A surprise Welcome Home gift for a buddy returning from his fourth tour in Afghanistan -- two with the Marines and last two as a Security Contractor. He says the pay is better but the duty is a lot more dangerous nowadays. So these are his good luck boots -- he returns for a fifth tour in eight weeks.
The boots were made using the "Stichdown" method and are modified from my regular Chukka Boot pattern (last pic -- also a recent pair) with a higher top, exterior toe cap, and some tooling. The treaded rubber soles are also handmade from conveyor belt rubber. I didn't to take a pic but I carved the tread with lightening bolts on the front half of the soles and the Marine's "RECON Seal" in the heels.
