SA buckle - what do you guys think?

**jimm** · 05-13-2014, 06:28 PM

Very Nice buckle Rick (no idea why i said Nick) EDITED and apologies mate. is this one going in your superb collection buddy?.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 05-13-2014 06:28 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Erno** · 05-13-2014, 06:42 PM

by David North

Dear Erno

I think that you have started a really interesting thread in relation to a very interesting SA buckle and please accept my apologies for chipping in somewhat belatedly.

The so called "dog head" SA buckle is now very well known and quite well documented and there are several variations of head, wing and other feature design, all wrapped up under the generic of "dog head".

Without stating the blindingly obvious, the common features of (a) a dog head eagle, (b) slightly stubby wings and (c), the swastika almost dead centre rather than being lower from centre. The reverse usually has (a) a half moon catch, (b) close proximity solder spots and (c), a traditional pin shroud and claw arrangement with however very sharp and needle like claw tips.

The buckle that you now hold Erno strays from the usual and by two overt differences being (a) the bridge catch and (b), those much loved ugly claws.

Whilst the ears of the buckle box are slightly "pinched in", in my opinion this buckle is completely original and period in all aspects.

A dog head SA is now rare and expensive to boot, however any SA buckle with an ugly claw arrangement is and again in my opinion, very rare. Combine the two features and of course, a quite special buckle.

A great find and yet again, a clear indication of the staggering variance of SA buckle design and construction features which manifested themselves during the non regulated and at times ad hoc Kampfzeit period of the mid 1920's to the early 1930's.

Regards,

David

Thank you very much for the thorough post, David! I really appreciate your input greatly, and I'm very excited and pleased with this buckle. It would be great if there were some way to know the circumstances behind its creation.

**Erno** · 05-13-2014, 06:45 PM

by jimm

Very Nice buckle Nick , is this one going in your superb collection buddy?.

Did you mean me, Jimm?

**jimm** · 05-13-2014, 06:53 PM

Sorry Rick for calling you Nick , i think i have been doing too much typing today (lol). Will you be the proud owner of that stunning buckle mate , if so it would be a superb one off addition to a great collection. (Once again sorry for the typo mate)

**Erno** · 05-13-2014, 07:09 PM

by jimm

Sorry Rick for calling you Nick , i think i have been doing too much typing today (lol). Will you be the proud owner of that stunning buckle mate , if so it would be a superb one off addition to a great collection. (Once again sorry for the typo mate)

Haha, no problem! It's an easy mistake, and only one letter difference. My dad is also named Rick, and he knew someone who called him Bill for years. We never could figure out why.

Yup, this one will go into my personal collection as one of my new favorites! I have a few that will probably never be sold, and this is one of them. It's sitting in the riker mount right now.