Posted 12 years ago
bootjoe
(1 item)
Can anybody identify the maker of these boots. Found them at a flea market in Munich and may ppit them up on an auction site. They are 42, which is a size 9 i think. Metal heel taps, nailed sole, excellent condition.
Any idea of their value? They may be WWII vintage, East or West Germany.
Thanks
Probably post-war Stazi, (East German police), or even West German, would be my guess.
Nice boots. They are very similar to my East German officer's boots, except that mine have a one piece rubber sole and heal, and are cut straight across the top. Perhaps yours are an earlier version of the same?
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/42009-ho-ho-ho-east-german-jack-boots-spread?in=user
I know some East German boots had metal heel taps for things like honor guard duty. I checked one of my reference books on infantry equipment that has a chapter on boots. At one point the Germans had cavalry boots that were slightly higher in the front like yours, but yours don't seem to be that old. I see a "/42" marking on the sole, but I think that's likely a European shoe size. How tall are these boots?
Hmmm.these are certainly not East German...they are too high of a quality...all leather, nailed leather sole..17" high at back, 18" high at front. There appears to be a company name printed in both boots but i cannot (I will post a closer look) as well as a number inside one boot..176 with a star above it..all in a box...see pic.
Could these be custom boots for a ceremonial guard? Heck, they may not even be German.....
I just found an image that matches the appearance of your boots, so I scaned it and put it in photobucket, instead of here since it's not a show and tell. Please take a look:
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq125/Chrisply/img009.jpg
The boots in that picture are WWII Russian, which I didn't bother to look at before because the company name in your boots isn't in Cyrillic. The description isn't a perfect match either, but bears some similarity. Perhaps German made for some Russian pre- or post war? The condition of the boots make me doubtful they are that old, but here is the description: "Made entirely of black leather, the tops are pebble grained and the lower sections are smooth. There is a white cloth liner sewed in place covering the top two thirds of each boot. Finger pulls are white cloth tape. The leather full soles are applied with brass nails, and the leather half soles are held with wooden pegs and appear to have been replaced. The leather heals have 5/16" wide steel horseshoes. There are cartouches in black ink on the liners, but the Cyrillic writing is illegible..." Source: Field Equipment of the Infantry 1914-1945 by Robert Fisch
Again not a perfect match, but close enough to be a difference in manufacturer, perhaps?
Pretty darn close..except no cloth lining, instead lining is full, tan, pebble grained leather. And no half-sole with wooden pegs. Also, posted new pic of the numbers embedded in the sole ..appears to be #,# , letter ,50, perhaps 90 D 50..the first 2 number and half sized letter (barely visible between the two larger numbers) are well worn down. Did the Italians or Swiss make boots for the Russians? Czchek?....
You may check this out:
http://www.wephaus.com/products.php?cat=15