First I hate anything electronic, the computer and I don't see eye to eye so for now anything else that goes with it is out of the picture.
This is how I see the buckles, there are many factors that I am using, more than I care to type.
Top WW1 period buckle with mismatched left loop, the loop on the right is used to sie the belt.
Next I have seen this type but I can't remember where. What size are the loops and are they made of iron? I believe this was used for a cloth stable belt ( dress belt) as you can see it won't carry much weight, the loops are not soldiered closed and the iron is thin, likely around 1900 or a little later.
Next This is a British/Canadian Riflemans buckle ( white metal) They are hard to date due to the many differant types that were used, However I would say thisa is 1880s to Present use. Nickle over iron is more modern than the older ones that were nickle over brass. I do know that most that are used today on Regt. Unforms are chrome plated and have a "sunburst" in the middle of the Snake, but not all
Last, This again looks like 1900 to 1914 perhaps a bit older ( Boar War) One of the problems with this type is the fact that when Canada declared War in 1914 there was a rush to equipe the 1000s of Volnt. that joined up. The result was that the boots fell apart, the uniforms were shoddy and rushed production allowed items not up to pre-war standard to be used. This "snake" looks older than WW1 however it does not look like a great quality casting, so this gives it an older appearance. It also may have been cast in an earlier type mold due to the efforts to make enough equipment to fill the needs.
As soon as our Troops arrived in England they were re-equiped with 1908 Pattern Webbing (cloth)and Better quality British Unforms and Boots. CEF Battns raised from late 1915 or early 1916 were issued the 1908 Cloth webbing in Canada, again some of this 1902 Pattern stuff was still in used with Militia units for years. I remember seeing these belts by the hundereds in Surplus stores in Toronto for $5-$6 each in the mid 1980s
With the dug snake buckles you really got to know where it was found, and I don't trust a lot of people that sell on ebay.
I hope this helps
Dean Owen
Whitby Ontario