Texas Hunting Forum
Military Shoe Shine Kit
Posted By: Homer Jay
Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 02:59 AM
I was watching a film "Thing From Another World" (1951) and the Air Force captain is getting prettied up to see his gal and he takes a brush to shine his shoes.
And it made me wonder...
What are the contents of a military issued shoe shine kit anyway?
A few years ago I posted a poll about who taught you to shine shoes:
https://texashuntingforum.com/forum...ght-you-to-shine-shoes-boots#Post7550938
Posted By: BOBO the Clown
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 06:26 AM
I don’t remember being given a kit but I remember having a tin, brush and cloth, think they where issued but can’t remember. I remember a guy in my squadron that was previous enlisted tell me don’t waste my time with it. He pulled out a tin of kiwi parade wax, filled the lid with water, then pulled out a lighter and lit the wax on fire for a few seconds. He then dipped the cotton ball in the wax and started doing tiny circles. Then would come back over with wet cotton ball in tiny circles and repeat and repeat, and repeat and repeat.
I’m pretty sure I was issued it but can’t remember, I know I went and bought three cans parade gloss first chance I got. Two for me and one for the guy that showed me
Posted By: SnakeWrangler
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 07:43 AM
Black shoe polish
Lighter fluid
Old cotton T-shirt rags
Cotton balls
Soft bristle brush
Also need cold water and elbow grease
Posted By: kry226
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 09:11 AM
Never been issued one and always had to buy my own from the PX. I like the Kiwi tins and the foam daubers to get a good base coat laid. Then I use a nice thin woven cloth with the same tin of Kiwi and spit to hit the heels and toes. Nothing else needed. Never failed to get a day off for the best boots of the day.
Posted By: bagster
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 10:54 AM
Black shoe polish
Lighter fluid
Old cotton T-shirt rags
Cotton balls
Soft bristle brush
Also need cold water and elbow grease
Seems like they advanced you $10 to get all that. Add a can of Brasso and you were ready for inspection.
Posted By: bigbob_ftw
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 11:22 AM
We bought our own. The air force "issued" nothing. You paid for your uniforms.
Posted By: TEXASLEFTY
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 11:58 AM
Bobo and Snakewrangler are correct, wasn’t issued any polishing supplies had to go to the PX and get my own.
Posted By: bill oxner
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 12:00 PM
Spit shine.
Posted By: SnakeWrangler
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 12:38 PM
Black shoe polish
Lighter fluid
Old cotton T-shirt rags
Cotton balls
Soft bristle brush
Also need cold water and elbow grease
Seems like they advanced you $10 to get all that. Add a can of Brasso and you were ready for inspection.
We got the advanced class in “The Old Guard”!
Posted By: deerfeeder
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 12:45 PM
My dad had me shining my own shoes starting in 2nd or 3rd grade. Navy didn't give issue squat for the boondockers or dress shoes.
'
Posted By: angus1956
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 01:24 PM
No kit issued in the navy.
Can of bkack Kiwi
Old skivvy shirt aka white under shirt
Shoe brush.
A little water in the Kiwi can lid
Get after it till you can see your smile in the shine.
Posted By: spacejunkie
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 01:53 PM
No kit issued in the navy.
Can of black Kiwi
Old skivvy shirt aka white under shirt
Shoe brush.
A little water in the Kiwi can lid
Get after it till you can see your smile in the shine.
Brings back memories. We were a flag ship and had inspections on a regular basis. I had three pairs of shoes, inspection, liberty, and work. On inspection day I would cuff my bell bottoms on the way to inspection so as not to mar the finish and uncuff them once in the inspection line. I then cuffed them again on the way back to my rack. Never wore my inspection shoes any other time except when it was time to replace my work shoes and then the other two were moved down and I bought a new pair for inspections. I even had an inspection belt buckle.
Posted By: texasag93
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 01:58 PM
I had a pretty good setup my dad gave me. Box with a rest on top of it to shine your own shoes.
A college roommate stole it from me (one item of many). He was a piece of s***.
I wear tennis shoes now. I have a nice pair of Church shoes that I picked up in London. I shine them when they need it.
My boots get a wipe down on occasion.
Posted By: 68A
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 02:05 PM
No shine kit. Made us buy a boot cleaning kit. Had a couple of brushes and can of leather conditioner, I think. Only wore the issued boots through basic and then bought Danners.
Posted By: papa45
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 02:40 PM
Bobo and Snakewrangler are correct, wasn’t issued any polishing supplies had to go to the PX and get my own.
This
Posted By: deerfeeder
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 02:40 PM
Black shoe polish
Lighter fluid
Old cotton T-shirt rags
Cotton balls
Soft bristle brush
Also need cold water and elbow grease
This! Now I roll with rough out combat boots that don't need to be shined.
Posted By: Buzzsaw
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 02:50 PM
My Man at the Barber Shop did mine
Never wear dress shoes anymore. Black Brooks Beasts fill in IF needed.
This being said, My Dad was a Merchant Marine and he ALWAYS used a "kit". Polished his shoes like a mad Man !! He bought all his supplies, kept them in a wooden "Shine" box
Posted By: jeh7mmmag
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 03:54 PM
Remember the Corafams shoes. Keep a pair for inspections and an easy shine when needed. We were issued Boon dockers every 6months for flight deck work. JP, AG, and Autosafe oil would eat them up pretty quick.
Posted By: bigbob_ftw
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 04:22 PM
My trick was a bic lighter and polishing cloth.
Posted By: Jimbo1
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 04:35 PM
Remember the Corafams shoes. Keep a pair for inspections and an easy shine when needed. We were issued Boon dockers every 6months for flight deck work. JP, AG, and Autosafe oil would eat them up pretty quick.
Still have my AF Corfams in the closet somewhere and I retired in 93!
Posted By: 603Country
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 05:18 PM
Pretty sure the USMC gave us shoe polish and a shoe brush at MCRD San Diego (1971). I still have the brush.
Posted By: kry226
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/19/22 08:52 PM
My Man at the Barber Shop did mine
Never wear dress shoes anymore. Black Brooks Beasts fill in IF needed.
This being said, My Dad was a Merchant Marine and he ALWAYS used a "kit". Polished his shoes like a mad Man !! He bought all his supplies, kept them in a wooden "Shine" box
Back when we all wore black boots, there were lots of shoe shine places that you could use to get "Inspection Ready."
Posted By: thegrouse
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/20/22 03:15 AM
Cotton balls, Lincoln wax and a bit of cold water after a brush down
Posted By: Hooker
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/20/22 03:48 AM
Start with a great boot (Corcoran jump boots), sorry, never wore shoes
Posted By: Ol_Yeller
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/20/22 02:39 PM
As a K9 Handler we weren't messed with much about our shined boots, unless it was it was show for a special event. USAF we bought our own.
Posted By: billyhunt
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/21/22 03:53 AM
I dont remember those. But i did shine shoes in a barber shop when i was way younger!! Made all kinds of money, .25 cents for shoes .50 cents for boots.
Posted By: copperhead
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/21/22 09:49 AM
I didn't realize the Air Force had to polish boots.
Posted By: kry226
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/21/22 10:32 AM
I didn't realize the Air Force had to polish boots.
Dang! Shots fired!
Posted By: Dave Davidson
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/21/22 11:31 AM
USAF. 64-68. . Had a pair of spit shined, burnt, and dusted shoes that I didn’t wear. They stayed under the bed for inspection.
Got some new work/hunting boots recently. Spent about 1/2 hour prepping them for wet grass, etc.
Posted By: bigbob_ftw
Re: Military Shoe Shine Kit - 06/21/22 11:42 AM
I didn't realize the Air Force had to polish boots.
Dang! Shots fired!
Jealousy is an ugly thing.