SA Belt & Buckle Set - What Do You Think?

[TobyR]

Hi Everybody,

I've just picked up this SA belt/buckle set and just wondered what you think.

The buckle is in quite nice condition; brass with rotated swastika and low eagle. There is also quite a bit of the gilded finish remaining, particularly to the reverse. There are no marks at all to the buckle.

As for the belt, it looks like a replacement and there is no tab. Do you think the belt would have been a period replacement. There are no marks on it but the catch looks period. What does everybody think?

Anyway, just thought I'd run this one past you.

Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

All the best,
Toby.

[TobyR]

And a close-up of the buckle:

[TobyR]

And the reverse:

Something I wanted to ask: can any significance be attached to the low as opposed to high eagle? Is this just a concurrent variation or is it possible to attribute a timeline? Thanks.

[TobyR]

And another shot of the belt:

[TobyR]

And finally the belt-hook:

[David North]

S A belt buckle

Hello Toby

A good looking and early SA belt buckle.

Although I stand to be corrected, I have never regarded with any real significance, the numerous variations and designs of this classic buckle. I think however that there is a theory and towards which I do not support, that the now rarely seen SA buckles with horizontal wings, may be attributed to the then foundling SS.

I have always thought that the huge variation of the SA buckle design was due to a combination of pre RZM regulation and the manufacturers, issuing different and distinct designs as a sales ploy to the huge SA membership.

A super buckle, although I am unable to comment on the strap.

As a matter of minor interest, attached are a brace of images to a "sister" buckle. The same distinct and small eagle with the theatrically arched wings, although a seperate roundel which was originally silver washed.

Regards,

David

[David North]

S A belt buckle

Toby

The obverse image.

David

[Wickie]

Hi Toby,

I think your buckle is a good one.

The problem with all SA buckles is, that nobody was ever really interested in this subject. The quality is mostly only medium.
For the fakers it is a very easy job, since nobody knows which designs exist, or which prongs and post(-sleeve) is correct.


Regarding your question about the eagle, NO! For me not.
During the last weeks I tried to find any connection or a link between the design, swastika or the color of the center(brass or silver).
I found nothing! There no timeline or anything like this.


Christian

[TobyR]

David and Christian,

Thank you both for taking the time to reply.

Actually, the belt and buckle were brought back by a Normandy vet (20th Anti-Tank Company of 3rd Division), so I'm pretty confident (well, certain, in fact) about them. I have a newspaper cutting from the 70's showing him holding a bayonet he also brought back.

As for the eagle, it's really quite fascinating, the variations that can be found. And from what you've both said no timeline! Oh well.

I suppose, it must be, as David observed, manufacturer's attempts at increasing sales by offering slight variations on the basic design. Very sneaky!

Anyway, thank you again.

All the best,
Toby.

[Erich B.]

SA belt/buckle

I agree, there appears to be no significance between the shape and size of the eagles. I've collected SA for the last 15-20 years (among other things) and I haven't found any 2 buckles that are exactly the same. There were millions of members of the SA and the buckles were made by a large number of pre-RZM manufacturers, so there is no end to the variations. Most of the buckles originally had a silver wash over the roundel, but a few years of polishing generally removed it.
The belt, I would say, is typical early SA. The flat metal catch hook is pure SA--every belt that I've found with the original buckle attached has this type.
Looks good!
Erich

[Wickie]

Hello Erich,

do you have knowledge about SA high leader buckles?
What do you think, which are genuine and which are fakes?


Christian

[TobyR]

Erich,

Thanks for your comments.

Looking at the belt, it would seem that the buckle has certainly been on it a long time. The prongs have left an impression in the leather.

All the best,
Toby.