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Service Shoe, Reverse Upper
Type III Roughout Service Shoes
 
: $1,299.99



Service Shoe, Reverse Upper*:

ALL SIZES SOLD OUT  
Product Description Sizing Information
 

Currently unavailable.

There will be no restock of US Made boots. That factory has decided to downsize and private label boots like ours will no longer be offered.

As of now (2024) we appear to be making progress with a large US boot manufacturer with production facilities overseas. If all works out, we may have high quality boots in 2025. That is all the information available.


History: In the Fall of 1942, the US Army Quartermaster developed the "Type III" service shoe. The new boots looked very similar to the ones issued during the First World War. The most obvious change from the previous models was the leather being turned flesh side out, which was more water repellent, especially once dubbing was applied. Most had a full rubber sole, although some were made with hobnails. Early versions had toe caps and riveted quarters, features which were dropped during the production runs. The design was quickly approved and orders were placed in January 1943. Contracts for the Type II Shoes were amended to change to the new style during production.

Rush shipments were sent to England during the late Spring of 1944 in anticipation of "Operation Overlord", the invasion of Normandy. Replacement troops would have been largely equipped with this style, and its prevalence increased as the War went on.

Production continued into the postwar period until they were replaced by the Combat Service Boots.




ATF (L) vs. Original (R) ATF (L) vs. Original (R) No toe box, just like WWII



Roughout boots need to be greased.
Treat these boots! The US Army designed these boots with flesh-out uppers in order to improve their water repellency. This required "dubbing", which was a beeswax based leather treatment. It was issued with the boots and soldiers were required to apply it to their boots as part of their basic equipment maintenance. If you leave them untreated, they will have very little water repellency, and the light color will easily show stains. To accurately portray WWII military personnel, roughout footwear needs to be greased, as this was the first task given to the men when they were issued new boots. They did not fight wearing buff colored boots.

The modern equivalents are Huberd's Shoe Grease or Sno-Seal. We have them on our accessories page, or you can find them on Amazon. Sno-seal used to be available in shoes & outdoor stores, but last year I tried in vain to find it at Walmart, Cabela's and Bass Pro and no one had it anymore. That's what led to us getting our own distributorships. Mink oil and original WWII "Dubbing" also work.

Yes, the color change is as dramatic as the photo. The dubbed boots were treated once, wetted, then worn for an afternoon until they dried to break them in. That's it.