You are buying an old pair of French Mle 52 BMJA military boots. Popularly called "Rangers" due to their similarity to the American US M43 military boots. Famous for being used by French soldiers in Indochina and the overseas colonies. From the period of the mid-1950s until the late 1960s.
History
Since 1950-s the French army boots are used to be called the "Rangers", because of their resemblance with the American military boots model M-43 (model of the year 1943), which were issued the US paratroopers and rangers during the landing in Normandy. In French slang, "Rangers" also called "Rangeots" or simply "Rangos" (the pronunciation of these words are close to something like "Ranjo").
The American military boots model 1943, which has became the prototypes of the French "Rangers", are already very rare nowadays, and in their outward appearance they look very similar.
The "borrowing" of the American ideas by the French was mainly connected with post-war unification of military standards for footwear, apparel and equipment by the Western allies. In France, the beginning of this process was initiated in 1944, during the creation of the new post-war French Armed Forces. At the same period the French had been using widely vast variety of British and American military stuff. Further on, the French managed to established their own production of similar equipment. Best clothing retailers
The term "Ranger" itself nowadays is strongly associated with BMJA 65 boots, but originally they were referred to the boots model 1952 (Brodequin de Marche à Jambière Attenante (BMJA) Mle 52), also known as "Rangers marrons" ("Brown Rangers"), which en masse began available in the French Armed Forces since 1956.
Since "Free France" and its "Free French Forces" (French: "La France Libre" et "Forces françaises libres (FFL)") were supported supplied by the Anglo-American allies, for example, the French paratroopers widely used the US M43 boots (model 1943), the American and British influence can be clearly traced in many French post-war models of uniforms and equipment. At first the French just used the American-made M43 boots, and then they began to produce the own copies of these boots.
Further on, the French version of American M43 military boots was adopted in the year 1952, having embodied the ideas and innovations developed by the French, especially concerning the materials and the method of out-sole attachment, new advanced sole tread patterns, details and material of the boot top. Only the general concept and design of leather cuff with two straps and buckles, along with color shades (from beige to brown) were retained from the American prototype.
Before the introduction of high-laced boots of the models 1950 and 1952 in the French Armed Forces, during the colonial wars the French troops widely used the low boots of the previous models.
As it was noticed before, in the French Armed Forces, this model got the name "Brodequin de Marche a Jambieres Attenantes (BMJA) Mle 1952". After the adoption in 1952, the mass production of these boots began in 1954, and they became widespread approximately in the year 1956. The special priority in providing these new advanced high boots was given mostly to the paratroops, participating in the hostilities in Algeria.
Condition
The boots are in overall good used condition, flawless. One of the metal buckles has stuck to the leather. The sole is intact with all the teeth. The leather remains healthy and malleable. It keeps the original laces. The color of the leather a good tone and intensity. Factory markings are still visible. The manufacturer is MARBOT & CIE (France) and sole is from the WOOD-MILNE brand. Boots dated 1959. The ink stamps indicates "ARMÉE MILITARE" and size 41 (US 8). The dimensions are as follows:
- size - 40 (US 7.5)
- height - approx. 260 mm (10.23" in.)
- lenght - approx. 290 mm (11.41" in.)
- wide - approx. 110 mm (4.33" in.)
- weight - gr ( lb.)
Graphic document is attached to support the description.
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