Buckle

The baldric was a later belt worn diagonally over the right shoulder down to the waist at the left carrying the sword, and its buckle therefore was as important as that on a Roman soldier’s armor.

[6] Buckles remained exclusively for the wealthy until the 15th century where improved manufacturing techniques made it possible to easily produce a cheaper molded item available to the general population.

The appearance of multi-part buckles with chapes and removable pins, which were commonly found on shoes, occurred in the 17th century.

This reverse curve shape made it easier to thread the intended thick material end over the bar.

Decorations range from wedged shapes, picture references to people and animals, and insignia of a desired organization.

Note that if a separate piece of leather or metal is attached to the strap for holding the tip of the belt/strap in place that is sometimes also called a 'keeper'.

[2] Unfortunately, the teeth or spikes on the semi-circular chapes damaged the straps or belts, making frequent repairs of the material necessary.

Buckles fitted with "T"-, anchor-, or spade-shaped chapes avoided this problem but needed a slotted end in the belt to accommodate them.

In the 18th century, brass buckles incorporated iron bars, chapes, and prongs due to the parts being made by different manufactures.

[15] When preferred materials were scarce during the Great Depression of the 1930s and the two World Wars, buckles became a low priority and manufactures needed to find ways to continue to produce them cheaply.

Any attempt to brighten the wood’s dull appearance with painted designs or plasterwork embellishments immediately came off if the buckle were to be washed.

However, leather (or dyed suede, more common to match a lady’s garment color) was used more as a “cover-up” for cheap materials to create a product worthy of buying.

[18] Celluloid, a type of thermoplastic invented in 1869, was used sparingly and only for decoration until after World War I where it began to be produced on a wider commercial scale.

This type was frequently used in home dress-making (belt end being secured with the simple hook-and-eye) and was purely used for decoration for items such as shoe fronts to conceal unattractive elastic fitting.

In 1920, this type of buckle was awarded to winners of professional rodeo contests at the San Francisco Cow Palace in California.

[23] By the 1950s, Hollywood Westerns featured cowboys wearing large, shiny belt buckles and this influenced country/western fashion.

[25] Modern-day western belt buckles are commonly made of silver, brass, pewter, zinc alloy, or stainless steel.