Smaller 3rd Pattern SA Buckle

Product Description: This small version of the 3rd Pattern SA Buckle is a charming piece. This buckle was intended to be worn on a narrow belt, and is also said to have been worn early on by the NSDAP Jugend. This is a very early, pre-RZM buckle, nicely executed in fine brass. The body of the buckle shows some small scattered marks and spots of verdigris, but no damage. The front of the buckle is adorned with a nicely detailed brass SA roundel that has an eye-catching, golden shine. There are traces of age and honest wear. On the reverse, this buckle is smooth, with an integral catch for the hook on the belt. There is no maker mark, as is typical for these. The roller bar and prongs assembly for affixing this to a belt is intact and functional, with surface patina and toning. The solder joints are intact and never messed with. It’s likely that this buckle dates from the early 1930s. This scarce small version of the 3rd Pattern SA Buckle is complete and sound, 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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