USN Belts & Buckles

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Everyone,

 

These two (2) USN Enlisted belts & buckles were issued to me in bootcamp (Vietnam Era). We were issued two (2) Buckles and two each (2ea.) Navy Blue belts & White belts for our work uniforms (dungarees) and dress white/blue uniforms.

 

I had more belts that I picked up over the years, but I tossed all of them except these two.

 

 

 

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

The Navy Blue belt was worn on my dungaree working uniform, and as you can tell, it's been around. The white belt was used for my dress whites.

 

The blue belt has a US issue RAU buckle & the white belt has a US issue ALCO BKL'N NY buckle

 

On the blue belt you can see my faded white stencil pencil info. This is always something to look for when you find USN belts from the post-war/Vietnam era. The white belts will have black stencil pencil info. (mine does not as this was a spare 39" belt).

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

Here are some non-flash shots of the silver (enlisted) buckles so you can see them better.

 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to add on your own examples of USN Enlisted Belts & Buckles from any era.

[Salvage Sailor]

Found a couple more in my seabag.....

 

Navy blue USN belt w/shipboard buckle - USS LUCE (DDG-38) 1979

 

Post war Japan made - probably Korean War vintage - I wet the belt a bit so you could make out the white stencil

[Salvage Sailor]

Post-WWII shipboard belt buckles come in several different styles and types.

 

The Korean era belt I showed above is named to a sailor - DOVE, M.D. with his serial number below his stenciled name.

 

These buckles were made in Japan and usually had a brass finish to them. The brass plates were welded to a standard US buckle, and then etched in relief style. They typically had the sailor's rate in the lower right hand corner.

 

I recently saw another one of these posted on the forum.

 

This particular buckle belonged to a Bo'sun (Boatswain's Mate). It has a large U.S.N. in the upper left hand corner, Mount Fuji in the center, and the Japanese Islands to the right. Cities named in Japan are USN ports of call - Sasebo, Hiroshima, Kobe, Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yohohama, Sendai. The Korean Peninsula is off to the left side, showing the 38th parallel. Seoul & Pusan are inscribed. Okinawa in in the lower left corner.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

These next buckles are also Japanese made. They were commonly worn from the mid-1950's thru the Vietnam era by Westpac sailors. They are stamped 'JAPAN' on the clasps.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

These are good, durable buckles, larger than the US issue and as you can see they were good knock-around work buckles.

 

[Salvage Sailor]

These buckles were completely made in Japan, with raised, high-relief ships welded to them, then chrome plated.

[Salvage Sailor]

The Fleet Tug Buckle is from the USS PAIUTE (ATF-159). As can be seen, it's 'salty' and well used during Salvage Ops. Most of our salvage ships were homeported in Guam, then later in Pearl Harbor or San Diego. A 6 to 7 month Westpac cruise which included time in Korea or Vietnam was common during these years. We also made ports of call in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, P.I. and throughout Micronesia (Marianas, Carolines, Marshalls - the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, T.T.P.I. ) The PAIUTE buckle is an earlier one as evidenced by the etched black-filled lettering.

[Salvage Sailor]

The USS LUCE (DDG-38) buckle is a bit later. I bought this one at the ships store in 1979. This style of Japanese buckle stated appearing in the early 70's. The buckles themselves are identical in manufacture, the difference being the lettering. The letters are now double-etched (two lines outlining each letter) and not filled. These buckles were still being sold in ship's stores until the mid 1980's.

[Salvage Sailor]

This next shipboard belt buckle is also Japanese made. It began to get into ships's stores in the mid-1970's as an alternate to the ZIPPO buckles then coming out. (I'll show some ZIPPO's later in the thread) They were made of chrome plated brass, highly polished, and carried a ship's crest in addition to an outline drawing of the ship. It was also the first introduction of color (enamel paint) to the buckles. The only problem was they were not nearly as durable as the relief types.

 

Ship's stores are supported directly by sales of items to the crew & it's up to the Supply officer & Supply CPO to purchase good for the store. The Japanese models were good knock-offs of the ZIPPO's and were cheaper to buy when we'd do a port call in Japan.

 

I bought this one in the ship's store aboard USS BOLSTER in 1978. As you can see, I chipped it one day while working on deck, exposing the brass underneath the paint. I started wearing my US buckle again after this, and kept the polished one for inspection or liberty calls.

 

There is no 'JAPAN' on the reverse, unlike the other Japanese models.

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

These two shipboard USN buckles are PI made (Philippines Islands) from the Vietnam Era. Most likely they were made in Olongopo (Subic Bay).

 

 

The plates are welded onto civilian versions of US buckles, which are stamped MADE IN THE U.S.A. The plates are marked TEXOMA LEATHER & BRASS, but these plates are definitely not brass. They are made of some kind of alloy or pot metal, that are then chrome plated. The plating is not as good as the Japanese made buckles.

 

The buckles are from the USS CONSERVER (ARS-39) & USS RECLAIMER (ARS-42), both part of our SERVRON 5 squadron homeported at Pearl Harbor, HI

 

 

 

USS RECLAIMER (ARS-42) with extensive wear showing the metal plate beneath the chrome

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

This particular buckle belonged to a Bo'sun (Boatswain's Mate). It has a large U.S.N. in the upper left hand corner, Mount Fuji in the center, and the Japanese Islands to the right. Cities named in Japan are USN ports of call - Sasebo, Hiroshima, Kobe, Tokyo, Yokosuka, Yohohama, Sendai. The Korean Peninsula is off to the left side, showing the 38th parallel. Seoul & Pusan are inscribed. Okinawa in in the lower left corner.

 

Better photo of this buckle

[Salvage Sailor]

The USS LUCE (DDG-38) buckle is a bit later. I bought this one at the ships store in 1979. This style of Japanese buckle stated appearing in the early 70's. The buckles themselves are identical in manufacture, the difference being the lettering. The letters are now double-etched (two lines outlining each letter) and not filled. These buckles were still being sold in ship's stores until the mid 1980's.

 

It's difficult to get good shots of these buckled due to the highly polished chrome finish.

 

Here's an oblique close-up of the relief and lettering

[Salvage Sailor]

These are USN shipboard ZIPPO beltbuckles. Always difficult to get clear shots of these beauties due to the mirror chrome finish. I shot these with no flash atop a sheet of white paper.

 

 

Reverse sides

 

 

ZIPPO - USS ORTOLAN (ASR-22) a submarine rescue ship, circa 1970's

 

and the USS LUCE (DDG-38), which I purchased onboard in 1979 at the ships' store

 

another view of this ZIPPO, atop a sheet of white paper to show the design better.

[notinfringed]

I have a few, which I really know nothing about. I could only find one tonight. Anything you can tell me about it would be greatly appreciated. There is no lettering on the front. My pictures aren't so hot.

 

Levi

[maddog1129]

Just found this thread and thought it interesting; thank you for sharing your US Navy buckles.

 

Just curious, why issue silver belt buckles to USNavy enlisted? Aren't the colors Navy Blue and Gold? why not brass? I would have thought the silver color would be for Air Force.

[jeb137]

...why issue silver belt buckles to USNavy enlisted? Aren't the colors Navy Blue and Gold? why not brass? I would have thought the silver color would be for Air Force.

 

Silver buckles for E6 and Below. Gold for Chiefs and Officers. There are a lot of gedunk buckles out there. Every ship, station, warfare designation and paygrade have them.

 

The only time you are not allowed to wear them is at a formal inspection.

 

Jon B

Newaygo MI

[topdcnut]

Enlisted Navy wear silver until they make Chief and even then warfare devices stay silver.

 

As to these buckles the lower maroon box is marked cruiser the white box is marked APA the top maroon box is unmarked. The cruiser almost looks like the Long Beach based on the superstructure and three missle launchers. I also have one without a box that is a battleship and would date them from early to mid 60's.

[sigsaye]

Just found this thread and thought it interesting; thank you for sharing your US Navy buckles.

 

Just curious, why issue silver belt buckles to USNavy enlisted? Aren't the colors Navy Blue and Gold? why not brass? I would have thought the silver color would be for Air Force.

Prior to 1973, every one in the Navy did wear brass buckles. Then the Navy went mad for a few years and put e-6 and below in silver metal (actualy, pewter). When we all sobered up in 1980, they just left all the silver in place. Hated the silver stuff, just wasn't right.

 

Steve Hesson

[Grizzly Adams]

This is one of the brass buckles I was issued in boot in 67.

 

 

 

As I recall, this buckle was worn on the white belt with Whites, and on the black belt with dungarees. We also wore it on the black belt with the greens in Vietnam.

 

Later, while I was still in the reserves, the Navy had the "identity crisis" Steve has referred to, and we ended up with the silver colored buckle at some point. However, I don't recall wearing the silver one with the dress white uniform. It's been a long time, however, and I have slept since then! :think:

[dpcsdan]

Prior to 1973, every one in the Navy did wear brass buckles. Then the Navy went mad for a few years and put e-6 and below in silver metal (actualy, pewter). When we all sobered up in 1980, they just left all the silver in place. Hated the silver stuff, just wasn't right.

 

Steve Hesson

Neat thread, thanks for starting.

I've put a couple of handmade versions in my book which will be out in Feb-Mar time frame.

-dan

[sigsaye]

Neat thread, thanks for starting.

I've put a couple of handmade versions in my book which will be out in Feb-Mar time frame.

-dan

I have a couple I had made in Subic over the years, but can't seem to load pictures on this forum. I have an AS buckle that came with a blue denim belt (still on the belt), an SM buckle for a regular belt and two civilian buckles I hade made. Really nice work.

 

Steve Hesson

[sigsaye]

Neat thread, thanks for starting.

I've put a couple of handmade versions in my book which will be out in Feb-Mar time frame.

-dan

By the way, just finished going through a draft copy of Dans book. Any one who thinks they might just happen to look at something Navy needs to have this book. Of all the services, Sailors have always been the most "Free and Loose" when it comes to uniforms and regulations ("Expressing individuality in a strictly regimented society"). Dan's book is going to lay it all out. This is a "Gotta Have". You couple this with John Staceys book and Jeff Warners books and you will see how it all comes together.

 

Thanks Dan

 

Steve Hesson

[1936farmall]

I dont know if any of mine survived have to look in my seabag. Every ship and most squadrons put out a buckle. I had a USS Nimitz and VP62. Dont remenber who made them. We were loose. We wore nomex flight jackets with patches on them. No two in the squadron were the same. Only time we were regulation was at formal events and inspections. LOL

 

Michael