338thRCT Posted April 28, 2013 Share #1 Posted April 28, 2013 This belt has a dark blue painted buckle and tip .Is this WW2 US Navy issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted April 28, 2013 Share #2 Posted April 28, 2013 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etienne Posted April 30, 2013 Share #3 Posted April 30, 2013 Nice belt ... with a great typical USN stencil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constabulary Posted May 5, 2013 Share #4 Posted May 5, 2013 Are they WWII? I´d assume a later date, probably Vietnam era? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsaye Posted May 5, 2013 Share #5 Posted May 5, 2013 For what it's worth, I've never seen or heard of a painted buckle or tip on a Navy belt.Expecially on a white belt. Not saying it didn't start life as a Navy belt with standard brass buckle and tip and then somewhere along the line got painted, just sayin' I've never seen one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted May 5, 2013 Share #6 Posted May 5, 2013 For what it's worth, I've never seen or heard of a painted buckle or tip on a Navy belt.Expecially on a white belt. Not saying it didn't start life as a Navy belt with standard brass buckle and tip and then somewhere along the line got painted, just sayin' I've never seen one. Ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsaye Posted May 5, 2013 Share #7 Posted May 5, 2013 I also have seen a number of painted Army buckles. Just never saw a painted Navy white belt. Some thing new every day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickdogmess Posted February 28, 2014 Share #8 Posted February 28, 2014 About 3 months ago acquired a USN stenciled white web belt with black buckle and tip with a purchase of two WWII Neckerchiefs, and some Donald Duck hat ribbons. A few months later, I purchased a WWII working white uniform from a Veteran (who was discharged in 1946) with an immaculate White belt with black buckle stenciled with the same stencil as the uniform. I started doing some research, and found a pic of sailors wearing them. I am attaching a pic of the uniform I bought, and the sailor photo. For what is it worth, Clarissa from Museum at Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington Navy Yard says they have one WWII documented belt with black buckle and tip in their collection, but the rest are brass buckle. She says the 1941 regs do not specify brass or black buckle, simply "non-tarnishable metal slip buckle and end tip." So it appears the black buckle and tip is likely WWII era. The one with the uniform in the pic attached is factory finished black, not painted. Very smooth and finished. The other one I have...I'll get a pic of it, has most of the black scratched up...and appears to be steel not brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted February 28, 2014 Share #9 Posted February 28, 2014 I have had several in groups.One group from a local CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted February 28, 2014 Share #10 Posted February 28, 2014 Yes, the black buckles are steel. I have also seen them painted olive drab too. Usually in with late WWII-early postwar groups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted February 28, 2014 Share #11 Posted February 28, 2014 Seems to me it would be easier to paint a steel buckle black than it would be to shine it. Neat belt, never seen one before either, but it makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickdogmess Posted February 28, 2014 Share #12 Posted February 28, 2014 Yes, the black buckles are steel. I have also seen them painted olive drab too. Usually in with late WWII-early postwar groups. Another guy in our group has one that is painted black but is stamped solid brass on the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topdcnut Posted March 2, 2014 Share #13 Posted March 2, 2014 THe 41 Reg simply specifies a non tarnishable metal slide buckle and tip. Most of the belts I have seen have painted steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slobo Posted May 25, 2019 Share #14 Posted May 25, 2019 Just picked up this old thread. I had thought all navy enlisted white web belts had brass or brass-plated buckles and tips until I saw a blackened brass one myself. Then I got to thinking, did all the USN white web belts of the war have the blackened hardware and not brass? I do know the black web belt typically had brass as did of course U.S. Army officer OD and khaki web belts. Like I said, I just assumed brass on white USN belts but then I don't think I have ever seen of a colored period photo of sailors in undress White B's. p.s. the painted steel may be mid-war to save brass, just like army equipment started going over from blackened brass to painted steel hardware. I have seen web belt buckles (just the buckle) that were marked "solid brass" on the rear, and others that were marked as brass-plated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MastersMate Posted May 25, 2019 Share #15 Posted May 25, 2019 Interesting little tidbit reminder for All Hands as to the :why" for stencilling uniform items .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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