SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
|
|
L017059 EM/NCO'S BELT & BELT BUCKLE WITH LEATHER TAB. (Koppel und Koppelschloß mit Lederwilerhalt)
BACKGROUND: Military belts and their corresponding buckles date back centuries and were initially designed for attaching swords and daggers. In 1847 a new innovative box buckle with a quick release catch and corresponding belt were introduced which resulted in a Prussian, Hauptmann Virschow, initiating a new method of carrying personal equipment with the belt and shoulder straps supporting the majority of the weight. This system, with modifications, remains in use in most of the armies in the world to this day. During the Third Reich there was a prescribed form of wear of the belt and buckle with the buckle being positioned on the right side and the corresponding buckle catch on the left side. First introduced on May 20TH 1935, the Luftwaffe EM/NCO’s belt buckle underwent minor modifications in late 1937 or early 1938 with a new pattern eagle and again in 1940 with a slight difference in construction. Originally the EM/NCO’s buckles were produced with a silver finish until a blue/grey version was introduced, (Circa mid-1940), and a tropical, olive drab version was introduced in late 1940 although the silver finished buckles continued to be utilized. Of Note: Luftwaffe personnel initially utilized brown leather accoutrements but during the war the leather items were generally blackened. Also Of Note: Originally military buckles produced under government contract had the addition of a leather, (canvas web for tropical buckles), tabs which were designed to help support the ammunition pouches and prevent slippage but regulations in 1942 discontinued the tabs to preserve leather although the directive was not completely adhered to.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 1940 pattern, die stamped, steel construction, box buckle, with a dark blue/grey finish features a smooth outer field with a central, embossed, high relief, horizontally oval, laurel leaf wreath encompassing a slightly domed, pebbled inner field with an embossed, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle, with out-stretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in one talon, to the center. The buckle retains about 85% of it’s dark blue/grey finish with small spots of wear to the base steel with minor surface spotting. The reverse of the buckle is a crude mirror image of the obverse and has the brazed on buckle catch, prong bar and prongs all intact. The buckle has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The prong bar has a brown leather tab, machine stitched in place. The leather tab is well marked with the impressed, manufacturer’s name, location and date within an oval cartouche, "Dr. Franke & Co. K.G. Lüdenscheid 1942". The buckle comes with a roughly, 1 3/4" wide, 39 1/2" long, standard issue, blackened leather construction waist belt with a natural aluminum, buckle catch and leather retaining tongue both intact. The buckle catch end of the belt is folded over to the reverse and stitched down to secure the buckle catch. The buckle catch is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s initials, "GA", indicating an unknown manufacturer. The reverse of the folded over section has a faint, illegible, oval stamped marking. The other end of the belt is slightly rounded off and the reverse has a leather, buckle retaining tongue with seven pair of parallel, length adjustment, buckling eyelets. The buckle retaining tongue appears to have it’s original stitching, although a couple of stitches are absent. The reverse of the belt is in age and usage darkened natural tan leather and has large, blackened initials, "KH". The belt is in overall good condition with light chafe wear and surface scarring and the leather is still quite supple. The belt would roughly fit waist sizes ranging from roughly, 34" to 38" waist.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $210.00
To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail
MILITARIA WANTED! If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.
-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca Or guild@nb.aibn.com
To return to the main page please CLICK below