Howard Hawks, the director of Red River (1948), had silver belt buckles made as gifts for some of the film's cast and crew. The buckle featured the brand for John Wayne's character's cattle ranch, the words "Red River" in gold wire, various initials, and the date 1946 in cut gold. These buckles have since been known as the Red River D belt buckles. John Wayne wore a Red River D belt buckle in his personal life and in a number of his later westerns including Rio Bravo (1959), El Dorado (1966), and Rio Lobo (1970), all directed by Howard Hawks. Hawks and Wayne eventually exchanged buckles as a sign of mutual respect and admiration. The original buckle that John Wayne wore was stolen in 1981 and has not resurfaced to this day. The Bohlin Company crafts a beautifully detailed reproduction of the Red River D buckle by hand. This buckle is available to purchase online at jwstockandsupply.com or at the link in our bio. If you prefer to shop in-store, these hand-engraved belt buckles are also available at the John Wayne: An American Experience Museum & Supply in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas. We are open 7 days per week, from 9am to 6pm. "Give me 10 years, and I’ll have that brand on the gates of the greatest ranch in Texas... But it takes work, and it takes sweat, and it takes time, lots of time. It takes years.”— John Wayne as Tom Dunson in Red River #JohnWayne #JohnWayneTrivia #JohnWayneStockandSupply #JohnWayneExperience #Bohlin