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SCARCE ORIGINAL WWII Japanese SNLF Tabi Shoes For Sale


SCARCE ORIGINAL WWII Japanese SNLF Tabi Shoes
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SCARCE ORIGINAL WWII Japanese SNLF Tabi Shoes :
$695.00

Offered is this scarce pair of original WWII Japanese TabiShoes (Jikatabi) worn in the jungles of the South Pacific by Japanese marinesof the Special Navy Landing Force or SNLF as well as by some Japanese armytroops. It is believed that because so few SNLF personnel ultimately survivedthe brutal warfare that kept them outnumbered and surrounded on countlessisolated Pacific islands that original WWII Tabi Shoes are now so scarce today….theysimply never made it out – but this pair did – even with traces of jungle mudremaining in the sole tread! These odd looking rubber bottom shoes were generallypreferred by SNLF jungle fighters to the standard leather Japanese militaryshort boot, which despite being heavier and more stoutly made, actually provedto be less than desirable for the rigors of jungle warfare. The heavier militarymade leather boots tended to be much hotter on the feet causing “scalding” and footrot problems and when constantly damp, the leather tops and soles rotted andfell apart surprisingly much quicker than with these lighter weight fabric andrubber slipper type footwear. I have read somewhere that it was the Japanesefounder of “Bridgestone Tires” who invented the WWII Tabi Shoe so favored byhard-core Japanese jungle fighters?

These Tabi Shoes offered, like so many surviving examples,can only rate from fair plus to the lower end of “good” condition butconsidering they survived at all and are approximately 75 years old. The rubberhas dried and hardened, cracking and flaking with age (very typical of most authenticoriginal examples – if not they are generally post war fakes) and the cotton fabricis also aged and should be regarded as delicate. There is a metal closuremissing at the rear opening of one shoe which looks as if it may have beenburned away? Potentially this could have happened if the original Japanesesoldier left them unattended drying over a fire or it could be from an actual combatincident with an explosive flash burn from a grenade or booby trap, we willnever know for sure? However what we do know is that these Tabi Shoes are thereal deal – with the correct, rubber sole, kanji markings, fasteners and blackouter with blue cotton lining. These are a WWII Australian vet “bring back”taken from a Japanese combatant as a personal war trophy. The surviving Aussievet brought them out of the jungle and later donated these same shoes to hislocal small town WWII Museum where for overfifty years they remained on display. I purchased these years ago when thismuseum closed it doors and they have never been displayed since – but kept inthe dark - boxed in storage. A laminatedphoto of an “1943 New Guinea “Aussie” jungle fighter whimsically pondering thealien looking “Tabi”, the same photograph used in the original Australian museumdisplay, is included with the sale. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an extremelyscarce piece of WWII Japanese SNLF kit. Please take a look at the pictures asthey are a part of the description. This item is described to the best of myability, therefore, all sales are consideredfinal with no returns. Priority shipping is FREE and thanks for looking!


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