Chessler Books
Rock Climbing - Mountaineering - Exploration
New - Used - Collectible - Signed
Chessler Books Accepts PAYPAL Chessler Books Accepts VISA Chessler Books Accepts MASTERCARD Chessler Books Accepts DISCOVER CARD Chessler Books Accepts AMERICAN EXPRESS
All Orders Shipped via United States Postal Service   Chessler Books Ships Via USPS
Author:
Title:
Keyword:
Item #:
A B C D E F G H I
J K L M Mc N O P Q
R S T U V W X Y Z
Item #: HW2B-944p
VINTAGE SWISS NAILED CLIMBING BOOTS: ORIGINAL CLIMBING BOOTS FROM 1900s - 1950s (More images below)
By Swiss Nailed Climbing Boots
Price: $250.00

List Price: $350.00
You Save $100.00 (29%)



Add to wish list


Detailed Product Description

REAL 1940s SWISS MADE NAILED BOOTS

The above photo shows what the Nailed Swiss Climbing Boots look like. There are more images below. 

We have obtained a few pair of real nailed boots, as issued to the Swiss Army during and after WWII! We estimate their age as 65-75 years old. These are identical to the boots worn by British, European and American civilian climbers before (and after!) World War II, before Vibram soles took over.

The shoemaker or company who made each boot is marked inside the boot. We have actually seen the name Bally inside some pairs. Bally was founded in 1851 and is now a Swiss maker of expensive fashionable shoes.

The boots have about 77 edge and hob nails in each boot! Larger edge nails are marked 'TRICOUNI BREV SUISSE'. The leather uppers and soles are in well preserved condition. This is a phenomenal chance to get an authentic collector's item. No size choice, they are small, perhaps a Men's 8. Excellent condition. 



Postage charges will be based on shipping weight, 5 pounds. About $25 within the USA, $60 to Canada, and $75-$100 to other countries. (Rates can change, these prices are accurate during the pandemic winter of 2020-2021.)

From Wikipedia:

Félix Genecand, a jeweler by profession and passionate climber based in Geneva, Switzerland, designed a new type of boot nail and nailing system in 1912 which was a performance breakthrough. This was because he was able to harden nails for the first time by making them in 2 pieces. The hard gripping part was brazed to the softer malleable part which was attached to the boot by a transverse double nail. The hardened steel nails were aligned with the periphery of the toe of the boot. so giving the boot and the climber the ability to grip a much smaller hold, even to a small pebble.

Additionally the nails could be fitted without the specialist help of a cobbler and ensured greater length of life. The name he gave to these nails was the affectionate nickname given to him personally by his climbing friends, 'Tricouni' after the climb of the same name in the Salève near Geneva.
 
Nailed boots were not only very effective on wet, lichenous or ice covered rock, but were actually better than today's molded rubber soles.  For many alpine climbs of the day, crampons were unnecessary because nailed boots were perfect on nevée slopes and good in ice steps. This very effectiveness arguably slowed down the progression of crampon development and usage.

The critical issue with this type of footwear was insulation, because nails were perfect for conducting heat away from the feet. It was customary practice for alpine climbers to select boots large enough to be used with two pairs of socks.  For Himalayan climbing the sizing was increased to allow three pairs of socks. However, simply adding more pairs of socks could not solve the problem and there were many attempts to improve boot design.


 
This is what our old Nailed Swiss Climbing Boots look like when 
they gave been cleaned with saddle soap and then shoe polish applied. 

 


Other Items You Might Like

  • Similar Items Available
  • Items From This Author
  • Items From This Category
VINTAGE SWISS NAILED CLIMBING BOOTS: ORIGINAL CLIMBING BOOTS FROM 1900s - 1950s (More images below)
By: Swiss Nailed Climbing Boots
Price $250.00 ~ Regular $350.00, You Save $100.00 (29%)
- Item # HW2A-935p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
RECORD A L'HIMALAYA [WHITE FURY: GAURISANKAR AND CHO OYU] Raymond Lambert, Claude Kogan 1955 1st ed Softcover Wrappers Fine
By: Lambert, Raymond and Claude Kogan
Price $35.00 ~ Regular $75.00, You Save $40.00 (53%)
- Item # OP264A-935
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
HOW TO CLIMB MONT BLANC IN A SKIRT: A HANDBOOK FOR THE LADY ADVENTURER Mick Conefrey 2011 1st ed Hardcover Fine Multiple copies available
By: Conefrey, Mick
Price $4.95 ~ Regular $35.00, You Save $30.05 (86%)
- Item # BK4452-8612
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE HIGH ALPS OF NEW ZEALAND: OR A TRIP TO THE GLACIERS OF THE ANTIPODES WITH AN ASCENT OF MOUNT COOK William Green 1883 1st ed Hardcover Very Good
By: Green, William Spotswood
Price $250.00 ~ Regular $400.00, You Save $150.00 (38%)
- Item # OP532-873
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
MOUNT EVEREST, KHUMBU HIMAL, ROLWALING HIMAL, KHUMBARKANA HIMAL SATELLITE IMAGE Color Map/Poster 1:100,000 35" x 51"
By: Geosystems-Polska
Price $49.95
- Item # PS289-8444
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
BIS ZUR SPITZE DES MOUNT EVEREST [TO THE TOP OF MOUNT EVEREST "THE FIGHT FOR EVEREST 1924"] E.F. Norton 1926 1st Swiss ed Hardcover Fine
By: Norton, E.F.
Price $4.99 ~ Regular $100.00, You Save $95.01 (95%)
- Item # OP63G-934
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
CARABINERS, OVAL AND D SHAPED, VINTAGE, SET OF TEN See description for larger images. Multiple sets available
By: Black Diamond, SMC, Bonatti, Cassin, REI
Price $29.99
- Item # HW3753-789
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
VINTAGE ALPS POSTCARD ALBUM: CHAMONIX & SWITZERLAND 160 POSTCARDS
By: Postcard Album: 160 Postcards
[ SOLD ]
- Item # OP4266A-873p
View Details
VINTAGE ALPS POSTCARD ALBUM: CHAMONIX, MONT BLANC, AIGUILLES 60 POSTCARDS
By: Postcard Album: 60 Postcards
[ SOLD ]
- Item # OP4266B-873p
View Details
CLIMBS IN THE NEW ZEALAND ALPS: BEING AN ACCOUNT OF TRAVEL AND DISCOVERY Edward A. Fitzgerald 1896 1st UK ed Hardcover Very Good
By: Fitzgerald, Edward A.
Price $275.95 ~ Regular $650.00, You Save $374.05 (58%)
- Item # OP231-882p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
VINTAGE SWISS NAILED CLIMBING BOOTS: ORIGINAL CLIMBING BOOTS FROM 1900s - 1950s (More images below)
By: Swiss Nailed Climbing Boots
Price $250.00 ~ Regular $350.00, You Save $100.00 (29%)
- Item # HW2A-935p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE FROSTY CAUCASUS: AN ACCOUNT OF A WALK THROUGH PART OF THE RANGE AND OF AN ASCENT OF ELBRUZ IN THE SUMMER OF 1874 [SEVEN SUMMIT FIRST ASCENT] Florence Grove 1875 1st ed Hardcover Leather Binding Near Fine
By: Grove, Florence Crauford
Price $495.00 ~ Regular $650.00, You Save $155.00 (24%)
- Item # OP1716C-857
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
FUHRER FUR LUZERN, VIERWALDSTATTERSEE UND UMGEBUNG [GUIDE TO LUCERNE AND LAKE LUCERNE REGION] J.C. Heer 1896 5th ed Softcover Good
By: Heer, Jakob Christoph
Price $9.00 ~ Regular $19.95, You Save $10.95 (55%)
- Item # GB7350-933
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
JIM BRIDWELL'S CLIMBING ADVENTURES: A CLIMBER'S PASSION Jim Bridwell 1992 1st ed Softcover Near Fine Multiple copies available
By: Bridwell, Jim and Keith Peal
Price $29.99 ~ Regular $45.00, You Save $15.01 (33%)
- Item # BK202-8544
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE WALL: A NEW DIMENSION IN CLIMBING Alexander and Thomas Huber 2001 1st ed Hardcover Fine Multiple Copies Available
By: Huber, Alexander and Thomas
Price $9.99 ~ Regular $30.00, You Save $20.01 (67%)
- Item # BK702-84418p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE SKI RUNS OF AUSTRIA James Riddell 1958 Hardcover DJ Near Fine
By: Riddell, James
Price $39.95 ~ Regular $99.95, You Save $60.00 (60%)
- Item # OP6665-172
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
ROCK GAMES: ESCALADES AUX ETATS UNIS [ROCK GAMES: CLIMBS IN THE UNITED STATES] Patrick Edlinger and Gerard Kosicki 1986 1st ed Hardcover DJ Fine
By: Edlinger, Patrick and Gerard Kosicki (photos)
Price $49.95 ~ Regular $195.00, You Save $145.05 (74%)
- Item # OP472-844p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
FEEDING THE RAT: A CLIMBER'S LIFE ON THE EDGE Al Alvarez 2001 Softcover Near Fine
By: Alvarez, Al
Price $1.99 ~ Regular $14.95, You Save $12.96 (87%)
- Item # BK26-953
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
BIG WALLS: FROM THE NORTH FACE OF THE EIGER TO THE SOUTH FACE OF DHAULAGIRI 2001 2nd US ed Hardcover [Not signed]
By: Messner, Reinhold
Price $45.00 ~ Regular $225.00, You Save $180.00 (80%)
- Item # BK1018B-844p
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
ALBERT SMITH AND THE ASCENT OF MONT BLANC: THE COCKNEY WHO SOLD THE ALPS Alan McNee 2015 1st ed Softcover Near Fine-Fine 2 Copies Available
By: McNee, Alan
Price $23.99
- Item # BK4236-8612
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart
THE EIGER OBSESSION: FACING THE MOUNTAIN THAT KILLED MY FATHER John Harlin 2007 1st ed Hardcover DJ Fine Multiple Copies Available [Not Signed]
By: Harlin, John III
Price $4.99 ~ Regular $26.00, You Save $21.01 (81%)
- Item # BK2188-86219
View Details
Add To Cart
Adding...
Added! Click To View Cart