This belt was introduced to complement the field grey service tunic in 1910. The cypher is that of Kaiser Wilhelm II. It is a die-struck example in pot metal with a gilt wash, so probably of war-time make.

The Glasgow Yeomanry was one of the oldest Scottish yeomanry units, troops originally being raised in the Glasgow area from 1797. This example may date from as early as 1848 and would have been unchanged until 1902, when the king's crown replaced the queen's.

This belt buckle would have been worn by an officer with the dress uniform up to WW1. To my knowledge, it is the only belt buckle which displays a mounted figure, with the exception of the St Martin's Volunteers of the Westminster Rifles from a slightly earlier era (the 1860s).

This is the belt plate of the 1st or 2nd Administrative Battalion struck with the county arms surmounted by the Prince of Wales plumes between laurel sprays. It is a die-struck plate in white metal and dates from the earlier years of the unit. The later examples were the tongue and buckle variety.

These were introduced into the French army under Napoleon in the early 19th century and were worn by the Grenadier a Cheval, the Dragoons of the Guard, the Carabineers , and the Guard Train. This example is from the era of the Third Republic, ie 1871-1914.

This 'feldbindung' or officer's dress belt was introduced in 1896 to replace the schaerpen (a sort of bullion cummerbund with large tassels) throughout the German army. Baden and Oldenburg shared both the design of the buckle (with the Imperial crown replacing the royal one) and the braid of the belt (with its characteristic thin red stripe).

This is the first pattern army buckle of the Czech Army, based on the structure of the old Imperial Russian design. Later it was replaced by an Austrian style design die struck in brass or steel. There are traces of an EPNS finish to both sides, with evidence of long sustained use.

This is the first pattern Heer aluminium issue waist buckle, stamped 'FLL' near the catch (for Friedrich Linden Co of Ludenscheid). The leather tag is faintly stamped 1938. These belts were worn in all the early campaigns: Poland 1939, France 1940 and in the beginning of the Russian campaign of 1941.

This is the mid-war version, which replaced the gilt aluminium / gilt steel / brass type of the pre-war and early war years. It is virtually mint, with a little rust at the goal post catch on the reverse. Otherwise there is hardly any paint missing from the piece, one of the best examples I have come across. There is no maker mark.

This is a typical Sturmabteilung buckle of two-piece construction with a gilding metal centre and a brass field and would originally have been worn on a brown leather belt. The Stormtroops were the fighting arm of the Nazi party when it came to disputing control of the streets with the Reds.