A somewhat unusual "Der Stahlhelm"

[David North]

This buckle belongs to a somewhat unusual family of the Der Stahlhelm buckles, characterised by the almost festooned display of massed oak leaves as the wreath, supporting at times, some quite bizarre styles and representations of steel helmets.

Any others perhaps that could be added ?

Regards,

David

[David North]

reverse

[Kurt Doench]

David,

I showed this one a while a back. Consensus then (buckle1, Wickie) was a thumbs-down, although I wasn't (and still am not) convinced. This is clearly a WW1 military buckle reworked. Main concern was the (reworker's) style of lettering on the tab. Have a look again...

Regards, Karl

[Kurt Doench]

Back

[Kurt Doench]

And the contentious bit

[David North]

Karl

The two buckles show exactly the same DS attachment, albeit that mine has that dreadful dent and of course, the colour difference. Interesting to note that the one that I have showed, has never been silvered.

I had totally forgotten about the thread that you referred to and which included the wonderful, wonderful Front Heil buckle, with the non Fraktur script.

Here is the thread again, although certain images (mine I think !), have been deleted:-

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...6&page=1&pp=15

For what it is worth, I think that your buckle is a period conversion or hybrid. An Imperial box which has had the original roundel stripped, being then made available to a new and potentially lucrative market by the addition of a Der Stahlhelm emblem.

All possibly done on a "cottage industry" basis and hence, the slightly clumsy affixing and stampings on the leather tongue, the latter which I think has always been with the box.

Regards,

David