This relatively uncommon die-struck steel example has a blue-grey finish to the front, suggesting possible navy use, with a field-grey finish to the reverse. A nickel version of this buckle (for parade and walking out) is occasionally found with a field-grey finish.

This is the mid-war version, which replaced the gilt aluminium / gilt steel / brass type of the pre-war and early war years. It is virtually mint, with a little rust at the goal post catch on the reverse. Otherwise there is hardly any paint missing from the piece, one of the best examples I have come across. There is no maker mark.

This has got its original leather tag, designed to keep the ammunition pouch in place on the belt, and is stamped 'OEL' to the reverse, which may stand for 'Offenberg - Engels & Co, Ludenscheid'. The size of the lettering (larger than normal) may indicate post-war ownership by this factory for use on a display board or as a sample.

This little buckle (4cm diameter) was the German equivalent of the midshipman's buckle in the Royal Navy and fulfilled a similar function, namely to hang the dirk from a belt, but in this case a dark blue silk one. As with virtually all of these, there is no maker's mark. This is the second pattern, with the W superimposed on the anchor.

The double horse motif could refer to Hamburg or Brunswick, as there is a Party day badge for Hamburg with a very similar double horse motif, while Brunswick also used the horse as a central motif on its coat of arms. These are rare on account of the strong probability that the bulk of them were scrapped for their metal content during WW2.