Ah, belts! The accessory that makes every outfit look complete! Ever since I started thrifting, I can’t stop collecting belts! I especially love vintage military belts. I had the chance to have found some pretty incredible designs! And it never gets old!
Here are my two thrift belt selections:
West German Bundeswehr Belt
This is a post-war German belt. From my research, it is from the 1960s (Cold War era) and was used by the Bundeswehr (armed forces) in West Germany.
The brass buckle has signs of wear, which looks beautiful! It’s covered in the elegant classic pebbled German pattern. Also, I love the belt buckle end tip with the maker’s mark.
On the back, there’s the same engraved maker’s mark. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much info on the maker. If you do know, please leave a comment below.
The inside of the leather belt has signs of buckle teeth in many places. Moreover, there are the initials of the soldier that reads “D.P.”. Unfortunately, there’s no serial number.
I love how rugged and used it looks! This belt can look cool on a pair of distressed jeans or a pair of khakis.
If you’re interested in getting one from surplus buyers here are some eBay listings. Their prices range from $20 to $30. The price depends on your location and seller. I purchased mine at the thrift for about a buck! I was pretty lucky! 🙂
Swiss Army Field Belt
The Swiss are famous for their incredible designs and quality. Being Swiss-born myself, if I find anything modern or old from the Swiss army, I must buy it!
The metal buckle has the Swiss cross engraved and it looks pretty cool! The buckle end tip is in plastic with 10 holes.
The buckle has signs of wear on both sides.
The serial number is stamped on the inner webbing. I can read 95 at the end of the code. So if I’m not wrong, this was made in 1995. Pretty darn cool!
The belt webbing is super sturdy, but before you buy anything at the military surplus store or thrift store, make sure to always try the belts on. Some designs can be misleading. They’re either too long or too short. So take the time to try it on!
You must be wondering what this beauty cost, right? It depends on your location. They can range between $10 to $35 (without shipping). Here’s an eBay link for you.
I bought mine for around $3. A real bargain!
I see this belt on light denim sailor pants or some beautiful chino pants. Your choice!
88th TIPS
- Most of my purchases are used and vintage items. They hold their value by being old (at least 20 years old), historical, rare, and distressed (used by soldiers or workers). But if you rather have a brand new military surplus item, check your local military surplus store. You can find never-used caps, pants, belts, boots, shirts, and more.
- Always try vintage items. Sizing is different from country to country. Finally, time can shrink or enlarge items.
- Check for markings, stamps, serial numbers, and initials on all the vintage pieces you buy. They will always help you date and trace the origin of the pieces you buy. So pay attention.
With time and practice, you will be able to see a cool vintage piece from a distance.
That’s all for today Sailors,
Feel free to ask me questions about thrifting. I will be more than happy to help in your quest to find your “grail”.
For direct contact please don’t hesitate to write me a telegram.
Sonia 🙂