Abstract: A buckle component of a vehicle occupant restraint belt system is slidably disposed on a restraint belt of the system in an improved manner. The buckle component may take the form of a female buckle or a male D-ring that secures the belt in an occupant restraining position. The buckle component includes a housing with an outwardly facing rectilinear locking portion extending transversely with respect to the elongated direction of the belt. An external lock bar extends alongside the locking portion with the belt received therebetween. The lock bar has a slightly greater length than the width of the belt and has end portions extending about the side edges of the belt and back toward each other in generally U-shaped configurations. These end portions are pivotally mounted on the housing of the buckle component.