My 1st Imperial Buckle! - Opinions Please

[johnrtse]

Hi folks, I picked this up at a flea market a couple weeks ago; I couldn't pass it up for only $8 usd. Is this Imperial buckle anything special? Could it be pre-WWI ?

It is completely magnetic on all components. The center motto/medallion appears to be silver-plated, and the buckle body appears to be brass-plated. It seems to have much honest wear, and the brass-plating is worn off quite a bit in spots, exposing the steel underneath.



Thanks in advance!

[Tom Y]

The dimensions look like a pre-War model and everything looks correct. I' ve never seen one of plated steel, though. I'm sure some of the buckle guys can tell you more, but I give it a and for $8 you got a really great deal/steal

[Kurt Doench]

Quite an unusual variation. Regulation items up to 1915 had a brass body and nickle silver roundel, attached with a number of solder spots (4, 3 or 2 on the larger pre-1895 model, and 2 on the smaller one from 1895 on). In 1915, steel buckles painted field grey were introduced (stamped from one piece). However, with so many made, variants are bound to occur. I have one with a blank steel body, nickle roundel attached with to solder spots, and brass prong fittings. Difficult to say which period, and these were made up until the 1930ies (see the Assmann catalogue for example).

Regards,

Karl