"Late" Droop Tail Buckle (1940)

**SHINDENKAI** · 05-13-2014, 04:15 AM

Hi Guys,

I've have this buckle and belt set for about 2 years. It's an aluminum, two piece version. It was manufactured by NOELLE & HUECK, LUDENSCHEID. I was amazed that in such condition.

I would like to ask a few questions:

- Any known other example which is made this late?

- Is this a rather parade buckle than a combat buckle?

Thank you and regards,
Taka

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 05-13-2014 04:15 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Erno** · 05-13-2014, 04:38 AM

I believe that the tab was added later. This is a parade style buckle, which wasn't issued with a tab. Also, the 'droop tail' eagle was replaced in 1937, and in fact, most Luftwaffe buckles being made in 1940 were steel and not aluminum. That is my opinion, but others may say differently. It looks like a nice buckle.

**SHINDENKAI** · 05-13-2014, 04:42 AM

Thank you, Erno.

I was thinking the same thing, as I've never seen a 1940 aluminum Droop Tail buckle before, but the condition and the quality is just too hard for me to leaving it behind.

Cheers!
Taka

**Ben Evans** · 05-13-2014, 07:10 AM

As stated two piece parade buckle, from the prongs it could be Assmann made, the tab has been added at some point, not sure if period or post war but it was never issued with a leather support tab. Nice buckle though

**Gunny Hartmann** · 05-13-2014, 07:12 AM

Great buckle!...

**SHINDENKAI** · 05-13-2014, 11:34 AM

Thank you for the comments, Gents.

At least it is original.

Cheers!
Taka

**SHINDENKAI** · 05-13-2014, 05:33 PM

Could it be some sort of an odd exception?

One in thousand, that a parade dress buckle with a leather tab attached, maybe?

**Erno** · 05-13-2014, 05:37 PM

by SHINDENKAI

Could it be some sort of an odd exception?

One in thousand, that a parade dress buckle with a leather tab attached, maybe?

If it did happen, that wouldn't be the right tab anyway since the 'droop tail' eagle was replaced three years earlier.

**SHINDENKAI** · 05-13-2014, 05:45 PM

Leftover stock that happened to be found and add a tab in 1940, just my thought...

I guess it's pretty much close to impossible to know the truth.

**Erno** · 05-13-2014, 05:54 PM

by SHINDENKAI

Leftover stock that happened to be found and add a tab in 1940, just my thought...

I guess it's pretty much close to impossible to know the truth.

Well, at any rate, the tab was probably added during the period. I have a buckle from C.T. Dicke with a tab from Brüder Schneider, which I'm certain wasn't altered postwar in any way. It wasn't uncommon for people to switch tabs or to add one when it was absent (that's what was done with my Dicke buckle).