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You are buying a new pair of French military canvas boots. Popularly called "Pataugas" Due to the first creator and manufacturer. 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

The first model of lightweight rubber-soled canvas boots intended for use in the jungles of the Pacific theater of operations was developed by the US military in 1942, during the Second World War, and got the name M-1942 (or simply M-42). However, until the end of the war, this model was not wide-spread. Moreover, in 1945 a more convenient and perfect boots model 1945 was created.

At that time the French troops in the Far East, which were very busy with post-war reconstruction of their former colonial influence in Indochina, still had no similar footwear for tropical climates. In 1948, France began developing the concept of its own canvas boots with rubber soles and its detailed specification.

By request of the French Intendance (Quartermaster Service) in the Far East (l'Intendance en Extrême Orient) in the early 1950s the first model of canvas boots with rubber soles for use in hot climates ("Chaussures de brousse", literally "boots for the bush") was created.

The construction of the boot's top was reinforced by metal rivets at the base of the lacing system. Further on this early model was widely used in the beginning of the war in Algeria. By 1952, there were several modifications to such boots, and they used to be manufactured both by military industry factories and by private producers (contractors of the Defense Ministry of France). The main requirement was the ability to fulfill the requirements for materials and quality established by the military specification.

Talking about more recent documents (since the year 1958) it is worth mentioning the technical specification of the France Ministry of Defense "Tenues tropicales et modèles spéciaux aux troupes d'outremer" ("Tropical uniforms and special models for the troops operating abroad"), with its six pages detailed description of the appearance and the materials to be used in the production of canvas and rubber boots.

The French canvas boots with rubber soles got the original name "Pataugas". This term is derived from the French phrase "Pat au gas" (namely "pâte au gaz", that is "rubber processing by gas"), which, in turn, gave the name to the company that first developed the production process for this type of footwear.

Canvas boots with rubber soles "Pataugas" were created on August 24, 1950 by René Elissabide, a French inventor of Basque origin, whose name can be translated from the Basque language as "the path to the church" ("le chemin de l'église" in French). He lived in the small town of Mauléon-Soule, the capital of the smallest of the seven Basque provinces, located at the foot of the Pyrenees. There, in really makeshift conditions, he conducted his experiments by heating the rubber paste on a gas stove to connect it with the canvas top of the lightweight boots (literally: "Sur une chaussure en toile montante, il applique une semelle crantée, obtenue en faisant fondre de la pâte de caoutchouc grâce à un réchaud à gaz, de la "pâte au gaz").

At that time, he created and perfected the rubber processing technology, and called it "Giraudier" ("d'un technicien du caoutchouc dénommé Giraudier"), in the result of which he managed to create "Règum"-type footwear, a simplified prototype of the future "Pataugas" - more simple canvas boots with rubber soles, and he used to put the marking of his initials - "RE" + "gum" (the sole material).

Being focused on the European quality, in the last 15 years "Pataugas" makes its footwear on shoe factories, located in Portugal and Italy, while the preference for natural materials (cotton, rubber, and leather, tanned without chromium is often used for shoe uppers instead of canvas) was determined by the need to comply with the environmental protection requirements.

Returning back to history, let's mention that the company's business was going well until 1960s. The end of the colonial wars, the reduction of the military orders and increased market competition have led the former successful company to deep crisis. On February 25, 1965 the company "Pataugas" was closed.

Condition

The boots are in new unworn condition, deadstock. It has no rips, tears, holes or other damage. The sole is brand new, unused. It keeps the original laces. The color is grey. Factory ink stamps are clearly visible. Manufactured by PHOENIX. Made in France. Dated 1989. The stamp indicates it is size 41 (US 8). The dimensions are as follows:

size - 41 (US 8)
height - approx. 240 mm (9.44" in.)
lenght - approx. 280 mm (11.02" in.)
wide - approx. 110 mm (4.33" in.)
weight - 1205 gr (2.6 lb.)

Graphic document is attached to support the description.

Visit my other items for sale such as helmets, jackets, hats, shirts & pants, belts, boots, pouches, packs and field equipment of the European and US military.

Thanks for looking.

Payment

Payments accepted: PayPal.

Buyer must pay the item within 7 days.

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Shipping info

Tracking number will be delivered to the buyer.

Items of small and medium size will be sent in padded envelopes.

Your purchase is shipped within 1 to 2 days after receiving the payment.

Saving money on shipping - Combined shipments are avalaible.

We will declare a low value in shipments to outside Europe at buyer's request.

These are the Standard -airmail- shipping costs:

US$44.00 for Europe
US$68.00 for United States
US$68.00 for Canada
US$68.00 for Australia & Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, China and South Korea)

These are the Express shipping costs:

US$ [ask for a quote] for Europe by Correos Express
US$86.00 for United Stares by Correos Express-FedEx. Estimated delivery time is 4-5 days without the weekend in between
US$ [ask for a quote] for Canada by Correos Express
US$ [ask for a quote] for Australia & Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, China and South Korea) by Correos Express

These are the Economy InPost/Mondial Relay shipping costs:

US$8.00 for Spain and Portugal*
US$12.00 for France, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg*
US$14.00 for Germany, Poland and Italy*

*If you have selected InPost/Mondial Relay as the delivery method, you will need to provide the address of the establishment where you want the order to be delivered*

For shipments to other countries ask.

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Attention: Shipments outside Europe may take longer. All shipments depart from Spain.

*We do not ship to Afganistan, Iran, Iraq, Sirya, Yemen, North Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Burma, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Republic of Niger, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Fiji, Cyprus, Russia and blacklisted countries.

Terms of sale

1.Winner must contact with seller within 3 days after auction close
2.We will cancel bids from bidder with 3 or more negative feedback
3.We reserve the right to end early
4.Shipping costs are paid by the buyer

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