1st Model Crank Catch Luftwaffe Buckle

Product Description: This first model Crank Catch Luftwaffe Buckle is a nice, complete example of a hard to find and desirable early variant. This prewar buckle is made of aluminum that never had any painted finish. The front of the buckle features the early type first pattern “droop tail” Luftwaffe eagle. This buckle shows only minimal wear, and all of the original detail is intact on the obverse, with crisp pebbling and intricate detailing to the eagle and wreath. There is a light patina with just a bit of build up in the recesses of the design. The reverse of this buckle features the scarce “crank” style catch for the belt hook. The roller bar and prongs assembly is all aluminum, and is complete, and functional. There is no maker mark. This is an appealing, all-original Crank Catch Luftwaffe Buckle, with no damage or repairs. It displays very well, and is in excellent 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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