WH (Heer) EM/NCO's Belt Buckle - OLC

Wehrmacht (Heer) Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). On 24 January 1936 this new pattern EM/NCO's belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the previously worn Weimar era Reichsheer buckle. The basic design of the Reichsheer buckle was retained with the addition of the new Wehrmacht style national eagle. This pattern buckle was worn through-out the Third Reich period with minor manufacturing variations and different colored finishes. The colored finish was determined by regulations depending on what form of uniform it was to be worn with. Nice steel construction box buckle painted in the standard late war blue-grey colour as intended for Heeres or Naval units. The buckle is nicely maker marked with 'OLC' indicating production by the company of 'Overhoff & Cie' from Lüdenscheid being an extremely rare late war OLC marked buckle. The buckle still retains most of its original late-war blue-grey factory paint, the buckle is only painted on the front and no paint was sprayed on the reverse indicating very late war production, probably in 1945. Rare original buckle in very good condition!