The Three Rings were never supposed to be wappens of war. And if they had been, Gandalf would not have been a good choice to give such a wappen to, since the Istari were not supposed to be leader in war action.
About Celebrimbor: He did not make the Rings to be used for anybody else but himself. Thus as long as Sauron had not finished his Ring he wore them all three and may be even more Rings of power as he surely had been the maker of some of the Seven and the Nine. To give the Rings away was a plan he made together in a meeting with Galadriel just before the attack of Sauron on Eriador.
Respectfully
Findegil
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