First I roughed up the surface and the edges a bit using my nail-/metal file on the Victorinox Swiss army knife.
Then I used the "liquid silver" marker seen on this site:
Without having to remove the buckle as you would have to if using spray paint I just painted the thing to look a lot better than the original brass colour. Sort of screen accurate if I may say so as it didn't come out as shiny as I first had feared. The best part is that the paint will not come off even if you try rubbing it off with your nail. I just felt I had to post this to describe how easy it was to do and how good this particular paint marker was. I know there are others not totally happy with this buckle so, there you go.
Cool! Looks better than my MBA buckle. Good I kept the WPG strap instead of throwing it away. If that works out as great for me as for you, I'll chance the buckle on my MBA strap.
As a proud employee of Michaels Store 1124, I can say we carry those there. They are in the art supplies section- just ask an associate to help you find a silver paint pen and you can find it.
By the way, my point was a medium sized one, but the paint is the very same in both cases, I checked.
That only means you have got more time ahead of you to paint your buckle and more the fun!
I just did my buckle. I got the Liquid Silver pen at Dee's Crafts, since Michael's was too far away. I used the broad point pen and it worked great. Swindiana was right, it doesn't scrape off easily. No need for a protective finish coat. Just scuff it up with sandpaper and paint on with the pen. It's that easy.
Well, the MBA-Buckle is really out of diskussion here. It`s the only part of Noels Bag you really can`t be pleased with. WPG seems to have made that job better ...
Short question - how could you replace a buckle? I haven`t experienced this option at my bag.
This issue was up under another topic but this is what you'll need to do.
If you have rivets on there you need to drill them up in order to get rid of them, then you just replace the buckle. Get yourself some Chicago screws to put there instead of the rivets. That way you can detach and replace your buckle whenever you want to. I understand some of the straps ar attached with rivets too, same procedure should work on them.
If you want just a good looking buckle I suggest you contact Haversaw, he might have some left of a great find he made. I ordered and recieved from him as I have promised my WPG strap and buckle away.
