To begin this look at the various John Wayne belt buckles (and there are many different types and styles), let’s take a look at what is probably the best known of them, the Red River D buckle. To commemorate the making of the film in 1946 (it was released by United Artists in 1948), Hawks commissioned a silversmith in Nogales, Mexico to create the now famous belt buckles to give as gifts for members of the cast and crew.
The buckles were made of silver with a twisted silver wire rope border, the letter D and two wavy lines (the Dunson brand in the film) made of solid gold, the words Red River in gold wire. In one corner was the date 1946 (the year the film was made) made of gold and in the opposite corner, encircled with the silver wire rope, would be the initials of the person the buckle was intended for. As legend has it (and verified by Hawks son), John Wayne and Howard Hawks exchanged buckles with each other as a sign of the mutual respect they had for one another. From that point on, Hawks wore a Red River D buckle with the initials “JW” in the lower left corner, and Wayne wore a buckle with the initials “HWH.” It is from John Wayne’s Red River D belt buckle that all of the reproductions have been copied.
The buckles were made of silver with a twisted silver wire rope border, the letter D and two wavy lines (the Dunson brand in the film) made of solid gold, the words Red River in gold wire. In one corner was the date 1946 (the year the film was made) made of gold and in the opposite corner, encircled with the silver wire rope, would be the initials of the person the buckle was intended for. As legend has it (and verified by Hawks son), John Wayne and Howard Hawks exchanged buckles with each other as a sign of the mutual respect they had for one another. From that point on, Hawks wore a Red River D buckle with the initials “JW” in the lower left corner, and Wayne wore a buckle with the initials “HWH.” It is from John Wayne’s Red River D belt buckle that all of the reproductions have been copied.
This is a photo of the actual buckle owned and worn by John Wayne
There is a bit of mystery surrounding those original Red River D belt buckles, that deserves at least a brief mention here. It seems they have a habit of vanishing. In 1981, John Wayne’s oldest son, Michael Wayne, took his father’s original buckle to a silversmith in order to have the silversmith create some identical reproductions of the famous buckle. Not long after he handed it over the buckle vanished. Neither the silversmith nor the Wayne family has any explanation as to what happened to it. Michael Wayne filed a report with the police department, and a wanted poster was made up. To date, the buckle (valued at $100,000) has not been seen.
It was sometime after the disappearance of John Wayne’s buckle, that it was discovered that Howard Hawks buckle had vanished as well. According to Hawks’ daughter, Kitty, she hasn’t a clue what happened to her father’s buckle. Fast forward to 2011, when Mara Alexandru, the daughter of Norman Cook (who had been the production manager on Red River) decided to sell her father’s Red River D belt buckle in order to help her son enter college. She contacted Heritage Auctions, a prestigious auction form that handles many rare and valuable pieces of Hollywood memorabilia.
Ms. Alexandru handed her father’s buckle over to the Heritage representative, and before long the buckle went up for auction. Unfortunately, however, it had to be pulled from the auction during the bidding. Why? Well, wouldn’t you know it, the buckle had disappeared, and according to Heritage Auctions, no one has any idea where it went. Police reports have been filed on this disappearance as well. Not one of the buckles has been seen since.
Here is a link to a great website regarding the Red River D belt Buckle: http://www.redriverdbeltbuckle.com/
And here is a link to a news article regarding the mystery surrounding this famous buckle: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/movies/red-river-buckle-from-film-disappears-before-auction.html?_r=0
As you look through these various reproductions, you will notice that very few look the same, and even fewer look like the original buckles. In fact, there are even a few with the wrong date! You can click on any image to enlarge it.
It was sometime after the disappearance of John Wayne’s buckle, that it was discovered that Howard Hawks buckle had vanished as well. According to Hawks’ daughter, Kitty, she hasn’t a clue what happened to her father’s buckle. Fast forward to 2011, when Mara Alexandru, the daughter of Norman Cook (who had been the production manager on Red River) decided to sell her father’s Red River D belt buckle in order to help her son enter college. She contacted Heritage Auctions, a prestigious auction form that handles many rare and valuable pieces of Hollywood memorabilia.
Ms. Alexandru handed her father’s buckle over to the Heritage representative, and before long the buckle went up for auction. Unfortunately, however, it had to be pulled from the auction during the bidding. Why? Well, wouldn’t you know it, the buckle had disappeared, and according to Heritage Auctions, no one has any idea where it went. Police reports have been filed on this disappearance as well. Not one of the buckles has been seen since.
Here is a link to a great website regarding the Red River D belt Buckle: http://www.redriverdbeltbuckle.com/
And here is a link to a news article regarding the mystery surrounding this famous buckle: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/movies/red-river-buckle-from-film-disappears-before-auction.html?_r=0
As you look through these various reproductions, you will notice that very few look the same, and even fewer look like the original buckles. In fact, there are even a few with the wrong date! You can click on any image to enlarge it.
Nickel Silver and 18k Gold Plated Relief
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This is my personal Red River D buckle
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This Bohlin buckle will set you back $3,950 new
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Red River D-Ranch custom belt buckle plaque commissioned by John Wayne for Howard Hawks
In 1948, John Wayne commissioned a 12 inch by 14 ½ inch metal plaque of the Red River D belt buckle, with his initials, to be given to director Howard Hawks. It was a one-of-a-kind plaque, engraved on the back with the sentiment, “Howard, wrong initials – or maybe they copied the buckle you’re wearing. Affection, Duke.” The sentiment refers to the exchanged buckles between Wayne and Hawks. This plaque sold at auction in May 2011 for $5,000.
Of course, the Red River D belt buckle isn’t the only John Wayne belt buckle available, there have been many others. Here are some photos of them.
Of course, the Red River D belt buckle isn’t the only John Wayne belt buckle available, there have been many others. Here are some photos of them.
Brannigan Custom Made Buckle for Wayne, Levy and Gardner
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A solid Brass "John Wayne Shotgun" Buckle from England
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This "Duke" Buckle is dated February 21, 2000
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John Wayne Man of the Golden West by Endre Szabo 1985 Buckle
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John Wayne's personal 26 Bar ranch buckle
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Sterling Silver 26 Bar Belt Buckle with Turquoise nugget
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Hand Carved Turquoise John Wayne Custom Belt Buckle
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John Wayne 100 Dollar Bill Belt Buckle
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John Wayne 100th Birthday 24k Gold Plated Belt Buckle
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John Wayne 100th Birthday 999 Silver Plated Belt Buckle
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John Wayne Birthplace Buckle
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John Wayne Buckle
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John Wayne Ninety Year Anniversary Buckle
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John Wayne Ninety Year Anniversary Buckle
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John Wayne Silversmith Collection Gold Plated-Silver Plated Buckle
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John Wayne Silversmith Collection Gold Plated-Silver Plated Buckle
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John Wayne The Duke buckle from 1986
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John Wayne 1978 buckle
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John Wayne gold and silver buckle with matching belt tip
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Masterpiece Collection John Wayne Lives buckle
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Masterpiece Collection John Wayne Lives buckle
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NRA Member Commemorative The Guns of John Wayne buckle
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The John Wayne American Medallion Belt Buckle
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The John Wayne - An American Commemorative Belt Buckle available in brass, sterling silver and gold plated
Brass
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Sterling silver plated
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Brass with a gold plated coin
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The John Wayne Portrait Buckles
(featuring a ceramic or plastic Norman Rockwell portrait of John Wayne)
(featuring a ceramic or plastic Norman Rockwell portrait of John Wayne)
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The “Hong Kong Buckles”
These are cheaply made in Hong Kong and not very collectible
These are cheaply made in Hong Kong and not very collectible
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In addition to the many great looking John Wayne belt buckles (and some that are not so great looking), there are some buckles out there that are not John Wayne buckles at all…
Bradford exchange facsimile belt buckles
These Bradford exchange facsimile belt buckles can’t be worn, and only the Red River D facsimile buckle looks like an actual John Wayne belt buckle, the rest were designed by the Bradford Exchange and bear no resemblance to any actual belt buckles.
In addition, there is a “Tall in the Saddle” belt buckle available that is being presented as a John Wayne belt buckle. The thing is, though, it isn’t a John Wayne buckle at all. The scene on the buckle is not from a John Wayne film, and the rider appearing on the buckle is faceless and is not John Wayne.
Well, there you have it – the John Wayne Belt Buckles. Before we move on to the next section of John Wayne Collectibles, here are some of John Wayne’s personal belt buckles that sold in 2011 during the “Personal Property of John Wayne” auction held by Heritage Auctions.
In addition, there is a “Tall in the Saddle” belt buckle available that is being presented as a John Wayne belt buckle. The thing is, though, it isn’t a John Wayne buckle at all. The scene on the buckle is not from a John Wayne film, and the rider appearing on the buckle is faceless and is not John Wayne.
Well, there you have it – the John Wayne Belt Buckles. Before we move on to the next section of John Wayne Collectibles, here are some of John Wayne’s personal belt buckles that sold in 2011 during the “Personal Property of John Wayne” auction held by Heritage Auctions.
14k Gold JW Buckle
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Hand Tooled Leather Alamo Buckle
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Sterling Silver Bohlin Made Buckle Commemorating the Film - The Cowboys
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Sterling Silver with 14k Gold Figure
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