Show us your imperial buckles

[Spike]

trench art

[leibregiment]

Here are three new additions, the Navy has a pewter centre which is new to me.....and marked DRGM

[Erwin]

Here is my 5 cents worth.

Note: the 50mm buckle top center is made of quite heavy gauge brass. Interestingly, it came on an original white buff belt.

[klr]

Nice collection. Here is what I have in Imperial.

[leibregiment]

Very very nice thanks for showing

[Bank Vault]

Nice buckles. Was there a reason that some are brass, and some are steel? I just picked up a brass one so naturally curious.

Charlie

[Nachrichten]

Nice buckles. Was there a reason that some are brass, and some are steel? I just picked up a brass one so naturally curious.

Charlie

My understanding is that those made of brass comply with the 1895 regulations and are of pre-1915 manufacture (although most likely were still being issued after that date). Brass was a 'strategic material' required for armaments production. In 1915 the material used was steel or base metal, hence the move to painted buckles (there was also a camouflage consideration, although the principle reason was 'war economy').

N

[pzrwest]

Nice belt buckles... I'm curious about the leather tabs on some buckles. What was the purpose of these leather tabs?

[Bank Vault]

My understanding is that those made of brass comply with the 1895 regulations and are of pre-1915 manufacture (although most likely were still being issued after that date). Brass was a 'strategic material' required for armaments production. In 1915 the material used was steel or base metal, hence the move to painted buckles (there was also a camouflage consideration, although the principle reason was 'war economy').

N

That makes sense. Thank you for the explanation. Been surfing the net and couldn't find one.

Charlie

[Nachrichten]

Nice belt buckles... I'm curious about the leather tabs on some buckles. What was the purpose of these leather tabs?

It's my understanding that the 'tabs' are there to assist in the re-sizing of the belt (in fitting the buckle). The process requires the prongs on the buckle to be inserted into the holes on the belt tongue; then by the expedient of 'pulling' the leather tab, the prongs will be secured to the belt. Conversely, the tab was also there to help remove the buckle by, again, the simple expedient of pulling it from the holes. In effect, all belt buckles should have had leather tabs affixed to them.

Finding buckles with the tabs intact is, in my opinion, a real 'score' as the passage of one hundred years, plus countless belt adjustments (to allow for fitting field equipment as well as variations in girth) creates the kind of wear and tear which sees them dissappear.

N