What I’d like to introduce this time is a replica of the military socks, known as gun-soku (軍足), worn by soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army. Strictly speaking, though, it’s not exactly a replica—socks of nearly the same design are still being manufactured and sold today, so this is more of an introduction to those.
The gun-soku used by the Imperial Japanese Army differed somewhat from the socks generally sold today under the same name. Made of cotton, they had a slightly yellowish, unbleached color and were constructed in a straight, tube-like shape without a defined heel.
This design allowed the wearer to rotate the sock slightly each time it was worn, distributing the wear evenly and helping to prevent holes from forming in the heel or sole. It was a practical feature intended to extend the lifespan of the socks.
Purchasing Military Socks
These gun-soku are rarely sold in ordinary stores, even in Japan.
This type of military sock is often referred to as kakato-nashi gun-soku (“heel-less military socks”) or bō-gun-soku (“tube-shaped military socks”). Interestingly, there is something called a gun-soku ningyō (military sock doll), and it seems that this type of sock is used as a material for making them. Even today, there is a steady demand among hobbyists who enjoy crafting these sock dolls.
There are very few shops that carry these socks even online, and as far as I know, none of them offer international shipping.
So, if you really want a pair of gun-soku, feel free to contact me — I’d be happy to purchase and send them to you on your behalf.
Recently, I’ve started making replica items and shipping them directly in response to inquiries from overseas. Payment is accepted via PayPal, and shipping is done through EMS. The easiest and fastest way to reach me is by sending a direct message on Facebook.
I’m planning to create a list of available items sometime soon.
How to Use Military Socks
Once you put on wool leggings over lace-up boots, the gun-soku become completely hidden from view — so in a way, wearing them is a matter of personal satisfaction.
That said, these socks had uses beyond just being worn. For example, spare pairs were sometimes used to carry food, such as rice, by stuffing them inside.
For airsoft games, I think carrying BB pellets in a pair of gun-soku adds a nice touch of authenticity and looks pretty cool. Of course, you’ll still need a BB bottle to load your magazines properly, so think of it more as a replacement for the original BB pellet bag.
Stuffing BBs into a military sock and keeping it in your bread bag can really help complete the look of your gear.
Here’s a photo showing the sock filled with the contents of a BB bottle that holds about 2,000 rounds. As you can see, the sock easily holds around 5,000 to 6,000 rounds.
