GPW General's boots?

[Al-muell]

From what I have heard this were m43 colonels' and generals' winter boots sometimes called "burki"
can someone confirm or correct this information?
How long such boots remained in service?

[Lapa]

Al-muell,

I also heard that story, but then, I was told by some Russian friends that these were like "designer valenki". I would personally tend to believe this second explanation as I have seen quite a few pairs so far.

Marc

[vvadim]

I also heard that story, but then, I was told by some Russian friends that these were like "designer valenki". I would personally tend to believe this second explanation as I have seen quite a few pairs so far.

Your russian friend were right. It’s was never military issue of such "designer valenki", but in 1931 by decree of Revolutionary Military council number 14 from January 31 it’s was allowed to wear such boots to all non enlisted military personal.
It’s became quite popular in the army and a lot of generals (and not only generals) were wearing them durring the war.
C:\rkka_unif\files\a7.htm

When it went out of fashion in the army after the war, it was still in fashion among civilians in Soviet Union and was manufactured until late sixties.
Russian members of this forum may remember movie “Operation I and other adventures of Shurik” were Morgunov was wearing them.

vv

[Al-muell]

So I have another question:
What would be the value?

[Lapa]

Al-muell,

Depending on condition, and in my opinion of course, from $5 to $20. Once, again these are just a pair of shoes with a somewhat dubious military connection.

Marc

[Al-muell]

That is much enough :)
And now another question: Were there 2 variations of those?
I am asking beceuse I came across 2 pics on rkka.ru site:
The "general" here: rkka.ru/uniform/files/a7.htm is wearing the same boots as the ones I posted, while the officer (?) in the right of the b&w photograph here: http://rkka.ru/uniform/files/arm15.htm is wearing similar boots, but without this leather stripe in front.
Just asking because of curiosity.

[Lapa]

Al-muell,

You need to understand that these were NOT military design. They were produced by a variety of civilian shoemaking factories who were pretty much each producing they own model.

Marc

[DougD]

These boots were not military, but were in widespread use among senior officers; Shalito shows them in both his books. I think that $20 is a very low price; usually i see them go for about $70 or so here in the us for a nice pair.

They are nice if you want to complete an M1940 or M1943 service general on a mannequin; I had a complete M1940 general that I used these boots for; looked nice, but stood out a bit too much.

DougD

[Lapa]

Al-muell and Doug,

It looks like price is highly dependent on geographic location. The closer East you are, the lower the price ;) The prices I quoted are the current going ones in StP.

Marc

[DougD]

I guess thats about right, there have been more and more of them showing up. The price in the US seems to be $50 to $80, though I have seen one pair listed for $180!

DD