Belt buckle
A belt buckle is a
Types
Belt buckles go back at least to the
Frame-style buckles are the oldest design. In a frame-and-prong buckle the prong attaches to one end of the frame and extends "away" from the wearer through a hole in the belt, where it anchors against the opposite side of the frame. The oldest styles have a simple loop or D-shaped frame (see:
Plate-style buckles are common on western military belts of the mid-19th century, which often feature a three-hook clasp: two hooks fitting into one end of the belt and a third into the other. Officers might have a similar but more intricate clasp-style closure that featured two interlocking metal parts. In practice, the term "belt plate" refers to any flat, decorated surface on such a clasp. These precede development of modern "western-style" buckles, which feature a hinged frame affixed to one end of the belt and a simple hook clasp which enters the belt hole toward the wearer but leaves most of the buckle on the "outside" of the belt, providing an ample surface for decoration. The distance between the fixed frame or chape of a plate buckle and its adjustment prong is called the "throw."
Box-frame buckles are a 20th-century style of military friction buckle, common on webbed belts. The box-frame buckle consists of three parts (front, back and post). An adjustable captive post sits perpendicular to the belt to press it against the outer "box," which completely surround the webbing and minimize accidental adjustments should part of the belt snag on something. There may or may not be a metal tip on the opposite "tongue" end of the belt for easier insertion.
O-Ring/D-Ring buckles use one or two rings to form the buckle. The belt is fastened by threading through the ring(s). This is used with braided, webbing, and canvas belts.[2]
Snap/Side release buckles use male and female ends to snap together. They are more functional and often used for outdoor activities.[2]
Earlier, military-style buckles often use friction and are designed for use with cloth belts or straps. Simple friction buckles are one-piece frames with no prong whatsoever, the strap or belt winding through a series of slots, and may more technically be called "belt slides" or "belt trims." Although technically not buckles, other fasteners such as plastic "side-clasp" or even seat belt latches are also often used on belts, and colloquially called buckles.
Rise in popularity
Because of their strong association with military equipment, belt buckles were primarily a masculine ornament well into the 19th century.
Belt buckles became more popular as fashion accessories in the early 20th century, as the tops of
References
- ^ a b Centeno, Antonio (14 February 2018). "A Man's Guide to Belts". The Art of Manliness. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
External links
- Roman Military Equipment: Cingulum and Balteus Retrieved 2010-07-17.
- Gold belt buckle from the ship-burial at Sutton Hoo, British Museum, Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- Belt buckle, Xiongnu type, 3rd–2nd century B.C. Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
- Michael J. O'Donnell and James Duncan Campbell. American Military Belt Plates, Third Edition. Alexanderia VA: O'Donnell Publications, 2010. ISBN 978-0-9670731-2-5.
- Chris Marshall. "Buckles Through the Ages", 2002. Retrieved 2010-07-20.