WW2 Service shoes: soft toe?

[regius]

Not exactly a jacket question but I’d give it a try. The US Army WW2 boots, cap toe russet version, is it unstructured toe? Or has a celastic toe inside? Some photo indicate it’s easily flattened but some say it has a structure. The latter roughout version (both navy & army) have soft toe.

I’m
Looking at a pair by at the front.

Thanks much!!


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[unclegrumpy]

Originals have structure, and still hold their shape with use.

Don't know about the "celastic toe"...that may be something newer shoes/boots have.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

i`m with "grumpy" - all "roughout" versions (buckle / service / boondockers) had an unstructured tip but the earlier russet version had structured - not as durable as modern steeltoes but at least to hold their shape

if you look for the russet service boots from ATF i`d maybe consider to buy somewhere else - I own a pair but not really satisfied

have to admit I got the boost more then 10 years ago so maybe quality got better with the time but at least with the ones in my possession I'm not extremel happy

 

[unclegrumpy]

ATF now has a new line of footwear that appears to be significantly better than their previous one...though now roughly twice the price...comparable to WW II Impressions. The old ATF line was what I would call "movie extra quality" for the guys that were soon to be blown up. SM Wholesale sells these too.

One common issue people have with all of these boots is sizing. The fit is all over the board, and what they are marked does not always translate into anything. I'd factor that into your choice...meaning consider picking someone that has the sizes up and down from what you are ordering in stock.

 

[EmergencyIan]

The newest ATF boots are really well made and size accurate. I own both the service shoes type II (russet) and type III (rough-out).

- Ian

 

[Remote People]

Used originals purchased a few months ago for £29. Something to consider...

 

[unclegrumpy]

Those are a reasonable pair of shoes to go with a wartime officer's service dress uniform. However, they are not that close to the ATF Service Shoes regius was considering:

 

[regius]

Those are a reasonable pair of shoes to go with a wartime officer's service dress uniform. However, they are not that close to the ATF Service Shoes regius was considering:

uncle grumpy, I was definitely eying these! such nice homogenous coloration. The question is, well, perhaps not even relevant, are they soft toe? I think someone answered that these were not soft toe in the firs place. I ended up buying two identical pairs of the navy roughouts from ATF, really really well made, so I trust them could also make the russet accurately. I just need to watch my wallet now.

 

[regius]

just pulled the trigger on these, just love the color (as far as the ebay photo shows lol) https://www.ebay.com/itm/152845450686

 

[unclegrumpy]

just pulled the trigger on these, just love the color (as far as the ebay photo shows lol) https://www.ebay.com/itm/152845450686

These actually are not "jump" boots, but rather what Navy pilots wore...notice they are brown, the US Army had gone to black by then...interestingly, most of the Navy also wore black...except the Naval Aviators..."the brown shoe Navy".

Those are nice boots...stout, but the leather is somewhat softer than the typical Army issue. The soles are going to be the area to watch as you wear them...I am not sure what 56 years is going to have done to them...the material has a slight sponginess to it...sort of like the Redwing work boots with the flat white soles...time is not always their friends...but how they were stored seems to make a difference, and yours look like they were in a time capsule.

 

[regius]

good to know, yeah, those are crepe soles, just like the Alden's walker sole or the wedge boots soles. Let's see, at least they are not too expensive.

 

[EmergencyIan]

uncle grumpy, I was definitely eying these! such nice homogenous coloration. The question is, well, perhaps not even relevant, are they soft toe? I think someone answered that these were not soft toe in the firs place. I ended up buying two identical pairs of the navy roughouts from ATF, really really well made, so I trust them could also make the russet accurately. I just need to watch my wallet now.

No, they’re not soft toed. The toes are capped.

- Ian