Original German WWI Imperial German Saxony Belt Buckle With 1943 Dated Replacement Leather Belt – Providentiae Memor Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWI Imperial German M1895 Prussian state of Saxony Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß) with the correct leather belt, which is a 1943 replacement. This buckle features two-piece construction, with a 45mm, slightly convex, stamped alloy box buckle, with an Prussian insignia. This features the Prussian Crown, encompassed by a dual rope-like border within which, against a ribbed background, is the motto Providentiae Memor (“mindful of providence”), and a spray of laurels. To the reverse is its raised buckle catch, and a metal prong bar with dual prongs, for the belt’s retaining tongue.

The buckle is in very good condition, with a nice patina of age, but not excessive oxidation. A very attractive display piece that still retains all of the detail on the insignia.

The belt itself measures 36” when fully extended, and is marked 90, which would be the length in cm. The leather shows signs of little to no wear and is in lovely condition.

History of German/Prussian Belt Buckles:

First introduced in 1847, the design of the buckle remained virtually unchanged until 1918. After January of 1915, these buckles, which were also used by the Prussian-dominated
states of Baden, Oldenburg, Hansa and Thuringia, were made of zinc-plated sheet iron. Originally the box buckles came in a 50mm, (roughly 2 inches), width until 1895 when the width was reduced to 45mm, (roughly 1 3/4 inches), in an attempt to lighten the weight load of the field gear. Initially the buckles were produced of brass with a nickel/silver face plate until 1914 when steel construction buckles were introduced.