Civil War find today (I think)

[Poptopagain]

Today a good friend and I hit the private fields of a Western Maryland civil war battlefield and came up with a good find. This is a brass heel or toe plate from a shoe. (At least I think that it is...and I'm open to suggestions.) There are no markings on it other than the holes were tags went into the sole or heel.

I was located about four inches down using a White's XLT.

 

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[briankb70]

nice find

 

[CRUSADER]

tag

 

[romeo-1]

Yep...it's a toe clip...no way of telling if it's civil war related though. I believe these were on the vast majority of boots at that time frame as well as well before and after.

 

[CRUSADER]

Yep...it's a toe clip...no way of telling if it's civil war related though. I believe these were on the vast majority of boots at that time frame as well as well before and after.

Funny, thinking the same thing, but with little reference material I was holding back

 

[RiverRat3]

Good find, you keep finding things related to boots or shoes.

 

[Texasgopher]

Hey, if you were in an area known for CW history then that's what I'd call it. I think that's fair. Nice find either way!

 

[sscindercoop]

nice

 

[Elliott Ness]

Mike, we always seem to be able to find a keeper when we get out there. Your brass toe plate is pictured in Howard Crouch's Civil War Artifacts book on pg. 143 item #7. Maybe it belongs on the boot that went to the spur you found not to long ago. Cant wait until the next hunt. HH

 

[CRUSADER]

Mike, we always seem to be able to find a keeper when we get out there. Your brass toe plate is pictured in Howard Crouch's Civil War Artifacts book on pg. 143 item #7. Maybe it belongs on the boot that went to the spur you found not to long ago. Cant wait until the next hunt. HH

This is problem with books (sometimes), they are often subjective & even wrong. If I find one in the UK is it then CW related?
If it were a known camp it would add weight to the argument but even then doesn't guarantee anything unless from a sealed dateable archaeological layer. Also it could be CW related & found at a homestead but difficult to prove. I'm not trying to put a downer on the find (it could well be CW) only widen its interpretation so that everyone can look at these type of things with an open mind & doesn't blindly believe the books (which I have many of & pick & choose the facts carefully based on a broader knowledge base).

 

[JerV3]

Nice toe tap.

I get those alot at early sites. Good indicator more is around.

HH Jer

 

[Jimmy D]

Good find Mike, since this area was the site of a major civil war battle I would also say most likley civil war artifact. Hopefully we can get back out real soon...........................Good find

 

[BuckleBoy]

Below is my 2008-09 collection. They are from old homestead sites. None of these should be considered strictly "Civil War" finds. They are civilian items, although soldiers used them too--much like common flat buttons or suspender clips. I enjoy finding them though, since they are old and they do have a story to tell.





Regards,



Buckleboy

 

[Poptopagain]

That's a very cool collection Buckleboy. Thanks for sharing. Are they all made from brass?

 

[BuckleBoy]

That's a very cool collection Buckleboy. Thanks for sharing. Are they all made from brass?

Yes, they are brass. The time frame on these is probably 1840 to 1900 or so. I'm convinced that the ones with the bigger holes in them date later than the others--perhaps as late as the 1920s on that style. This is all from estimating the age of my sites based on the other finds found.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

[Old River]

Some of the toe taps have dates on the end of them. If its not worn off. Nice finds HH.....

 

[rjw4law]

I always had them on my boots, was told it slows down the wear and tear on the boot.

 

[allen]

that is a neat relic !!

 

[CRUSADER]

Below is my 2008-09 collection. They are from old homestead sites. None of these should be considered strictly "Civil War" finds. They are civilian items, although soldiers used them too--much like common flat buttons or suspender clips. I enjoy finding them though, since they are old and they do have a story to tell.






Regards,



Buckleboy

Good information, this is the sort of education I was trying to inforce. Not every 'labelled' CW artefact is what it seems (some are, of course). If everyone just agrees (or believes the books) it gets a life of its own. Knowledge is the key to the better understanding of the everyday items we find. Often the most common are the least studied, & therefore are commonly mis-understood.

I hope this type of post helps everyone, & thanks to the poster

 

[kuger]

Below is my 2008-09 collection. They are from old homestead sites. None of these should be considered strictly "Civil War" finds. They are civilian items, although soldiers used them too--much like common flat buttons or suspender clips. I enjoy finding them though, since they are old and they do have a story to tell.






Regards,



Buckleboy

My collection looks like yours B.B!!I dug over 30 of them at one site last year it must have been the camp cobbler!!!