Original German WWII Luftwaffe Aluminum Belt Buckle With Leather Tab Werner Linker Dated 1939

Original German WWII Luftwaffe Aluminum Belt Buckle With Leather Tab Werner Linker Dated 1939This early Luftwaffe buckle is constructed of aluminum, the standard material until production shifted to steel around 1940 due to wartime shortages. The buckle shows honest minor wear with age and patina, yet still retains good amount of detail of the pebble grain background, wreath and second model Luftwaffe eagle.The attached leather tab remains nicely intact, still pliable, and is clearly maker-marked 'Werner Linker, Duisburg' with the date 1939. These tabs were sewn on to reinforce the buckle's attachment to the belt. Some of the threads on the tab have come apart from use and age.A scarce maker and desirable early example, this Luftwaffe buckle is in excellent condition overall—an ideal addition for any WWII German field gear collection.