Don’t Ask People If They Want to See Your Little Bighorn…

Posted on June 25, 2008 by Stuart Kerty Filed Under History, History of the Western Belt Buckle | Leave a Comment

Today is the anniversary of General George Armstrong Custer’s Last Stand at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. Custer led the 7th Cavalry of the United States Army in an ill-fated battle against Chief Sitting Bull and Lakota and Cheyenne warriors near the Little Bighorn River in what is today southern Montana.

The buckle from ExploreMontana.com displays Custer, shooting Rambo-style with two double-action revolvers called Webley Bulldogs. He is flanked by the Cavalry guidon variation of the American flag and the guidon of the 7^th Cavalry. To learn more, visit Friends of the Little Big Horn.

History continues to re-evaluate this battle. But no matter which side of the historical debate you choose, pay tribute to the man famous for failing. Next time you screw up bad at work, think that maybe one day, you too could become a household name!

Battlefield Belt Buckles

Posted on May 14, 2008 by admin Filed Under Collecting Belt Buckles, History, History of the Western Belt Buckle, Special Buckles, Vintage Belt Buckles | 1 Comment

gott mit uns buckle

Anyone into vintage, military or just plain collecting belt buckles has gotta check out John Gawne’s incredible collection of 20th century military buckles. The author of Finding Your Father’s War has collected more than a dozen buckles from World Wars I & II and all are used or “have seen action”, as he puts it.

Gawne’s collection includes belt buckles recovered from battlefields as distant as Estonia and familiar as Pottsdam. The above buckle is a WWII German military buckle that features the notorious Gott Mit Uns (God With Us) signature logo. Gawne found it at Gorp en Roovert, a remote battlefield on the Dutch-Belgian Border.

These buckles aren’t made for wearin’. They’re made for admiring. And for reflecting.

Turquoise Belt Buckles Revisited

Posted on May 8, 2008 by admin Filed Under History, History of the Western Belt Buckle, Special Buckles | Leave a Comment

turquoise buckle Last week I highlighted a gorgeous J.W. Cooper turquoise belt buckle. Today I’m posting a few interesting facts on turquoise and its historic roots as a gift given to represent adoration and love. Did you know that Napoleon presented Empress Marie Louise with a crown of diamonds and turquoise on their wedding day?
As for belt buckles, turquoise was worn by American Indians as a means of carrying and indicating ones wealth. The concho belt buckle they favored is still popular, worn low on the hips over pants and skirts for women or affixed to a well-made leather belt and worn with jeans for men.

Belt Buckle Flashback

Posted on April 16, 2008 by admin Filed Under History of the Western Belt Buckle | 1 Comment

1978 apple buckle The 80’s were fun, weren’t they? In addition to great leaps in technology–remember beta max?– the 80’s played host to some seriously wacky fashion. Observe the Apple Belt Buckle.
Ok, so not all the cool kids were wearing one then. But if you work in tech, it might score you some points with your boss. And who could resist spouting one-liners like “ever been to the big apple?”

900 Year-Old Belt Buckle Found in Sewer

Posted on March 7, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, History, History of the Western Belt Buckle, Special Buckles, Vintage Belt Buckles | Leave a Comment

This medieval belt buckle was found in a collapsed sewer in Perth. The sewer water prevented the buckles copper alloy construction from decomposing. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to buy it on ebay but it’s nice to know the fashions we follow are so deeply rooted in history. For the full story, click here.