Dubbing, Mink Oil, Sno-Seal, etc: The Boot Treatment

[Blackadder]

I just received a pair of the ATF service shoe. Seems very nice and I've worn them only a couple days off and on to start breaking them in, which they have done nicely as they were very hard at first. The finish on the leather seems very sealed. So much so that it doesn't seem as though dubbing would actually do anything to the leather. I rubbed a little mink oil on a spot and it didn't seem to have an effect. Is dubbing something that is necessary on the boot right away or something to freshen them up and protect when the original leather finish starts to fade? I'd like to see them get a little darker anyhow.

Your ATF service shoes has a coated paint similar to bookbinder leather shoes. They are already waterproofed. Apply colour wax if you scratch them. Otherwise simply use a lightly dampened cloth or sponge to wipe off dirt after wear. There are ways to remove the coating but may also weaken the leather.
https://www.theshoesnobblog.com/2017/04/bookbinder-leather-dont-be-fooled.html

 

[EmergencyIan]

I just received a pair of the ATF service shoe. Seems very nice and I've worn them only a couple days off and on to start breaking them in, which they have done nicely as they were very hard at first. The finish on the leather seems very sealed. So much so that it doesn't seem as though dubbing would actually do anything to the leather. I rubbed a little mink oil on a spot and it didn't seem to have an effect. Is dubbing something that is necessary on the boot right away or something to freshen them up and protect when the original leather finish starts to fade? I'd like to see them get a little darker anyhow.

I own the same boots.

Anyhow, you only dub roughout boots. It’s completely unnecessary to dub the earlier service “shoe.”

ATF has taken the time to really redo the existing boots, with research and a lot of hard work, to where they are much more authentic than before. These must be the most authentic U.S. WWII military boots and shoes that are on the market. ATF has more than tweaked what Corcoran was already offering to WWII Impressions. I suppose the closest to ATF would be some Japanese repro that cost twice to three times as much as the new U.S. made ATF footwear. That’s all I’ve got to say about that!

- Ian