Kubinka M1965

Kubinka M1965
Type	Combat boot
Designation	Unknown
Place of Origin	PRB
Produced	1965-1980
Manufacturer(s)	Unknown
Material(s)	leather
Evolved from	Unknown
Evolved into	Kubinka M1980
Service
Used by	Bulgarian People's Army
Wars	Unknown

The Kubinka M1965 is a combat boot of Bulgarian origin.

Overview

The M1965 kubinki are made of leather and their most distinguishing feature is their high top cuffs that are fastened by a pair of buckles and uniquely shaped straps. They have at least four to five lace holes lacking eyelets. The soles are made of stacked leather pieces with rubber heels.

History

The Bulgarian army wore outdated jackboots and ankle boot type shoes known as cintarki during the 1960s. In 1965 the communist Bulgarian army underwent reforming its uniforms. Dobri Dzhurov was Minister of People's Defence during this period and it is considered that he was quite impressed with the high top combat boots of the Cuban army and introduced this type of boots for the officers of the Bulgarian army.

The Cuban boots that inspired the Bulgarian design were likely the US M-1943 boots as the Cubans were using pre-revolutionary era US supplied equipment and also considering the strap and buckle layout of the boots. The new combat boots did not receive an official designation but were colloquially called "Kubinki" (Bulgarian: Кубинки) meaning roughly "Cuban boots".

The M1965 kubinki were issued only to officers while the rank and file soldiers continued to wear the obsoleted cintarki ankle boots well into the 1970s. A new and more modern type of kubinki were introduced in 1980 for all ranks.

Variants

Brown

In 1973 the color of the officer's kubinki was changed from black to brown.

Gallery

Right boot

Another view

Backside view

Soles

A pair of black 1965 kubinki

Straps

Left boot

Another view

Heel

Heel closeup

Sole

Sole

Sole

Markings

Interior