Behind every Samelin combat boot is a factory with a history that goes back further than most people expect. While models like the M77 and 2077 are nowadays known as reliable combat boots for daily use, the story of Samelin began as early as 1945 — and that background explains exactly why the quality is what it is.
From four small companies to one shoe factory
In 1945, four small companies were merged in Tartu, Estonia: “The Future”, “Koondis”, “The Community” and “Joint Assets”. Together they formed a leather and shoe combine that is at the basis of what we know today as Samelin. In the first years the company also produced leather goods alongside footwear, before it focused entirely on the production of sports shoes in the early 1980s — at the time one of the first factories in Estonia to do so.
The road to AS Samelin
Between 1990 and 1994 the company operated under the name RAS Elkar, founded by the employees themselves. On 7 February 1994 it continued as AS Samelin. In this period the company gained important experience by working with partners in Italy, Finland and Norway — countries with a long tradition in technically high-quality footwear. That cooperation laid the basis for the production knowledge you see today in models like the M77 Norwegian combat boot.
From sports shoes to combat boots built to NATO standard
Where Samelin once mainly produced sports shoes and work footwear, the focus today is on a broader range: work and safety shoes, ski and hiking shoes, and street footwear for the whole family. Since 2017 military footwear has been produced for various NATO forces to the NATO AQAP 2110 quality standard — exactly the certification level we mentioned earlier when buying a real combat boot. Approximately 70% of current production goes to Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish companies, which underlines how seriously Scandinavian customers take the quality of Samelin.
Recognition within the industry
In 2017 Samelin was named “Defence Industrial Company of the Year” — a recognition within the Estonian defense industry for the role the company plays in the production of military materiel. Samelin's quality management system meets ISO 9001:2015, the same standard we mentioned earlier as one of the things to look for when buying combat boots.
Why this history matters for your purchase
A combat boot that has been produced for decades by the same factory, to the same strict NATO standards, is not a fluke — it is the result of decades of experience, repeated quality checks and cooperation with technically demanding markets. That is exactly why models like the M77 have remained virtually unchanged in use with several NATO armies for more than 50 years: simple, solid, and thoroughly tested.
Curious about the model this history has led to? See the M77 Norwegian Combat Boot or read our guide on what to look for when buying combat boots.