Botas m/967

Botas m/967
A pair of m/967 officer's boots with replaced soles
Type:	Combat boot
Designation:	Unknown
Place of origin:	Portuguese Republic
Produced:	1967-???
Manufacturer(s):	OGFE, BIS Portugal
Material(s):	leather, rubber
Evolved from:	French?
Evolved into:	Unknown
Service
Used by:	Portuguese Army, Portuguese Army Commandos
Wars:	Portuguese Colonial War, Rhodesian Bush War, South African Border War, Angolan Civil War, Mozambican Civil War

The Botas m/967 (Portuguese for "Boots model 1967") are combat boots of Portuguese origin.

Overview

This page is under construction. More information will be added.

History

The m/967 boots are manufactured by the Portuguese state company of Oficinas Gerais de Fardamento e Equipamento (OGFE).

Following the Portuguese military equipment designation system it can be deduced that the m/967 boots were introduced in 1967. The French style soles suggest that they were based on the French family of combat boots. The boots were used in the Portuguese Colonial War by the rank and file troops, officers and special forces like the Comandos and Rangers.

After Portugal granted independence to its African colonies large stocks of these boots were left behind in Angola and Mozambique and subsequently were used by their forces in the Angolan Civil War and the Mozambican Civil War. The m/967 were also used by the Rhodesian and South African forces for false flag operations in the Rhodesian Bush War and the South African Border War.

Variants

Marine

The marine landing boots are a special version of the m/967 boots used by the Portuguese Marine Corps. They have a unique whole boot design, lack laces and lace holes and instead are fastened with leather straps. The purpose of the design is to prevent water from entering the boots during landing operations. The soles are of the French pattern and are stitched, they also have reinforcing metal toe-piece. Markings are located inside the boots including the size number being the last numeral. The typical marine boots have two straps and the toe piece leather borders the cuff piece evenly while the BIS Portugal produced marine boots have three straps, the toe piece protrudes into the cuff piece and are distinctively marked on the soles.

A pair of size 43 marine boots

Another view

Top view

Straps

Soles, note the French pattern

Another size 43 marine boots

Toes

Markings including the size number

Pair of Bis Portugal manufactured marine boots

Straps, note that unlike the common Portuguese marine boots design these boots have three straps

Sole, note the French pattern and manufacturer markings "BIS Portugal"

A pair of size 39 marine boots

Soles, note the different markings compared to the BIS version

A pair of size 43 marine boots

Straps

Reference 1, reference 2.

Paratrooper

Reference 1, reference 2, reference 3, reference 4, reference 5, reference 6.

Gallery

Another view

Top view

Toecaps

Heelcaps

Interior

The replaced soles, note the vibram design which is very different from the original Portuguese design which was similar to the French pattern

Another pair of m/967 boots

Frontal view

Left boot

Right boot

Heel caps

Videos