Soviet Kirza winter boots with buckles, surplus

A one-off lot of Soviet enlisted men's Kirza boots! The crudeness makes these rather charming, but the boots are no joke. These are more wintery in appearance, or they may be just a manufacturing variation. Adjustment buckles on the shaft, very handy.

While the model was taken into use during World War 2, they wore these officially up to the 90's and unofficially even beyond.

The outsole is rubber, which is nailed on leather midsoles. The lower is made of surprisingly good quality, thick unlined leather and the shaft comprises of Kirza with a leather support strip on the back. Kirza (or some call it Kersey) leather was one of the most important developments during the war, saving hundreds of Roubles when they made soldiers' boots. The inventor, a chemist named Plotnikov, was given a truck ton of money and the hallowed Stalin stat Prize medal for his efforts. To the best of our knowledge, he wasn't even transported to Siberia. Kirza leather is still made today.

The shaft height and circumference are size-dependent, but these are not at all humble in appearance, as they reach almost to the knee. The shaft can also be flipped over at the point of your choice to make it shorter - this is what many Soviet soldiers seemed to do in warzones.

Size info

Sizes in the Soviet system, which is first the recommended foot length in millimeters, then EU/French size. These are roomy enough for thicker insoles and proper woolen socks or footwraps.

The last is sorta human-shaped, but not excessively wide.

Here's a little chart with comparable US and UK sizes.

Care

Care for your boots and they might care for you! Clean the boots with a moist rag and/or a brush. Apply grease and polish to the leather. Kirza does not need to be treated.

Condition

Although there are some slightly used pairs, usually these are in unworn shape, however, A) old and B) of Soviet manufacture. A means they might be a bit stiff and dirty on the surface, B means they are cobbled together with some hearty dosage of vodka. So these might not be too pretty, but they are pretty strong.