RAD Belt Buckle – Marked JFS 39 – Reich Labour Service – Excellent Condition

Original German belt buckle for the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD – Reich Labour Service), a design established in 1934.
Struck from high-grade aluminum, the buckle retains exceptionally sharp details of the official RAD spade and wheat ears emblem.
The reverse, positioned under the prongs, features a clear "39" date stamp and the "JFS" maker's mark within a circle (Josef Feix Söhne, Gablonz).
The buckle is in outstanding condition, boasting a clean surface and a perfectly functioning attachment mechanism.
Attached is the original brown leather tab, which remains supple and structurally sound with its period stitching.
The leather tab is clearly embossed with the matching maker's oval: J. FEIX SÖHNE GABLONZ-SUDETEN, dated 1940.
The pairing of a 1939-dated buckle with a 1940-dated tab is a well-documented factory assembly practice from that transitional period.
The steel prong bar and movable spikes are in full working order, showing no signs of restoration or damage.
This item is a premier example of early-war paramilitary equipment, highly valued for its preservation and clear markings.

Historical context:
The Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) served as a mandatory labor service, channeling German youth into state projects and military discipline. Josef Feix Söhne (JFS), based in Gablonz (Sudetenland), was a top-tier contractor known for superior die-striking. This 1939-dated specimen captures the high manufacturing standards used just as the war began, before the widespread shift to steel components.