Crank catch buckles

[Marc verstraete]

Hello fellow collectors.
Following two interesting variations of buckles catches and markings on a LW steel Christian Th. Dicke buckles.
Marc V.

[Infanteer]

Marc, it's nice to see another of the "crank catch" variations. I have one with the silver paint finnish which I really enjoy because it's just a bit different from what you usually encounter. Thanks for showing them.

Steve

[G.J.B]

Crank Catch buckles

How long did the Germans make a Crank Catch buckle and how many German military organizations had a Crank Catch buckle?... are they expensive?... I am looking to add one to my collection.
G.J.B

[Marc verstraete]

Hello,
The Crank catch buckle was used by many branches of the armed forces as well as by the non-military organisations.
Nobody knows exactly all the different ones but here are the ones I know by having them in my collection.

ARMY
LW
HJ
R.A.D
DAF
SS (only one know)
NSFK / DLV

This list is probably not complete.

As for the prices, the HJ will probably be the cheapest because the most common. The SS the most expensive.
If you wish to purchase a crank catch buckle, send me a private E-mail. I have many different variations in my spare buckles list.
Marc V.

[Wickie]

Hello,

a few months ago a well known german dealer sold an early SS buckle with big swastika(new Angolia page 200) with crank catch.
No idea if it was O.K. or not.

Christian

[Marc verstraete]

Hello Christian,
Is there a photo of this buckle??
I do not think that this buckle could be any good because the patent for the crank catch is from much later than those freikorps buckles with large swastika.
Marc v.

[Wickie]

Sorry Marc, I don't take the pictures from the web. But I was also wondering to see this catch on this early buckle.

Christian

[M. A. Miller]

Aurich catch question, Heer buckle

I have this Heer belt buckle made by Aurich. It is marked to Aurich and 43. the aurich logo on one side of swatika in back and 43 on the other side. I searched to find a catch like this but didn't find one. When did Aurich start using this catch ? Is this a common late war buckle. The evidence shows the buckle to have been on there from day one. any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Mitch

[M. A. Miller]

Maker marks

Picture of maker marks

[M. A. Miller]

Front view

front view

[David North]

Mitch

It would appear that the buckle had started life with a traditional brazed catch, although following damage, was repaired in the field by this "mechanically" applied crank.

If you look carefully, signs of the original brazed catch can be seen and also, this crank was not specific to Aurich.

Period consruction.

Regards,

David

[Marc verstraete]

Interesting buckle!!! If the traces we see on the front of the buckle are indeed traces of old welding of a “feet catch” and not left over glue from a dealer’s sticker, this would indeed mean that this buckle started his life as a “feet catch” buckle and was transformed into a “crank” catch buckle. If this is the case, I firmly believe it was done at the factory during production and not a repair later on. Repairing a buckle this way by sending it back to a factory was economically not conceivable. It would have cost way over the price of a new buckle. Like seen on other buckles such as HJ, Weimar, ect… Buckles have been altered in the factory before been distributed to the army, LW, HJ, ect….

I have to dig my memory but I think I have seen such “transformation” on another buckle somewhere recently. I have to remember where….

Could we have a closer picture of the left over welding traces??
What is the color of the buckle?? Dark bleu, dark green or black??
Marc

[David North]

Marc

I am not suggesting that the buckle was repaired or altered at the factory. Instead, a cheap and effective way to recommission an otherwise damaged buckle on active service or "in the field".

Regards,

David

[M. A. Miller]

Buckle

Hi Guys ,
Thanks for the input. The color has a little dark bluer tint than the normal green I have seen.The first picture had some glare which may have given you the opinion that there was rework done. I took a better picture of that area.There is no evidence whatsoever of having another catch.Even under a 10x loupe.There is original paint where the other style of catch would have been.No evidence of even grinding or weld. there are 2 wear marks through the paint where the belt rubbed.Take a look again. Thanks, Mitch

[Marc verstraete]

Hello David, all,

I merged this latest post wit a few older ones on the same subject. Please feel free to post more crank catch buckles.

I understood what you where referring to David but if you look closely at these crank catch buckles, especially the steel ones, you will see that it is not posible to make such a transformation in the field. The side holes are not round but rectangular or square. This need heavy machinery to do, also the sides have to be pulled open to insert the catch and bended close again. This would leave traces of pliers. Such an assembly can only be done with machines. By the view of the last picture it appears the buckle was not transformed anyway. I had a look at the same buckle in my collection and it bears the same traces, I think these are traces of a support when the buckles where painted. The dark bleu paint on these buckles makes me believe they are of a late war manufacture, when the dark bleu became a standard colour for the army.

Marc