French Buckle Boots

[6ebcp]

When did these come into use? I can't seem to find the info on an exact issue date

Were US rough outs used in the early period of the war i.e Tu Le period?

Cheers
Danny

[marsouin]

French buckle boots were not issued/used in Indochina....Issue was 1955/56.
US buckle boots were used aleady early on till the end.

[6ebcp]

Cool cheers for that marsouin

Danny

[cookie]

Just to throw a spanner in the works...

There is a photo on ECPAD of 6e BPC men in a cave entrance during the Op Hirondelle mission in 1953. The man nearest to the camera on the left appears, and I use that word tentatively, to be wearing French Mle 52 buckle boots. The buckle section appears to be higher and narrower than the US M43 type.

www.ecpad.fr/Ecpa/PagesDyn/notfot.asp?id=1617&page=1&dossierid=483&photo=1&Npage=1&collectionid=4

The man is Lt Magnillat, commander of the Viet compnay of 6e BPC.

I would say though, to play safe, get a pair of US WWII pattern ones.

[marsouin]

That's difficult to assess...I've been trying to magnify the pic and have the feeling that he's wearing M1950 jump boots the bottom part is too big to be buckle boot but I may be wrong....

[cookie]

In Bigeard's book 'Ma Guerre d'indochine' he has a closer in print of the picture and the boots definitely have double buckles that don't look like gaiters or US buckles.

[lew]

The Chaussures Mle. 52 were not fielded in Indochina. Metropolitan units had first crack at them. There were three versions: 1) single closure strap, from 1952; 2) two closure straps riveted to the flap, from early 1956; and 3) two straps that are part of the same piece as the flap, from mid-1960. The thrid type is the most commonly available.

A note about blackening boots: Some units- notably 3e RPC/3e RPIMa and 75e RIMa- did blacken all or most of their boots. This was not an Army-wide policy until after the Algerian War had ended. Troops can be seen in the closing days of the conflict wear brown Mle. 52 boots.

[earlymb]

Jun 2, 2014 15:22:13 GMT -5 lew said:

The Chaussures Mle. 52 were not fielded in Indochina. Metropolitan units had first crack at them. There were three versions: 1) single closure strap, from 1952; 2) two closure straps riveted to the flap, from early 1956; and 3) two straps that are part of the same piece as the flap, from mid-1960.

Apologies for kicking up this old topic but I have a question about the pair of Mle.52 boots I have. It seems to be a version of the 3th type, except that the section with the straps itself is sewn to the anklet-part, see the top pic. Is this some sort of transitional model between the 2nd and 3th types or so?

[lew]

Early, that's cool boot. Rather than any sort of transitional model, it's probably just a manufacturer's variation. Can you see a maker's mark and/or a date code?

[earlymb]

Hi Lew,the inside of the boots are literally covered in stampings but most are unreadable. One boot is repeatedly stamped 'Militaire' quite large on the inside. There is a maker & date stamp on the sole though that reads 'B. Massin... (partly unreadable) Rennes 3/61', so it's a later boot.

[lew]

Nice. Right on the cusp of the transition between the styles.

[earlymb]

Between 2nd and 3th models you mean?

[lew]

Yessir.

[earlymb]

Kewl

[earlymb]

I remembered my father bought a pair of French buckles the same time as I did, so I raided his closet. Turns out they are a pair of 2nd patterns in very good condition; I can wear them although they actually are a bit too small for me.

[lew]

My second pattern boots are far more comfortable to wear all day than my third pattern- both size 43. Go figure.

Know anything about boot resoling? One of the heels is detaching. I could take it to the saddle shop down the road or do it myself.

[earlymb]

Should be an easy repair fpr any competent shoemaker.

[rullow]

confirmed.... one sole went on mines completely off and shoemaker repaired it in two days for 5USD..... and it holds perfectly

[lew]

No doubt, it's an easy repair. I don't know if you guys know this, but are their nails/pegs holding the heel on or is nothing but glue/cement?

[earlymb]

They used nails on both my 2nd and 3th pattern pairs.

[lew]

Thanks for the info. The boots in question are of the second pattern, 1955, I believe.

[earlymb]

You can see the nails in the pics I posted above, but let me know if you need some close-ups.

[Kenneth]

Somewhere I saw a reference to a Model 1945 boots, which were brown ankle boots with rubber soles. In fact, it was from two illustrations in Martin Windrow's book on the Algerian War. The boots were more of a pale khaki than brown, at least as illustrated. I had been under the impression that pre-war hobnailed boots were still being worn. I've not seen references to a Model 1945 boot anywhere else, which means nothing.

[can]

I've got a pair of Mle 45's that are pale brown leather but they have a hobnail sole. Dated '51

[Kenneth]

There was (and may still be) a pair likewise identified on eBay made in the 1950s and with hobnails. They looked practically unused but all the hobs looked rusty. So the mystery remains.

[can]

Those were mine. I didn't relist them. They are used just very good condition, the hobs are a little rusty as are the toe plates.There is no market on eBay US. Most people don't know what they are looking at and probably are not interested anyway. French eBay actually has quite a few of them most not in that condition though. I have a good relationship with some French dealers. If I get my act together with International shipping I might list some items there. I had about ten auctions on eBay and only the MAS 49/56 related ones sold. I did sell my WPG 47/52's though and a set of 80's era F1's but real interesting stuff gets overlooked. As to the OP's question as to when Rangers came on line there is some information here.

 cartalana.com/002-042.php

[Kenneth]

I received two reference books for Christmas about the Foreign Legion, which have been mentioned here a few times. The books (one English, one not) have answered many little questions about uniforms. In this case, there was, in fact, a Model 1945 as well as a Model 1952 boot, both ankle boots and both hobnailed. However, it did point out that boots could be resoled and there is a photo of a pair of Model 1917 boots resoled with cleated rubber soles, possibly within the supply system.