open-claw belt help

[Spike]

Hi all
I have the option of buying this belt and was hoping someone could help me out please.
Is it actually German and if so,is it a WW11 period piece.
This is the only photo I have at the moment,there are apparently no markings at all.I was told that the belt is 2 1/4 inches,approx.56-57mm in width.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards
Spike

[Spike]

Sorry everyone,I havn't posted a thread for a while,can't seem to find the manage attachments section,well hopefully sort out and post a photo.
Thanks

[Spike]

I'm in thanks Sebastian.
Hopefully someone can help me out with this belt.
Regards
Spike

[Spike]

Hi all
I ended up buying this belt and buckle,taking a punt on the one photo I had of it.To me it looks like the genuine article,if someone could verify that for me that would be great.
The width if the belt is to be exact 58mm,so I presume what they would call a 60mm width belt.It looks like the matt silver had a gold finish over the top,which has just about gone.It has RZM M5/301 stamped into the buckle,I can't find any reference for this number.It also has 32" stamped in ink under the stitched piece.Also wandering if the keeper is common for it to be stapled to gether like it is.
Any information would be good thanks.
Regards
Spike

[Spike]

more pics

[Spike]

and more

[Spike]

last one

[Spike]

Can anyone please give me a heads up on this belt.
Thanks
Spike

[Spike]

Hey fellas
184 views and not one comment,you can not be serious.
Does anyone know anything about these belts.
Thanks
Spike

[Mark_K]

Hi Spike,

From what I could find online, M4 markings were specifically for belt buckles, while M5 were for uniform accessories and buttons. However, that doesn't rule out a claw buckle being classed as a uniform accessory, and the M5/301 RZM number referred to maker Dominik Schönbaumfelds Sohn (Wien). Their mark can be found on the buckles of snaps that hold leather overcoats together, and on the snaps of dagger-hanging straps in overcoats (again, mostly 'political' garments rather than for the armed services). There is currently a buckle like yours for sale on The Collectors Guild website:

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Polit...s/N034459.html

The belt and buckle look like a 'classic' political (i.e. brown-shirt) rig, with the original gold wash/plating having been lost to time from the buckle.

The 'keeper' (with its staple) might come from a later period. A lot of period 'keepers' were joined with stitches (see photos), but I cannot say definitively that there were no original 'keepers' with staples rather than stitches.

Hope this is useful!

Mark

[Spike]

Hi Mark
Thanks heaps for your reply,awesome.
I went onto the Collectors Guild website to look at the buckle for sale you mentioned,looks like I got a good score if that's what they are selling for.I paid $38 NZD for mine.
The keeper does look slightly different colour to the belt.
Again thanks.
Best regards
Spike

[Mark_K]

Hi Spike,

No problem! You did indeed do very well; the belt and buckle you have is a perfectly good, original set. The keeper might even be a period replacement for an earlier one that was lost, the presence of a staple doesn't necessarily make it 'bad', staples were just a quicker, cheaper alternative to stitching.

Looking online, I saw buckles by your maker on a variety of brown leather belts, so it looks like this particular maker just made accessories like buckles, fastenings, etc, and sold them to various other manufacturers, who added belt leathers, etc.

All the best,

Mark

[Spike]

Hi Mark
Again thanks for your replies,you have been very helpful.
Much appreciated.
Regards
Spike