This is the standard buckle for the Prussian army in WW1, though the pattern is 19th century. They were replaced by the all-steel buckles in 1915. These were worn by all Prussian other ranks infantry, artillery and train battalions. They normally had a leather wiederhalt, but this one lacks it.

This is the basic ersatz Prussian soldier's buckle of WW1. It was produced as an economy measure to replace the 1896 pattern, which was in two pieces (a box plate of brass with a white metal centre). This replacement item was die-struck in steel and painted field grey.

This is the standard waist buckle, of die-struck steel, worn by the Prussian army from 1915 to 1921, when the Weimar Republic introduced a new model with the eagle of the republic replacing the crown. It would have been worn by all other ranks originally on a brown buff leather belt and latterly on a black polished one.

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.

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 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.

These buckles were worn by the Bavarian infantry and artillery units in the Great War. They were introduced in 1896 at the same time as the patterns of Prussia, Wurtemberg, etc.

A clean example with a little wear to the reverse catch (from use). This was carried by Bavarian artillery and infantry units throughout the Great War. In terms of scarcity ranking, this is number two after Prussia.

It was worn from about 1927 to the early years of WW2, when it was replaced by the 1936 model of the Third Reich, although they did go on making them after 1936 as I have seen one with the leather Wiederhalt stamped 1938.

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.