Strange Monogrammed belt buckle??

[Selsaro]

Hey guys.
I was out detecting a few days ago, and I ran across a really nice low tone...
Dug it out, and to my surprise... it's some kind of belt buckle?

It looks to be made out of nickel and has a really nice mother of pearl in the middle with a monogrammed D, but I can't find another one like this anywhere!

Could I get some help on this?? and maybe an estimate on what it's worth?
Thanks!

 

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[nhbenz]

A little different design, but same marking (improved Grip Tite), and with mother of pearl: VINTAGE MOTHER OF PEARL INITIAL F BELT BUCKLE | eBay

 

[Doubter in MD]

I'm not sure what is strange about it. I can easily make out GRIP-TITE but i can't make out the word above that. Is that the manufacturer? Can you read it?

 

[Selsaro]

I'm not sure what is strange about it. I can easily make out GRIP-TITE but i can't make out the word above that. Is that the manufacturer? Can you read it?

It's Improved Grip tite.. the camera wouldn't pick it up very well! haha!

 

[Selsaro]

A little different design, but same marking (improved Grip Tite), and with mother of pearl: VINTAGE MOTHER OF PEARL INITIAL F BELT BUCKLE | eBay

So I could be looking into the realm of about 30-50$??

 

[nhbenz]

Well, maybe, but there's a lot monogrammed buckles from this era available. Giant Grip was perhaps the most prolific in this style in the late teens-early 30's. StaBryt was another lesser name, but here's an example from them with mother of pearl: VINTAGE Stabryt Sylvr - Silver? Mother of Pearl - Letter "R" Belt Buckle - CKB1 | eBay

 

[nhbenz]

Samuel Buchsbaum had numerous belt buckle patents in this era, and this one may have covered yours, despite some variation: http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/USD60849-0.png