Boots On The Ground

 

A rambunctious young soldier walked through the door, "Hi Dad, what's up?" I took a pause from selling AI inventory (What?? Yes, it's true) and said, "Here, look at this," and showed off the new CZ 20, "Let's go for a shoot." Smiles all 'round. But first things first, clean up those dusty old boots.

That's right, a pair of Ariat Heritage which have been  all over the shop, from Africa to Canada and in between. Good boots, but here's the thing, if you don't look after 'em they fall apart, not unlike guns, when you think about it. So I gave the things a good going over with mink oil. This helps waterproof the leather and keeps it supple. It's not even hard to do, just put some mink oil magic on your mink oil brush and give the boots a sturdy scrub.

Well done, boots ready to go, you're ready to go, pre-mission objective accomplished, but then disaster struck. That's right, the climate changed. It does that, you see, and it did it again today, with thunder starting to rumble like opening salvos in the battle of Kursk, followed by rain which spat against the wooden walls of this old house.

We watched the storm from the shelter of the front porch, "I guess we're not going shooting, eh?" No, we weren't, so we talked Army.

Now, all the world knows that the US Army has a grievous recruitment problem, to the tune of a 40k+ shortfall. Not good, especially when our beloved rulers are baying for moar war. Solution? My eldest told me, "What they're doing is getting all these new E5s to become recruiters. Doesn't matter if they're unfit or whatever, make Sergeant and off you go. That's what I was told."

"Huh," I replied, staring out at a tumultuous Texan sky, "That's no good," and the kid agreed. "Did you know recruiters have the highest suicide level rate in the Army?" I didn't, and he continued, "But here's the thing, if I turn down Recruiter I can put in a Drill Packet."

"Now that, old chap, makes a lot of sense in your case, you'd be good at it," and he would, his face fits. Not only that, it's a two year thing and he'd have time to finish off a degree and then move on to OCS. That's his plan, and it's a good plan. But back to the recruitment crisis.

"You know, Dad, I was talking with our First Sergeant and he told me, 'How are we going to fix recruitment, by taking on a lot of recruiters or by paying our soldiers more than three bucks an hour?' Yeah, and I said hey, you're preaching to the converted."

Like really. Maybe, just maybe, we'd get more recruits if we actually paid our soldiers more than junior burger flippers, to say nothing of all the risible rainbow garbage and the fact that patriots, young men and women who want to serve their country, aren't too keen on signing up to fight for the Demented Old Crook and associates. The very people who actively hate them and everything they stand for.

We talked about all this, there on the porch as the rain crashed down, and have rescheduled our shoot till after the boy gets back from a mission in California. I look forward to that. Semper.

Your Old Friend,

LSP

It's All Souls Day, Clean Your Boots

You can sit there like an Illuminati dupe, waiting for the New World Order's pansexual Stasi to turn up and clean your dirty boots, or you can do it yourself. Like a sovereign. 

Not wanting to be a slave of the transnational elite, I chose the latter option, scrubbed off the mud with water and then applied Fiebing's Golden Mink Oil. Not because there's some "rule," it's just the way I chose to do it, and guess what? It works. 

Illminati Dupes

Those mink oiled Ariat Heritage Stockmans, with Advanced Torque Suspension, whatever that is, are nicely supple, waterproof and good for all kinds of fun.

As I cleaned the muddy and miserable offenders, I prayed for the departed, it being All Souls Day; and I prayed especially for a number of old friends who died far too young. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Some people don't clean their boots or pray for the departed. That would be a double error.

God bless,

LSP

Boot Review: Ariat Brown Bombers

I'm not a boot technologist, unlike some of my friends, but I do like Ariat Brown Bombers (Heritage Crepe Sole). They're a sturdy pair of boots and I'm on my second pair in 8 years. Why a second pair? Because I gave the first ones away to a needy cause and liked them, so I bought a duplicate set.

They're good boots for riding, with a sole that grips the stirrup, while it still has Ariat's proprietary Duratread, and a heel that's designed to accept spurs. The boots also feature special "ATS technology" that "includes a forked shank, Gel cushioned forefoot & heel strike zone," and "a moisture wicking sock liner." 

I'm not quite sure what all that means, but the Bombers seem to give good enough support. They're sturdy, too, with a double stitched welt and good leather. I also like the saddle vamp and feel it gives extra protection; perhaps it does.

I've worn the Bombers riding, hunting, fishing, walking around London's East End, visiting the flock, at the range and, well, just about everywhere. So what's the verdict?

The Ariat Brown Bomber Heritage Crepe Sole is a good all 'round boot. It's not a fancy pants, Ivy League hotshot boot but it doesn't pretend to be, it's more of a working boot than a Highland Park cocktail hour boot. 

How much do they cost? Around $160. Will they fall apart? Mine haven't. Are they waterproof? If you put a lot of mink oil on them, yes. What do you think of Ariat's ATS technology? If I knew what it was I'd tell you. Would you recommend them to a friend? Sure, if they liked crepe soled, working, cowboy boots with a saddle vamp and a roper toe. Are they tactical? I'd have thought that was obvious. Are they liturgical? Not especially.

Go ahead and get some Ariat Brown Bombers, if you're in the market for a working cowboy boot. I've had over three years use out of this pair and look forward to many more.

Boots on the ground,

LSP