ORIG US WW2 BROWN CAP-TOE SERVICE SHOES DATED MARCH 30 1942 MINT UNUSED UNWORN For Sale
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ORIG US WW2 BROWN CAP-TOE SERVICE SHOES DATED MARCH 30 1942 MINT UNUSED UNWORN : $245.50
This is a pair of original U.S. Army WWII brown leather service shoes, men\'s size 9 1/2 B, in mint, unused, unworn, just about perfect condition. These are stamped inside: \"BEDFORD SHOE CO. 9 1/2 B 12018 BOSTON DEPOT MAR 30 1942 W 155 QM 12823.\" The soles are stamped \"U.S. Army 9 1/2 B USA NO. 313.\" These stamps indicate that they were made by the Bedford Shoe Company, under a contract issued on March 30, 1942. The shoes are complete with their original cotton metal-tipped laces, the metal tips are painted OD. These shoes are guaranteed to be absolutely original U.S. Army WWII issue, manufactured in 1942. ******* These shoes are the type listed in the 1943 U.S. Army Quartermaster\'s catalog as the \"Shoes, Service,\" which are described as \"a welt constructed shoe, blucher pattern, with 1/2 bellows tongue, outside counter pocket, full toe vamp, toe cap (without box toe), heavy first quality leather bend outersole, slip tap, and reclaim rubber heel. The upper leather is best quality, heavy, Army Russet shade, side leather fully chromed and vegetable retanned. The shoe is unlined.\" *********** This was the combat shoe worn by U.S. Army infantry men during WWII, these were to be worn with leggings in combat, or they could be shined and worn with the Class A uniform as a dress shoe. This type of shoe was phased out in 1943 by the M43 combat boot with the leather legging top. However, they were worn throughout the war, and were the most common type of combat boot until the very last part of the war. I know this because my father was wearing a pair just like this when he was wounded in action in Germany in March, 1945. This was the type of shoe, worn with leggings, that was worn by the assault troops during the D-Day Normandy invasion. Some collectors refer to this type of shoe as the \"Type II\" Service Shoe, because it had a half sole of rubber (the earliest WWII shoes had entirely leather soles) (see Henri-Paul Enjames book, \"Government Issue: U.S. Army European Theater of Operations Collector\'s Guide,\" page 58, for further information.) ********* These shoes were never issued or used, I don\'t think they were ever tried on. They are in mint, unissued condition, with no wear whatsoever. The leather is still quite flexible, the leather has just about 100% of the factory original brown color, there is just a little aging and some very slight loss of finish and a few marks here and there from storage, but this is very minor. The soles are bright and clean and have never touched the ground. The contractor\'s stampings and date are easily visible inside the shoes. Original laces in near perfect condition. Bottom of rubber sole is marked: \"U.S. Army\". Heels are embossed: \"29 PANCO.\" Leather of sole is stamped \"9 1/2 B U.S.A. No. 313.\" Inside of sole is stamped \"9 1/2 B FIBER CTR 2.\" Inside tongue of shoe is stamped with something starting with a C, and ending in LET, perhaps COLLETT? Soles and heels are nailed to the shoe, nails are in very fine shape, not rusted or corroded, heads of nails have a bit of superficial whitish oxidation but not rusted. Inside of the shoes is perfectly clean, never worn, no problems. Stitching of the soles is bright white, brand new. A few slight marks to the leather from storage, otherwise I can\'t find any faults. ******* These shoes are mint, never worn, they are just about as they came from the manufacturer\'s box. These have been in storage since 1942, stored under excellent conditions. ********* These are appropriate for most any WWII impression for a U.S. Army soldier, good for the ETO as well as the Pacific Theater. They would be absolutely correct for a D-Day Normandy Invasion impression, this is exactly the type of shoe worn by assault troops. These are just a little larger than the average shoe size of a WWII American GI, which was 8 C. ********* Shipping will be based on actual shipping costs only. ******** I don\'t guarantee these for fit, they cannot be returned for size issues, and I would not recommend wearing them, they are 73 years old. ***** I can ship worldwide. For international sales, I declare the actual sales cost of the item on Customs forms.
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