Condition: Very Good
Maker: Unmarked
Pattern: EM -sunwheel swastika
Base Material: Brass
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Product Description: This Sunwheel Swastika SA Buckle is a worn piece, with great character. The body of the buckle is made of bare brass, which shows only slight age toning. The central eagle and swastika roundel is made of nickel and features the less common variant round “sunwheel” swastika. The roundel shows some wear, with some old patina in the recesses of the design that contrasts nicely with the brighter highlights. The reverse of this sunwheel swastika SA buckle has an old, uncleaned patina, and shows expected wear near the belt hook catch. The prongs of the buckle that would affix it to a belt have been repaired with brass. This repair shows age and wear that matches the rest of the buckle, leaving no doubt that this is a period repair. The original solder joints for the roundel, visible on the reverse, are intact. There is no manufacturer marking, as is typical. This is an attractive example of a desirable and scarce variant of SA belt buckle, in very good condition.
Historical Description: The belt buckle was an important part of the regalia worn by all uniformed military, civil, political and paramilitary organizations during the Third Reich. The belt (“Koppel”) was part of the uniform and would always be worn while on duty. The belt buckle (“Koppelschloss”) was generally specific to each organization, with many organizations having separate belt buckles for officers and for enlisted personnel, sometimes with different colors and finishes to further denote specific purposes. The buckles were adorned with various mottos and designs specific to the organizations for which they were intended. Many designs used the German national eagle emblem, in a variety of forms. Belt buckles were worn with uniforms ranging from finely tailored officer parade uniforms, to the issue uniforms of enlisted soldiers in combat. Generally speaking, most German belt buckles of the Third Reich were made with two prongs on the reverse, to allow the buckle to be worn and adjusted on a belt. The buckle had a catch that would mate with a hook on the belt, when worn. The earliest Third Reich buckles were often made of brass, or nickel silver. Later, aluminum became very common, and was used on private purchase as well as enlisted buckles of the German military, with or without a painted or plated finish. After WWII began, most enlisted military buckles were steel. Nazi belt buckles were popular souvenirs for Allied troops who served in Europe. Some types were made by the millions and remain quite common today. Others were made in limited numbers and are very rare.
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