This is quite simply a new one for me, although I do not like that DRK buckle at all and in my opinion, a fake.
The "box" is a common fake and well known on reproduction SA's, NSBO's, Der Stahlhelm's etc. The "ears" and "half moon" catch are very distinct on this fake and also, the solder spots look totally wrong.
David's right in every point he makes, still I would class this as an original buckle, just not pre-1938 vintage. This design is still made today, for legitimate use by present-day German Red Cross helpers.
Is the body brass or nickel?
brass buckles were only made until 1912 as far as i know. Unfortunately i have never seen such a brass drk until now.
maybe someone can post some pictures.
for me this buckle is not original.
When I first saw this buckle, I too thought that it was a post 1945 example of the RK. The box style though is (I think), an old and familiar friend from fake SA's. Are you aware of post war RK buckles with the roundel attached by 2 solder points, rather than say 4 bent over tabs?
Sven
Buckle box appears brass on my monitor, although hopefully Vlad will now confirm this interesting detail.
Dear colleagues.
This buckle is made of white metal, probably nickel. Buckle it was bought my familiar together with a belt on which there was a brand of the fiftieth years. I have shown at a forum since at me doubts have appeared. As David has correctly noticed, there are fakes having attributes of a forgery: small diameter of roundel attached, the soldering, a bend of "ears".
Whether there are documentary facts, what RK used this buckle in the fiftieth years????
Sure, the modern DRK also come with two solder spots. When new buckles can be bought for 12 - 15 euros, I wonder why anybody would actually fake them, complete with all the tell-tale signs, such as the particular solder spots. The pin shroud usually gives the game away as well, even when the solder spots look very good (as they sometimes do even on post-war buckles). As to the fake SA you mention, if I wanted to make some, wouldn't it be easiest to just buy blanks that are freely available on the market? Of course, nothing that I've said constitutes "evidence" of any kind, and Vlad's buckle may well be a true fake after all!
Regards, Karl
Originally posted by David North
Karl
When I first saw this buckle, I too thought that it was a post 1945 example of the RK. The box style though is (I think), an old and familiar friend from fake SA's. Are you aware of post war RK buckles with the roundel attached by 2 solder points, rather than say 4 bent over tabs?
Sven
Buckle box appears brass on my monitor, although hopefully Vlad will now confirm this interesting detail.
This buckle was given me by a college friend who bought and wore it when he was a DRK volunteer a couple of years ago. As I said, you can still buy and wear this type of buckle in the DRK today, but I don't know exactly when it was (re-)introduced after the war. But fifties sure sounds plausible.
I dearly do not wish to appear boorish or petulant toward banging on about this particular subject, although as you have probably surmised, there is an ulterior motive.
I really would like to establish the source of these fake "boxes".
The last buckle Karl is very interesting.
Attached are two SA buckles quite taken at random (more if you would like to see), which display the same, raised edge and slightly angular, hook catch.
My own feeling now is that there are pre 1945 style boxes recently or currently produced and energetically utilised by those intent on deceiving, compounded by the possibility that associated tools and dies, are still in use by unknown persons.
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