vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #126 Posted August 4, 2019 Belt buckle # 4. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #127 Posted August 4, 2019 Belt buckle #5. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #128 Posted August 4, 2019 Belt buckle #6. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #129 Posted August 4, 2019 Belt buckle #7. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #130 Posted August 4, 2019 And lastly Belt Buckle #8. This is where I'm at now. I'm currently on the hunt for more. Enjoy the pics! Ryan Link to post Share on other sites
PhilippineBuckles Posted August 4, 2019 Author Share #131 Posted August 4, 2019 Nice buckles Ryan vforvictory1945 thank you for posting & happy hunting. "Olongapo Yard" is the first time I've seen this engraved on a buckle. I love your 1945 Subic Bay buckle with the Eagle on the globe and your two Philippine Island buckles are really nice too. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #132 Posted August 4, 2019 These early 1940s and early US Army Philippines belt buckles are the coolest. I'm guessing this first one belongs to Bill? Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 4, 2019 Share #133 Posted August 4, 2019 I love this early US Army one as well that belongs to a Japanese collector. Too cool!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Salvage Sailor Posted August 4, 2019 Share #134 Posted August 4, 2019 Here's my second belt buckle. USS MAUI (ARG-8) Luzon class internal combustion engine repair ship in service October 1944 (as LEYTE) to August 1946 This is a most interesting buckle as the MAUI was originally named the USS LEYTE. When she was serving in Subic Bay during 1945 she was renamed MAUI to free up the name LEYTE for an Essex class aircraft carrier. MAUI had a very short service career, only from May 31 1945 to August 1946 so it's pretty easy to date this one to late 1945 in Subic Bay, P.I. Anchor's Aweigh Member National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors - The Salvage Navy! Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 5, 2019 Share #135 Posted August 5, 2019 Salvage Sailor thanks for the date ID on the USS Maui belt buckle. I did a quick Google search on the ship when I picked up the buckle but missed the USS Leyte connection. Very interesting! Link to post Share on other sites
PhilippineBuckles Posted August 5, 2019 Author Share #136 Posted August 5, 2019 @ vforvictory1945 The 1938 - 1940 US Army Manila P.I. Eagle buckle for Paul A. Lee is amazing. Thanks for sharing. I'd love to buy this from the current owner :-) Yes, tThe 1936 US Army buckle with the initials M.S.R. is in my collection -- I have no clue as to what the initials are for, but I assume they are for the soldier rather than his unit. @ Salvage Sailor Thank you for the info on the USS Maui. I have an officer's buckle for J.V. Myer which has 1945 Philippines USS Maui on it... Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 5, 2019 Share #137 Posted August 5, 2019 Bill - Those two US Army buckles I posted from 1936 - 1940 along with that first USN buckle you posted starting the thread will have to be my top three favorites I've seen online to date. Attached is my fourth favorite, a 1947 dated mermaid / fish buckle. I'm not sure who owns it, maybe yourself, but I'd love to see a better picture of it and of course own it. The subject matter and engraving work is amazing. Thanks by the way for posting your USS Maui buckle as its very cool too!!! Link to post Share on other sites
hink441 Posted August 5, 2019 Share #138 Posted August 5, 2019 Bill - Those two US Army buckles I posted from 1936 - 1940 along with that first USN buckle you posted starting the thread will have to be my top three favorites I've seen online to date. Attached is my fourth favorite, a 1947 dated mermaid / fish buckle. I'm not sure who owns it, maybe yourself, but I'd love to see a better picture of it and of course own it. The subject matter and engraving work is amazing. Thanks by the way for posting your USS Maui buckle as its very cool too!!! Hi, I own this buckle. I will try to get you some better pics. Because of the fish, I always thought this buckle was for a Bosun Mate Submariner. Just my opinion and I can't prove it. Chris Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #139 Posted August 6, 2019 Chris - Thank you very much. That buckle is an absolute gem! Ryan Link to post Share on other sites
hink441 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #140 Posted August 6, 2019 Here are a couple of pics. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #141 Posted August 6, 2019 Chris - That is an absolute beauty. Thanks for posting better pics. The engraving work is beautiful. Ryan Link to post Share on other sites
sigsaye Posted August 6, 2019 Share #142 Posted August 6, 2019 I know I probably posted this here before, but in the years I sailed in and out of Subic, I never tired of sitting with the guys making these. I loved watching them work. The artistry. These are done free hand. They coat the blank ( today), with white liquid shoe polish, then draw the design on with a pencil. Then small chisel and hammer and go to work. You bring them an awful drawing of what you want, and they will draw it out properly. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #143 Posted August 6, 2019 @ sigsaye - Thanks for sharing. I wonder if anyone has ever captured a photo of those guys at work as it would be cool to see. Amazing that you got to see the work done firsthand. Thank you for your service as well! Ryan Here's another one of my favorites. I snagged the photo from Worthpoint. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 6, 2019 Share #144 Posted August 6, 2019 I love this 77th Seabees belt buckle too. The picture comes from Worthpoint as well! Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 13, 2019 Share #145 Posted August 13, 2019 Curious if anyone has any Korean War or earlier sub belt buckles? The top one belongs to Vintage Productions and bottom one I'm guessing Bill or Chris? Link to post Share on other sites
PhilippineBuckles Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share #146 Posted August 14, 2019 The only records of dated Submariner buckles I have are the 1943 buckle (which I do believe was actually made in 1943) and a couple of buckles from 1986. Even based on style of undated buckles, I don't know of any 1940s or 1950s Submariner buckles except the Robert Dorsey buckle (which is in my collection). Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 15, 2019 Share #147 Posted August 15, 2019 Bill - Thanks for the heads up on the Submariner buckles. I was able to acquire this 1938 - 1940 US Army Manila Belt Buckle from the Japanese collector. I was the only opportunity I'd likely have to own a pre-war Philippines belt buckle so I jumped at the chance. Ryan Link to post Share on other sites
PhilippineBuckles Posted August 17, 2019 Author Share #148 Posted August 17, 2019 Beautiful buckle for Paul A. Lee. I wish it were in my collection... Thanks for posting it! Link to post Share on other sites
PhilippineBuckles Posted August 18, 2019 Author Share #149 Posted August 18, 2019 Just acquired this Diesel Boats Forever (DBF) belt buckle. There is a nice write-up by by Patrick Meagher TMC(SS) USN RET about the origin of this design in 1970 on the following site http://www.submarinesailor.com/history/dbfpin/dbfpin.asp. Link to post Share on other sites
vforvictory1945 Posted August 20, 2019 Share #150 Posted August 20, 2019 Bill - That's very cool engraving on that belt buckle. Thanks for sharing! Ryan Link to post Share on other sites
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