MHillyard Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 One of my 37pat belts has steel buckles instead of the normal brass ones. The belt has been blancoed or painted so the date or maker is not visible. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 it could be a post war I think called mk 3, I have a haver sack with black metal fittings from 51. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHillyard Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 it could be a post war I think called mk 3, I have a haver sack with black metal fittings from 51. That is a possibility, i have a couple of post-war haversacks with metal fittings but i have never seen it on a belt before. you are probably right though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I have seen the steel buckles on post war belts and webbing but they are all painted Black. I have also seen steel buckles on wartime belts but the steel is painted Green or Brown and I beleive it is a wartime ecconomy measure. I have heard that the belts with steel buckles were not liked by NCOs as they could not be polished for parades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 According to official sources, the steel fittings were introduced to combat shortages of brass needed for munitions production.......we are looking at 1942 to 1945 here, thereafter production reverting to brass....... Wartime steel fittings are usually a grey-colour, the official name being "sheradised".........post-war, steel was still used but now finished in a painted or anodised black....... Check out the website "Karkee web".......full of official detail....:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter4456 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I have a 1954 37 Pattern belt with black steel fittings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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