Boots

sh4pak wrote:--Oi, Graham!

I found some people in France who offer excellent prices and very good selection, and will ship to the US, via the link you posted. Getting set to order a pair right now.

I never even knew about the .fr option (in all fairness, it just doesn't come up at ebay.com, ever).

Couldn't have managed it without your help. Thanks very much!

Easy Gee wrote:Hi krzysztof, fantastic and diverse range of French footwear, that's some collection, even the wellies!!

I would be keen to find out more about the Desert Boots, who makes them, when were they first issued etc.

Easy Gee wrote:Excellent information krzysztof, 2010 is interesting to hear for the Desert boots year of issue especially, I will keep my eye out for a pair!!

krzysztof wrote:

Easy Gee wrote:Excellent information krzysztof, 2010 is interesting to hear for the Desert boots year of issue especially, I will keep my eye out for a pair!!

what size You're wearing Easy Gee?
if price don't scare You i can ask Fahrid ,maybe he can get one pair for You

sh4pak wrote:
--Hello, Gentlemen.

I realize that most of you are either in Europe or Britain, so... the earth doesn't move when you see these, but my Rangers finally arrived:



And I am pleased, no end. Ebay.com cretins ask up to 500.00 US for these, plus high shipping. They cannot be gotten at any surplus stores in my area, and... basically constituted a "Grail" item for me. Loski got me the link, and I got me some boots!

Y'all were a great help. THANK YOU!

sh4pak wrote:Yep-- I did the first treatment of saddle-soap upon arrival, and walked around a little. NOS leather is a bit harder to break in than the kind of pre-destroyed leather you get nowadays-- but I am okay with that. I am completely okay with Old World Craftsmanship (of which these are a fine example).

I also happened to have some high-speed inserts, that do much to enhance the comfort.

I was particularly intrigued by the fact that these are basically what we Yanks call "Rough-Out," meaning that the polished leather is on the inside-- but that the outer finish was not "suede." My guess is that they'll wear better for it.

ANYWAY...

Yeah. I'm happy.

sh4pak wrote:--It makes sense, back during the frontier days, most buildings were treated with horse urine to weather-treat wood, and Vikings used boiled down urine for just about everything, from treating leather, to wounds. They also say that if a stingray zaps you, to p!ss on the wound...

Personally, I figure that these constitute "desperate measures." They're good things to know if society were to suddenly go on the fritz, but in the meantime, I figure I'll try to stick to *intermediate* means. Somewhere between the Middle-Ages, and now. Dubbin seems really perfect, and Kiwi makes their own version, which isn't hard to get (on ebay, of course-- you know I went and checked).

Making one's own is a little more complicated than I was initially lead to believe. Apparently, in addition to the tallow, and the beeswax, you need codlivier oil. Why a cod's liver is so important, nobody seems to know, but they all say you need it-- and some assert that it should be extracted from vitamin supplements.

o.O

The stuff I use is

WREN'S
waterproofing
leatheroil
(liquid dubbing)
comes in a browm and yellow bottle shaped tin

I'll go with Kiwi on this one. The boots are dated '62. No point in risking it.

And Gary... you know, my friend the Ranger told me this: "Never get caught in the jungle without your boots on." I reckon that the shower is about as close as most of us get to a "rain forest."

krzysztof wrote:

Easy Gee wrote:Hi krzysztof, fantastic and diverse range of French footwear, that's some collection, even the wellies!!

I would be keen to find out more about the Desert Boots, who makes them, when were they first issued etc.

Hello Easy Gee ,here are details from box,


I'll take more shots Sunday and post them here
I'm not sure when those boots where introduced into service,for sure 2010 ,because My friend who get them for me have a pair of them in use from that year.
I've paid for both (desert and temperate) 180 euro,so less than same boots cost in France
e.g. here
http://www.trancheemilitaire.com/fr/rangers/2292-chaussures-zone-desertique-armee-francaise-argueyrolles-.html
http://www.trancheemilitaire.com/fr/rangers/2280-chaussures-de-combat-armee-francaise-argueyrolles-.html

rest of my French boots I've posted on pics are as follow (from left)
chaussures sport (old type)
gore-tex grand froid boots
jungle/desert boots-old type
chaussures sport new type
rubber boots for NBC suit
second pic:
Rangers model with black lining
working boots
Rangers made of smooth leather,and with red mark on sole
Rangers with brown lining

loski wrote:I know this is restricting an old tread but I have located an ebay France seller with new Gendarmerie rangers boots and needless to say I have purchased a pair photos will follow when they arrive.