I think I may have found a rare buckle tongue! What do you think?

[Ironman!]

I found this unique tongue a few days ago and can't find it in O'Donnell's, Kerksis, or "American Military Insignia 1800 - 1851" by Campbell & Howell. It is a very stout buckle weighing almost 2 oz. Because of the eagle being slanted at the 1:00 o'clock position, could it have been field cast? The olive branch and arrows are different and the wings have that early feel to it like maybe 1840's? What do you guys think?

IM

 

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[danimal03]

nice find Larry. I have never seen this one. I like the tilted eagle. It looks well made to me so I do not think it was field cast. My guess would be some small foundry where the maker had a rough morning and somehow had the disc mold crooked. I would agree on timeframe, circa 1840's-early/mid 1850's at the latest. Super tongue and hopefully the wreath is lurking nearby... good luck and thanks for sharing.

 

[richeysd76]

Wow nice find , now you just need the wreath

 

[CoilyGirl]

Be interesting to see if you get an ID on it,sure is pretty.

 

[Inspector]

Really cool find and nice condition. WTG

 

[CRUSADER]

very nice, I know very little but I can tell its pre-CW. I hope we find the answer, I will wait & see.

 

[Steve in PA]

That is a great looking tongue Larry, and it would look even better with it's wreath! I hope you can find it.

 

[caprock]

Congats ! Thanks for posting that piece. I'll be adding this one to my T&W database. It's exciting to know that there are still unknown buckles to be found.
Can't wait to learn more about this one.

 

[etex]

Nice buckle and nice condition

 

[DigIron2]

very, very nice find.It is killer by itself,but like mentioned above I would be on a mission for the other half.Not sure, but I think it's 1840 period Militia Officer.gl-HH

 

[mirage83]

Very solid construction unlike some of the lighter weight tongue & wreath buckles I found online. Got nothing to back it up other than a hunch, but I tend to agree with the other posters who feel it's pre-CW. Hope someone finds out something to properly ID it, but it's definitely quality construction and a great find. Now all you need is the wreath...

 

[DigIron2]

It's the closest thing I could find to it.

 

[Argentium]

That is really a beautiful piece ! What a dream to be able to find the missing part - go for it !!!

 

[markp]

nice find

 

[gunsil]

Nice one, I agree that it is pre civil war and that it is factory made. Nobody "field cast" anything out of bronze or brass. These are not low melting temperature metals like lead or pewter and require a lot more technology to cast. Again, it is a very nice one.

 

[Ahab8]

That's is a beautiful piece. Congrats and I hope you get a solid id

 

[Roger Mn.]

Nice buckle. I found this and one in the second row looks like yours.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ton...findmall.com%2Fread.php%3F19%2C397553;365;305

 

[CRUSADER]

Nice one, I agree that it is pre civil war and that it is factory made. Nobody "field cast" anything out of bronze or brass. These are not low melting temperature metals like lead or pewter and require a lot more technology to cast. Again, it is a very nice one.

I agree, there is no way this is field cast.

 

[relic nut]

Very nice find. I'd go nuts looking for the other part. Good luck

 

[Silver Tree Chaser]

Great Find! I hope you have luck finding the other half. I found one similar to yours a couple of years ago, but my tongue portion had a nasty encounter with a tractor blade. Here's some information that I had come up with on these buckles. I guess that you could determine the closest date by counting the stars, i.e., how may states in the union = date.