Opinion needed on boots.

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

I've been offered this pair of boots, are they correct? What's the fair price for a pair like this?

Thanks in advance,
Doc

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

some replaced nails...

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

...nobody???

[Kurland]

Hello can you privide a picture of the backside where the leather comes together. Also a better pic of the sole. And do you see any stamps?
At this moment I would 50/50. The shape looks good, but some things are not standard, like the pull straps inside which should be black like on a textbook example. Regards Peter

[FestungSpanien]

I would say that this pair is 110% original without any doubt.
How many paralel lines of stitching can you see in the back of the boots?
I have no concerns at all with the pull straps, they may have been period replaced, very common......
This pair should be marked in the front inner part of the boot.

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

I'll post better shots tomorrow, thanks for your comments

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

better picture of the soles

[DOC_KÜSTENART]

and the backside... Hope this helps.

[Glenn Barbaritz]

what are your Guys thoughts on heel irons like these pictured. I prefer to see the thin "horseshoe" style. are these fatter variations period made? Glenn

[Luciusdegeer]

Hi all,

Glenn is right: 'textbook' examples of Wehrmacht boots indeed have the 'slimmer' horseshoe heel irons, together with the moon-shaped toe irons (pre- and early-war) and the sexagonal ('sechsschlägige') boot nails. The rest of the boots seems rather correct to me. There was a time I stayed away from boots that were not 100% 'textbook', but I learned over the years that the Wehrmacht reused millions of pieces of equipment that once belonged to defeated armies. I realize now that a 'textbook' set of uniform/equipment became more and more of an exception as the war progressed. When a Wehrmacht (or W-SS) unit was destroyed or taken prisoner in -let's say- Normandy in the summer of '44, their opponents could find in their baggage train and vehicles French optics and shirts, Polish rifles and bayonets, Czech ammo, Belgian blankets, mess tins and pistols, Italian and Austrian wound dressings and clothing, Dutch hand grenades and tunics (retailored) and so on... The confusion (and distance to 'textbook' examples) gets even bigger when looking at small parts. These heel irons could very well be Belgian or even British. Nothing surprises me anymore...

I would tend to giving these boots the 'thumbs up'....

Lucius

[Kurland]

The back looks ok, the Irons I'm not so worried about, they could have been replaced, but to be textbook the sole should be nailed to the rest of the boot. Do you see a little line with thread among the lines of wooden pegs on the sole of the boot? Regards Peter

[FestungSpanien]

This pair should be marked.
Have a look at the inner calf front upper zone.
If there's something try to post pictures or at least try to translate the markings, that will definetely sed some light.....

[Glenn Barbaritz]

the Wehrmacht reused millions of pieces of equipment that once belonged to defeated armies. I realize now that a 'textbook' set of uniform/equipment became more and more of an exception as the war progressed. When a Wehrmacht (or W-SS) unit was destroyed or taken prisoner in -let's say- Normandy in the summer of '44, their opponents could find in their baggage train and vehicles French optics and shirts, Polish rifles and bayonets, Czech ammo, Belgian blankets, mess tins and pistols, Italian and Austrian wound dressings and clothing, Dutch hand grenades and tunics (retailored) and so on... The confusion (and distance to 'textbook' examples) gets even bigger when looking at small parts.

Lucius

thats so true. (We) collectors deem many items of course that were used (captured) from other sources as a no go. I dont think anyone here puts down make shift displays, well known fact it happened regularly. we all just like that "straight off the assembly line" German fighting machine. but true comments Lucius. Glenn