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L021059 EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE. (Koppelschloß)
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: 1937/1938 pattern, silver washed, injection molded, aluminum construction box buckle features a pebbled outer field with a central, embossed, high relief, horizontally oval, laurel leaf wreath encompassing a highly 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 eagle shows light chafe wear which has resulted in a loss of detailing. The buckle retains about 80% of its silver wash and is still fairly bright with light age and usage tarnish. The reverse of the buckle is a crude mirror image of the obverse, excluding the pebbled field and has the integral, raised, slotted buckle catch and the separate prong bar and prongs all intact. The buckle has no visible manufacturer’s markings.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $215.00
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