Wurttemberg OR Buckle

b.loree

b.loree

Administrator
Staff member
I recently listed this buckle on Ebay and was told that it is a reproduction. The main criticisim was that there was no loop soldered to the back and more importantly, the prongs had been cut off in oposite directions. I bought a couple of these types of buckles at the MAX Show years ago. I have others which do have the loop solderd to the back of the buckle and the prongs have been cut at the same angle. I would very much apreciate one of our buckle experts....R1, Gus Chas et al ?? to fill me in on this piece. I do not want to embarass myself on Ebay again.
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Brian: Your Wurttemberg buckle is definitely a copy. The reversed prong points are indicative of copies. However, the real death knell are the 3 small solder points in a straight line. This style attachment for the center piece is not found on original imperial period military buckles. Post 1895 original buckles have 2 large solder points for the center piece as illustrated below. Early 45mm and 50mm buckles can have 2 solder points in a line, 3 solder points arranged in a triangular pattern or on very early buckles, 4 solder points in a square pattern.
Most original buckles have a brazed on "U shaped catch". The cut out catch as on your buckle is found on some original buckles, mostly private purchase and a few Saxon issue. The following image shows the front and back of an issue Wurttemberg buckle.

I hope this helps.

Reservist1



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Many thanks R1. I was hoping that you would pick up on this post, and your pics are a bonus. I guess I just have to chalk this one up as a learning experience such as all we collectors go through. I should have read up more on buckles before I drove 6hrs to Pittsburgh for the MAX. All the best, Brian
 
Dont feel bad Brian. I just bought an Austrian buckle that matched the photos in " The Emperors Coat ". A week later I received an email stating that this buckle was a repro! Caveat Emptor. :x
 
Why don't we turn tis into a thread on how to tell repro buckles? Hey badner, could you post photos of your Austrian buckle, and we could try to spot the signs?
Best
gus
 
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