oakridge said
I agree that’s good information. Apparently, Adina did produce and sell some the the silver buckles under license from Winchester. The Colt marking on the back still doesn’t make much sense. Was it only on the QC sample, or others as well? And what did Tiffany have to do with them?
I have similar thoughts as well. Of the Buckles I have handled and those posted on Ebay they all have different makers marks. They will generally say something about "under License" or have a name of the supposed company of manufacture but none of them are copyrighted.
Another thought is Why are there two firearms manufacturers names on the buckle and not just solely Winchester?
Is the Patent Lawyer Letter Notarized? Is there a picture of the Lawyer holding the buckle or a picture of it on his desk or some other proof?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Adina-Sterling-Winchester-Colt-Ammo-Belt-Buckle-/261359072805?ViewItem=&item=261359072805&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466&nma=true&si=Smdk3nVvHSbEnxxK%252BM%252BYdcTBRRI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Is the link above the same buckle in question or is it of another different buckle? If it is the same buckle is the story associated with the buckle worth the winning bid price of the auction?
There seems to be more questions than available answers. Just my thoughts. I would be very concerned as to the legitimacy of such an item and would want to know the answers to such questions. Especially before putting such an amount of money on a belt buckle.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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As to the Silver Winchester belt buckles made by the Adina Silver Smiths, as my memory serves me they were offered for sale through a magazine advertisment in the american rifelman magizine as recall. The way it went as i recall was they offered the Colt version in a limited addition of 1000 pieces and when they ran out, they offered the Winchester version in a limited addition of 2500 pieces. I have no idea if they made other brands or not. the only reason I know this is I actually bought one when they were offered back in the mid 70ies
I dont think Winchester or Colt produced these but I am sure Adina or the NRA or someone had their blessings.
Like I said I still have mine and I would be interested in its value, I think I payed 65 bucks for it in the day.
I think that was before Nixon took us off the gold standard

I was idly looking at pages on Winchester belt buckles and I think I can add something here. In 1976, my father, who was an artist at Hallmark, was doing freelance work and one of the designs he did was a Winchester belt buckle. When I was looking into that to find the belt buckle he designed, the design on the silver belt buckle with the rifle in the OP’s picture seems to be the correct one. My sister told me it was the design with the gun on it and I examined the Winchester logo and compared it against antique Winchester logos and other logos going forward. This one is different. Winchester had the same lettering on all its printed stuff for decades before my father did this design in 1976. Unfortunately, my father passed away in 1997, so he is not around to ask. But the freelance assignments came to him through Hallmark so I don’t think this is a fantasy item. There were four different designs on belt buckles put out in 1976, my father did one of them.
Wincacher said
Not a belt buckle but an antique store advertising sign, in solid brass, purchased at an antique auction in Katy, TX back in the early 1980’s. Cast on the back is “WAC 1913”.
Do you see where this was mentioned in the most recent Collector Magazine as being a fake or fantasy item?
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
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UPDATE
I have an interesting update about the Winchester Belt Buckle. It appears I may very well have been wrong in my assumptions that it was a FAKE item, but still have many concerns with it.
This is the front and back cover of a Australian 1976 Winchester Catalog that features an image of the buckle. One would conclude that if its on the cover of the catalog than it must have been a Olin Licensed Winchester Product at one time or at least a promotional piece. But as to how many were originally made or sold, I have no idea. So it is appears that this would be a genuine, however a modern Winchester collectible and not a antique as many people try to pass it off as. I also have reservations if the dozen upon dozens of pieces out there for sale aren’t poor copies of an original one.
I know this has been done to the Annison Mills Ammo belts. There are lots of reproductions of those around and they’re getting good money for them.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
I have two Winchester belt buckles.One is round and says Winchester Canada,with the horse and rider logo on the front.On the back it says,”TM reproduced with the expressed permission of Winchester Cooey Cobourg Ontario K9A 4M1″.The other is rectangle with,”Winchester Repeating Arms Hew Haven Conn.” and a picture of a Winchester rifle on the front.On back is written,”TM reproduced by arrangement with Winchester Western Hew Haven Conn.”There is also a letter M in the middle of the back of the buckle.
Do not know if these are original ,fake or a reproduction .I bought them new, probably back in the late 70’s or 80’s, because I liked Winchester and to hold up my pants.Still use them from time to time today.
I would say that since it say’s “TM (Trademark) Reproduced with the expressed permission of Winchester” with the emphasis on “Reproduced” they where not a item that Winchester originally ordered, A company got Winchester’s blessing or paid to use there trademark. Usually counterfeit stuff will try to copy the item exactly and would not put that statement on it.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Just located another buckle.It is the rectangle Hew Haven version.Very much like the one I described in my last post.However this one is about a 1/4 inch longer and wider,appears to have more copper in its content , some of the letters in “Repeating Arms” are a bit different and no,” TM reproduced by arrangement with Winchester Western Hew Haven Conn.” on the back either.
Buckle has a bit of a bow to it,but not as much as the other one I spoke of.
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