A Belt PLate...IN MY OWN YARD!!!

[romeo-1]

I'm 70 percent devastated right now....because I'm 70% sure that this is a reproduction 19th century Royal Irish belt plate...

My car broke down so I was detecting the yard and got really close to the barn where it's really trashy...I cleared out a ton of iron and got a crystal tone down deep...probably at least a foot. Imagine my shock when my shovel HIT something solid and I pulled this out! As usual I grab a couple quick "fresh from the hole" dirty pics and then run to the hose. Everything looked good until I flipped it over...looks like solder on the top lug...bad sign. I did a quick Google search and could not find any other plates with three post type attachments...so I'm reasonably sure I got a reproduction...

Is someone punking me Perhaps someone who I've hosted in the past...hmmmmmmm

Anyway...here it is as it is...

 

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[Zodiacdiverdave]

It's an awesome looking plate but the patina dosen't look right so I think your are correct that it's a repro. But it wasn't me. Regardless it's a keeper just for the story behind it.
I had my grandson today so we just tried looking for the old military training grounds near Kingston but no luck....yet.
zdd

 

[Iron Patch]

Detail doesn't seem strong enough, looks like modern metal remaining from the top attachment, and can tell you it's not a precise match to the one in my book. So if there was a very high level of quality control, it' looks like it's fake. Also this is a very reproduced plate. Either way, talk about a rush seeing that in the dirt!

 

[ironhorse]

That is pretty crazy!

We sometimes travel so far for far less finds!
Very interesting piece, possible hat badge maybe?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

This is a beautiful find Romeo ... repro or not!
The patina definitely isn't right, but it's gorgeous all the same!

Dave

 

[Iron Patch]

However, that is one killer genuine shovel!

 

[romeo-1]

90% sure...

 

[romeo-1]

However, that is one killer genuine shovel!

I'm kind of dreading our next hunt together...I don't think I want to give up this shovel! It's without a doubt the best shovel I've ever used and I don't think I could break it if I tried. I've looked for another but haven't had any luck...

I may file for legal adoption...

 

[Iron Patch]

I'm kind of dreading our next hunt together...I don't think I want to give up this shovel! It's without a doubt the best shovel I've ever used and I don't think I could break it if I tried. I've looked for another but haven't had any luck...

I may file for legal adoption...

Now I know why you've been avoiding a trip here!

I'm going to look around very soon to see if I can find them, and buy several. I had 3 or 4 at one time, and down to my last one. Don't know where the missing 1 or 2 went, but as you mentioned, I know I didn't break them. I'm kicking myself now for not having 5 or 6 in reserve, but I will if I find em again.

I'm sure by the time you make it here the courts will have stepped in and granted you full custody.

 

[jewelerguy]

doesn't look any different than any I've looked at on the net. I vote that it is real

 

[Diggin Dude]

That is totally awesome! Congrats

 

[The Patriot]

That is just crazy, what are the chances? Wish it was real though!

 

[ColonialDude]

very cool find. Possibly an old repro!?

 

[ColonialDude]

Hey Romeo...If you want a shovel that you will NEVER break check out these ones:

Radius® Ergonomic Stainless-Steel Digging Tools - Lee Valley Tools

Stainless steel. Great blade shape. Will cut into anything. Only drawback is they are heavy but I've had the same one for 6 years...up until then I was going through different shovels yearly. The one I use is C...narrower blade.

Alternatively they now have these in carbon steel but I don't know if they are as strong!? Lighter though.

Ergonomic Carbon-Steel Digging Tools - Lee Valley Tools

I see they have a store in Halifax

 

[Bluedogcards]

Thats a great find, you will also have a great story and finding it in your yard, i like

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Well I wouldn't know one way or the other, but at a foot deep I know it wasn't burried (planted) any time recently ?

Cool in any case.

 

[vpnavy]

Thanks for sharing...

 

[ironhorse]

Now I know why you've been avoiding a trip here!

I'm going to look around very soon to see if I can find them, and buy several. I had 3 or 4 at one time, and down to my last one. Don't know where the missing 1 or 2 went, but as you mentioned, I know I didn't break them. I'm kicking myself now for not having 5 or 6 in reserve, but I will if I find em again.

I'm sure by the time you make it here the courts will have stepped in and granted you full custody.

Those exact ones , i believe, are no longer available from Home Hardware. I do know where a very close similar shovel is sold and still selling for under $20, same heavy duty construction , highly identifiable orange handle and still made in Canada , you can't beat the quality

 

[CRUSADER]

Well it will still look nice on display & it has the good story with it. Funny how many miles you would do for one of those.

 

[Hunthicks]

Well, either way, that's better than the $1.12 I've found in my yard! Now if it was authentic, that would be amazing!