Ammo Boots/Hobnail Boots

[Harrifer]

Has anyone got any experience wearing these classic nailed boots?

They look pretty cool, strongly considering getting a pair. I'll get some photos up if I do.

AFAIK William Lennon or surplus Ammo Boots seem to be the only places to go, any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[tiger stacker]

Good luck not designed for comfort

 

[Ogri the trog]

I had a pair as a teenager to wear to school as I kept destroying other types of shoe & boot. I remember they were bought with flat nails and after a few years I had them resoled to include walking nails. I recall them being quite slippery on polished wood and flat concrete surfaces, but other than that they were OK - not as uncomfortable as some might claim, but they were heavy (heels had a horse-shoe like fitting right around the heel).
I don't recall where I got them from other than an independent cobblers in some long-forgotten mining town in a Welsh valley.

HTH

Ogri the trog

 

[Macaroon]

First off, learn how to skate so's you can stay upright and get the muscles you'll need toned up; then go and spend a lot of dosh on earplugs, you're gonna need 'em for the noise the boots make and also for the 400 people every day who're gonna ask you about them. When you've done both those things get a block booking with your local orthopaedic surgeon, as you're gonna be seeing a fair bit of him!

Let us know how you get on, eh?

 

[widu13]

Find a retailer that dealers with a distributor called UKD and is prepared to order some for you. You could also try Field Textiles and eBay. Avoid ex issued boots that have been beeswaxed as they will be very stiff and will/may have suffered with shrinkage.

 

[widu13]

First off, learn how to skate so's you can stay upright and get the muscles you'll need toned up; then go and spend a lot of dosh on earplugs, you're gonna need 'em for the noise the boots make and also for the 400 people every day who're gonna ask you about them. When you've done both those things get a block booking with your local orthopaedic surgeon, as you're gonna be seeing a fair bit of him!

Let us know how you get on, eh?

and then amaze people by coming to a halt in a shower of sparks on concrete (again whilst trying not to slip over)

 

[tiger stacker]

Not all ammo boots are beetlecrushers, Commando through-sole and heel means rubber sole for those who like to tip toe.

 

[widu13]

Not all ammo boots are beetlecrushers, Commando through-sole and heel means rubber sole for those who like to tip toe.

Are you referring to DMS boots? 2 different boots.

 

[pwb]

Another alternative to the ammo boot might be the 'Hoggs of Fife' shepherds boot. Has the same kind of old classic look, not got any experiance with them myself though.
http://www.hoggs.co.uk/prodcut_details.php?catid=83&product_id=156



I once wore a pair of hob nailed boots to school too... was kindly ask to not wear them again though

Pete.

 

[timbox]

Try these they are on offer! http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=685

 

[sausage100uk]

I had a pair when i was about 6, great for stomping spiders as far as family legend tells.

Sent from my LG-D802 using Tapatalk

 

[tombear]

Are you referring to DMS boots? 2 different boots.

nah, I think he's referring to The Boot, Cold Wet Weather, a enlarged ammo boot with a insole and rubber "commando" soles screwed to the leather soles . Introduced for Korea along side the 1950 Pat uniform. But there was a WW2 ammo boot for specialists especially those working in ammunition stores that had crepe soles fitted to the leather soles.

ATB

Tom

ammo boots are still popular with tug of war teams I think. I got a pair of modern triple soled ones new for not much more than the cost of postage when much to my surprise ( and the sellers I bet) my minimal starting bid wasn't challenged! Very heavy (but no worse than old fashioned wellies) and frightening on cobbles but otherwise not bad at all on grass and mud.

I've a pair of hobnail less size 3s the kids have long grown out of if anyone with tiny feet wants to buy/swap them, only worn for fancy dress.

 

[bullterrier]

http://lastrite.co.nz/products/27-tussock-hob-nail-boot

these guys do a hobnail boot - blooming expensive! Not sure where hobail boots fit into life these days, but to be fair I hanker after a pair too! You could look at a pair of traditional clogs which are a bit cheaper, traditional English and what the kids in Nottinghamshire pit villages used to wear when my Granddad was growing up. He once told me that they thought he was snobby because he had boots and they had clogs.
http://www.clogs.co.uk/traditionals.htm

 

[tiger stacker]

nah, I think he's referring to The Boot, Cold Wet Weather, a enlarged ammo boot with a insole and rubber "commando" soles screwed to the leather soles . Introduced for Korea along side the 1950 Pat uniform. But there was a WW2 ammo boot for specialists especially those working in ammunition stores that had crepe soles fitted to the leather soles.

ATB

Tom

ammo boots are still popular with tug of war teams I think. I got a pair of modern triple soled ones new for not much more than the cost of postage when much to my surprise ( and the sellers I bet) my minimal starting bid wasn't challenged! Very heavy (but no worse than old fashioned wellies) and frightening on cobbles but otherwise not bad at all on grass and mud.

I've a pair of hobnail less size 3s the kids have long grown out of if anyone with tiny feet wants to buy/swap them, only worn for fancy dress.

Thats the sole I was referring to.

 

[ozzy1977]

Another option for hobnailed boots, they also do some other very nice looking boots http://www.williamlennon.co.uk/footwear/78N-hob-nailed-boots.html

 

[big_swede]

But why? Why would you need this?

 

[ozzy1977]

Period reenactment.

 

[boatman]

Wore hobnails and got on well over the Wiltshire Downs, slippery on some road surfaces but did get blisters one very hot 25 mile challenge walk.

 

[Uilleachan]

Another alternative to the ammo boot might be the 'Hoggs of Fife' shepherds boot. Has the same kind of old classic look, not got any experiance with them myself though.
View attachment 29508http://www.hoggs.co.uk/prodcut_details.php?catid=83&product_id=156



I once wore a pair of hob nailed boots to school too... was kindly ask to not wear them again though

Pete.

Those are good boots, fully sprung. They are made big and open out a little once in use. I'm a UK12 normally, with those I'd go 11. Plus, I'd go with the vibrum sole. All Hoggs welted shoes/boots are worth having, if you've the money. But I'd strongly advise anyone considering getting a pair to go try them on first, "Fife Country" in Strathmiglo Fife stock the whole range.

New, they want to be quite tight but not uncomfortable so, also if you ask for a particular model and size, ask to see all the shoes/boots in that model in that size, because there's a littler variation in look and size etc being hand made, some are absolute works of art for exactly the same cost, so worth having a look at the whole stock.

 

[woof]

What does fully sprung mean ?.

I had a new pair of hobnails back in the early 70's, got mine from Wakefields army stores(are they still around ?)when army surplus was dirt cheap.My dad being ex guards, thought they were "proper boots"not like the girly Dr martens folks were wearing.

Rob