Double "D" Rings Instead of Buckles?

[RoaringBull]

I saw this on a bag on the CLA website and was wondering if this was common or used because I have several of the "D" rings.

[James Rogers]

Idon't see a "D" ring on that bag.

[RoaringBull]

Never mind I'm both blind and can't read...

So, was the two "D" rings type of adjustment ever used?  I'm guessing not.

[Artificer]

I think you are mistaking using two "D" buckles for a one piece buckle (that you have to add an iron tongue) on like this.

http://www.gggodwin.com/CartGenie/prod-865.htm

Buckles like these were very popular and the ranged in sizes from about 1 inch to almost 3 inches on the REALLY wide F&I war period military cartridge box buckles.

Gus

[RoaringBull]

Thanks Gus that is what I was mistaking...

[bluenoser]

Gus,

Are you sure one needs to add a tongue to this style buckle?  I would have thought one end of the belt or strap would permanently attach to the centre section.  The other end would slide under one of the outside sections, over the center section, under the other outside section then loop back across the top and under the first ourside section again.

Just my opinion and I was wrong once before - more often if you ask my wife 

Laurie

[Artificer]

Roaring Bull,

You are most welcome.

Gus

[Artificer]

Laurie,

It seems there is some documentation for a buckle like to this to be used like a modern "M" buckle and even on musket slings, but I have never seen it.  Most excavated buckles of this style show either a brass tongue or at least the stain of an iron tongue and/or wear on the buckle that could only come from a tongue. 

Gus

[bluenoser]

Laurie,

It seems there is some documentation for a buckle like to this ........
Gus

Gus,

You are probably correct.  As I recall, I have seen buckles of this type that appeared to have been used both ways.  I had thought those intended to be used with a tongue tended to have a step in the center section where the tongue would attach.  I had not considered the step may have been caused by wear, rather than cast in.

Laurie

[Artificer]

Laurie,

This is mostly my speculation but based on excavated examples I've seen mostly in Virginia, but at 17th through 19th century sites.  Most "Double D" type period buckles were rather utilitarian (even though they may or probably were a little more expensive being made of brass rather than iron) and were used on some civilian and most military accoutrements.  Iron seems to have been the preferred tongue material for military buckles. 

Not having a "set" area for the tongue allowed the user to use a tongue of any size he chose or easily made.  Then he punched holes to fit the tongue or tongues.  That's the key, I believe.  Instead of worrying about making a tongue fit a pre-determined ring groove on the buckle, you made the tongue so it would go around the center beam.  Also, for cartridge box buckles where they made two tongues for each buckle, casting or filing a ring groove for each would not make sense.

Gus