Pig Buckles for PAMs? - Straps and Watch Accessories - Time Tech Talk

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mcbean123
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What is a "Pig Buckle" I have seen it advertised several places and on a few watches on this site. Does it look like a pig? What, if anything, does it do?

Reid in Chelsea, MI

bigrustypig
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McBean123, first of all, Warm Welcome to 3T.hand6.gif

A "pig" buckle is a watch buckle shaped like a submarine or a torpedo. The buckle honors submarine warfare and strictly speaking, torpedo warfare. In the past world war, in the absence of sophisticated guiding systems, navy commandos rode on the backs of torpedoes and guided them while submerged to their targets --- "ejecting" themselves at a certain computed time before the torpedos' impact. Ejection was always preceded by a manual arming of the torpedos' warhead/explosive armament. Impact was calculated using the current, speed of the torpedo, movement of the target in a formation and a host of other things. Time therefore was crucial: a second or 2 of bad timing would mean a miss of the target's pre-determined weakest point or worse, a total miss.

Due to the fat and tubular size (girth) of these torpedos, they were affectionately called "pigs". Panerai, was the first to supply large divers' watches to the Italian Navy, an offshoot of the distinction it earned from supplying other precision marine instruments like depth gauges and compasses (usually worn on the left wrist and watch worn on the right).

For your reference, I attach a recent post of my "pig" buckle. This "pig" is on polished stainless steel. I also have versions in brushed steel and have seen a post of a "pig" in black PVD. For sure there may be titanium versions, bead-blasted versions and various sizes and shapes. The steel on this "pig" is 5mm thick.

Hope this short write-up helps :P

Hammerfjord
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Nice post Jeff!

Here's mine, a bit different than his, in brushed steel

mcbean123
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Thank you for answer regarding pig buckles. Well done.

Nabco
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Great explanation Jeff...I still need to et me a few of these

DM71
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Nabco wrote: Great explanation Jeff...I still need to et me a few of these

Ditto! And where would one find these??? If I may ask you gentlemen :D

Hammerfjord
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DM71 wrote:
Nabco wrote: Great explanation Jeff...I still need to et me a few of these

Ditto! And where would one find these??? If I may ask you gentlemen :D

The Bay is the source of all your needs grasshopper...:D

stew77
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bigrustypig wrote: McBean123, first of all, Warm Welcome to 3T.hand6.gif

A "pig" buckle is a watch buckle shaped like a submarine or a torpedo. The buckle honors submarine warfare and strictly speaking, torpedo warfare. In the past world war, in the absence of sophisticated guiding systems, navy commandos rode on the backs of torpedoes and guided them while submerged to their targets --- "ejecting" themselves at a certain computed time before the torpedos' impact. Ejection was always preceded by a manual arming of the torpedos' warhead/explosive armament. Impact was calculated using the current, speed of the torpedo, movement of the target in a formation and a host of other things. Time therefore was crucial: a second or 2 of bad timing would mean a miss of the target's pre-determined weakest point or worse, a total miss.

Due to the fat and tubular size (girth) of these torpedos, they were affectionately called "pigs". Panerai, was the first to supply large divers' watches to the Italian Navy, an offshoot of the distinction it earned from supplying other precision marine instruments like depth gauges and compasses (usually worn on the left wrist and watch worn on the right).

For your reference, I attach a recent post of my "pig" buckle. This "pig" is on polished stainless steel. I also have versions in brushed steel and have seen a post of a "pig" in black PVD. For sure there may be titanium versions, bead-blasted versions and various sizes and shapes. The steel on this "pig" is 5mm thick.

Hope this short write-up helps :P

Wow Jeff...thanks for the detailed and excellent explanation!!!

I feel like I just graduated from pig-buckle school!!hand6.gif

Always something new to learn at 3T. Thanks amigo!!!

DM71
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Hammerfjord wrote: DM71 wrote:
Nabco wrote: Great explanation Jeff...I still need to et me a few of these

Ditto! And where would one find these??? If I may ask you gentlemen :D

The Bay is the source of all your needs grasshopper...:D
Got it, THX! hand6.gif

teddyhanna
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Here is the 8artisan.

http://8artisans.com/index.php/accessories/pig-buckles/big-daddy-24-mm.html

This is where I got mine.... DON <tick@can.rogers.com>

DM71
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teddyhanna wrote: Here is the 8artisan.

http://8artisans.com/index.php/accessories/pig-buckles/big-daddy-24-mm.html

This is where I got mine.... DON <tick@can.rogers.com>

Thanks Teddy, I found this one and the one Jeff is using, both are very nice but the 8a is more affordable. The other one cost as much as the Pig itself!!!

teddyhanna
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Did you try Don..? He charge me $23.

DM71
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teddyhanna wrote: Did you try Don..? He charge me $23.

Nope, but I will. Thanks for the info!

teddyhanna
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Dan I have to say this I like the 8Art style better. Dan in the pics of mine you cannot tell but I feel the buckle looks to square. Personally it looks kinda of Dorky. The 8Art design looks better jmho...:cool:

DM71
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teddyhanna wrote: Dan I have to say this I like the 8Art style better. Dan in the pics of mine you cannot tell but I feel the buckle looks to square. Personally it looks kinda of Dorky. The 8Art design looks better jmho...:cool:
Thanks Teddy, I think I see exactly what you mean. I will follow your recommendation, and I appreciate hand6.gif

oagaspar
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J&S straps carries Pig buckles right here on 3T in top grade lazer cut hand6.gif

http://www.jns-strap.com/jns_strap/Catalog/Pages/Buckle.html

KenC
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Great explanation...I had always wondered that too...and while we are on the subject of the Italian Military, anybody want to buy a good WWII Italian Mauser...never fired and only been dropped once?

Hammerfjord
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KenC wrote:
Great explanation...I had always wondered that too...and while we are on the subject of the Italian Military, anybody want to buy a good WWII Italian Mauser...never fired and only been dropped once?

hand6.gif