lach470

Hey Joe...I understand completely. I didn't think you were disagreeing with him. You mention the late war polizei buckles...I know what you mean - I have one of those with the oversized tab...so in some cases they were still using tabs past '43/'44 but I think the stampings were not in use anymore. Good question about other services perhaps using tabs past the 43/44 year.....Ben? Any ideas? None are coming to mind for me other than the late war police Cheers! Rob

I agree completely with Ben on this one....I too have NEVER seen a '44 dated tab (except on reproductions)...and I have only seen a few '43 dated examples...I think you have a sound theory there Ben...interesting indeed! Cheers! Rob

Yes...That description fits the reproduction perfectly! Happy to be of help - and welcome to the forum! Please feel free to post some of your buckles on this forum....imperials are always welcome! Cheers! Rob

back.....

front...

Ben is right...those markings, if found under the prong bar....are a reproduction for sure. That doesn't mean that the markings themselves aren't legit....these were used but never under the prong bar. Rather, they were used by the belt catch....Here's a pic of my example. Cheers! Rob

WOW!!!!!!!!! What more need be said!? Rob

Very cool indeed! Love the thick tab - and you can't shake a stick at that '43 date...must have been one of the last ones ever made! That is cool! Bonus getting a KM marked belt with the buckle as well! Sweet! Congrats Ben! looks great! My example is unmarked and did not come with a belt! Cheers! Rob

Yes....we all started with just one...and then two....and then...... Cheers! Rob

Looking forward to seeing it - '43 tab....must have been one of the last ones! Cool! Cheers! Rob

Hey Ben...I THOUGHT it was a fake...because I had never seen the JFS markings on an SS buckle before....but you obviously know more than I do about SS buckles...your previous post put my worries to rest....still strange though that the tab would be from a different maker.....All my examples are from the same buckle maker....do you have examples of buckles that are made by one company with tabs attached that are made from another company - and that are period. I could be off here as well....it's just that I don't have buckles with a different tab on them. Could that have been added post war? Cheers! Rob

Hey Ben! Well - there you go! Great to learn about that! I knew about RODO...never heard of JFS though. I too am not that well versed in SS buckles....way to expensive in my opinion. I have one example for my collection and that's about it. Would be nice if that first example was real - strange that it would have that tab added to it though.... Cheers - and thanks for that info! Rob ps......what are you doing with those SS buckles Mr. Heer???? hahahahaha

Have a look here..... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2479...mp;#entry234768 Cheers... Rob

Here's the front for the sake of showing....

Hey....When I look at the buckle....I get a bad feeling....I really don't think that SS buckles were maker marked that way...Weren't they all RZM marked too????? I don't recall seeing JFS make SS buckles. When they were maker marked - wasn't it also just a number? My example - though a salty one, has the RZM, the SS symbol and 155/40 The fact that the tab is not original (I agree Ben) to the buckle also leads me to beleive that it's meant to deceive! Stay away - I say! Cheers! Rob

WOW.....a couple years ago? That is an awesome price!!! Multyply that by 4 nowadays for NCO swords and about 6 times for officer swords now....Yu dun goud! Cheers! Rob

Hey Brian....Sounds like you are giving me credit for this sword....but it's not mine! It's Greg's...!! heh heh heh! I am happy to see that I wasn't off the mark about the Alum. handles on NCO examples. Greg man - nice sword! Cheers! Rob

I thought all NCO versions had the aluminium handles.....no? Rob

Tang shot....

...more...

I took the sword apart and took some more pics...Also wanted to show the tang markings a little better! Cheers! Rob

Great buckles all 'round Ben! Thanks for posting! The first and the last are by far my fave's! Great condition for sure! Cheers! Rob

Yes....Sorry...I sent the markings off to a Japanese sword collector a couple days ago and he did get back to me with KANETADA....not Hirotada....You guys are bang on the money! Thanks for the help! It's much appreciated! I"m glad you guys like the sword...I'm still on a high! Cheers! Rob

Hey Cliff buddy! Glad you like it! Next show in Ottawa - I'll bring it down and you can check it out! Once in hand - you'll want one even more! Cheers! Rob

Hey Brian! Glad to have brightened your day for you! I completely agree - there is nothing that feels better in hand than one of these swords.....just makes you want to start swinging! Glad you like it buddy! Thanks for the additional info to on the blood groove! Cheers! Rob