Snake Buckles...
 

Hi All,

Does anyone know if any substantive research exists on 19th c. British military snake buckles? They appear here in the states fairly often, almost invariably characterized with an American Civil War connection (and known to collectors as "blockade buckles", given that imports from England had to get through the Union blockade in order to get material into Confederate territory). I'm sure most of what we see here are WWI period, or at best, late Victorian period. Anyone aware of more detailed analysis?

Mark~

ps: this one was excavated in Virginia

In similar vein the Rhodesians used a similar design right up to the 1970s.

I used to wear a snake belt at school with silver snake fittings.

regards

Some 'snake' buckles.
Actually, only the top one is a serpent. With scales.
The others are swans, with feathers.

The 'Malta' buckle is Victorian period Royal Malta Artillery/ Royal Malta Fencible Artillery and slightly smaller than the RA 'Ubique' buckle.

GTB

I believe that this one is more modern though not entirely sure.

Is it though a snake or a swan?

Regards to all.

Ry

for comparative purposes alone this thread is already worth it's weight in gold! Thanks, gentlemen!

Hi,

Freemason aprons have used Snake Buckles for well over 100 years and I have scanned a selection. The reverse is either identical to the front or in some cases plain. The one I find of real interest is the double Dragon Head (with teeth) which I imagine was manufactured in the Far East.

Regards
Andrew

Strictly speaking, it is a swan. Snakes don't have beaks. It may be that the snake appellation was given to such buckles on account of the meandering, sinuous 'S' shape.
There is a wide variety of 'snake' buckles, not all necessarily military. Even schoolboys had such, although they were termed 'S' buckles.
During my detecting forays I dug an intriguing serpent buckle, sadly bent and with missing head. It is of very narrow construction and the only similar I have ever seen was illustrated in an online volume of old American insignia and buckles, going back to 18th century (unfortunately I was ever after unable to reconnect with the website and have since misplaced the title!) I recall it was a sword-belt buckle though. Sorry I can't provide a scan or pic at present.

GTB

Many years ago I bought a blue material belt of badges with two snake buckles, I unfortunately lost it during a divorce but have never seen one since. I assumed it was WW1 as there were a coiuple of badges, The Cheshires and Isle of white rifles of WW1 design.

I'm told there are a few interesting examples in this book (which is now on my "books to get" list)...

I had a RNWMP stable jacket that had a nice brown sword belt with the snake buckle, some RNWMP and NWMP buckles had a MP stamped in the middle of the snake.
I believe that some commonwealth regiments wore the brown sword belt with buckle from the Boer war until the late 1930's.

Snake belt
 

Here is a snake sword belt with what appears to be nickel plated hardware.

spectacular rig, Mike!

Can anyone help me identify the origins of this please
 

I found this today whilst out detecting, I was wondering if anyone here can shed some light on its origins, and whether or not it may have any value.