Original French-Indochina War period French Brodequin de Marche à Jambières Attenante (BMJA) Mle 52 La Modification 61 “Rangers Marrons” or “Brown Rangers” Combat Boots in a size 45.
Stamped size 45 (US 11.5) although it is recommended these fit better for a size US 11 or 44.
The boots have been re-soled recently for continuous wear!
The French Mle 52 Rangers saw action:
- During the last two years of the war in Indochina (which lasted from 1946 to 1954), in very limited quantities;
- In Morocco and Tunisia (from 1954 to 1956.);
- During the Suez crisis (from October 1956 to March 1956.);
- In the last year of the war in Algeria (1954 - 1962).
From the very beginning, all the boots model Mle. 52 were delivered from the boot factories unpainted, and their color was natural rough tan leather, protected with a thin layer of beeswax, a good natural preservative.
The last modification of the BMJA Mle 52 construction had happened in 1961. The essence of the novelty consisted in transformation of the cuff: since that it was not sewn separately to the top of the boot, but became an integral part of the boot's top. The total height of boots decreased slightly. This modification in 1961 was named BMJA Mle 52/61, or simply "La modification 61". The design of the boot's counter (the heel cap) was simplified, and the thin sheep leather was no more used on the inner surface of the boots. In general, this modification resulted in mass production cost decreasing, and the number of leather pieces and stitches also was reduced, that resulted in reducing of the number of operations required. In turn, water resistance and overall robustness of the boot's design were increased. Perhaps the earliest models used to be more comfortable to wear, and, accordingly, more expensive.
From 1954 to 1955, first type BMJA Mle 52 military boots were issued, in particular, to the soldiers of 2 RPC (regiment de parachutistes coloniaux) - 2nd Parachute Regiment of colonial troops of the French Republic, but it was already after their active participation in the Indochina conflict (1947-1953).
Since 1958, this regiment got the new name: 2nd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (2e Règiment de parachutistes d'infanterie de marine). A curious fact: in France the Marines are a part of the Ground troops, not the Navy! As it was mentioned earlier, the early model of the French military boot BMJA Mle 52 featured "Y"-shaped leather strap on the cuff ("guètron"), fastened with a single buckle. In 1956, the clasp was modified for better grip on the legs, and more reliable ankle support, so the "Y"-shaped form of the leather straps was replaced by two parallel straps, which are more usual today. Sometimes an unusual ways of straps fixation to the cuff were used, for example, not with stainless steel rivets, but with ordinary stitching.
