair cost me more than, say, fifty bucks or so. My wife and I were shopping at the local mall last weekend and I saw a pair just like that at a shoe store... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted May 16, 2013 Share #10 Posted May 16, 2013 Hi Johan, those one's look pretty good with the leather sole ... Think they are still available in size 11 for a decent price? Thomas Thomas, Those are original 1944 dated ones... That's why they look so good.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriansBricks Posted June 13, 2013 Share #11 Posted June 13, 2013 I would say no, besides the soles the number and spacing of the eyelets is pretty off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted June 13, 2013 Share #12 Posted June 13, 2013 Here's a pair of mint WW2 russet low quarters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted June 13, 2013 Share #13 Posted June 13, 2013 As an alternative, officers, particularly in the USAAF, favoured these buckled low quarters. These are original 40s shoes which came from a military tailor-shop. I still have the box. Officers would have purchased them privately. Similar styles can still be found today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.A.T. Posted July 14, 2013 Share #14 Posted July 14, 2013 Here's a French website selling Belgium army shoes. I bought a pair, brand new for about $18, but postage was more. http://www.stock-americain.com/chaussures-basses/386-chaussure-basse-cuir-marron-abl.html Home;http://www.stock-americain.com/content/1-livraison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted July 16, 2013 Share #15 Posted July 16, 2013 the shoes you bought for $40 just dont look authentic, they have the modern glued on rubber soles like modern casuals real low quarters have sewn on hard leather soles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr01 Posted July 16, 2013 Share #16 Posted July 16, 2013 the shoes you bought for $40 just dont look authentic, they have the modern glued on rubber soles like modern casuals real low quarters have sewn on hard leather soles Only for the older versions. I have looked into the current military contract versions and they all have the same modern rubber sole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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