🥇 BANNER Naval Officers Buckle 1850s - Rare AMES mfg. variety

[Scrappy]

Naval Officers Buckle 1850's - Rare AMES mfg. variety

I got out for a quick jaunt this afternoon. The new location I found was a house that had the exterior modified, but surely dated pre-1840's. It had been abandoned and literally had 2-3' weeds, and was almost undetectable. Almost...

First signal was this killer buckle tongue.

I searched for a half hour for the other half but no luck. I couldn't get the coil close to the ground for smaller target, so all I caught after that was big targets.



After some cleaning...



What I believe I have is an Ames Mfg. Co. Navy buckle 1851-1862. This early variety has two stars by the anchor. Some of the gold gilting remains, but I didn't want to over clean it. It's definitely one of my favorite buckle finds ever

My take for the hour

Enjoy.

Just a little updated pic - first one in sunlight



I love it!!!!

 

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[deershed]

Unbelievable some of the things you find, with better conditions I see the rest of that buckle showing up.
Awesome find!!

 

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[Scrappy]

That is KILLER alright.
A heart break not to get the other half, but hey, half is much better than no half.
And I do know exactly how you would feel I got half a tongue, and wreath buckle, and was unable to get the other half.
But maybe next spring you have a better chance ?
Good luck out there.

Thanks Rick. I think I'm just going to take my gas weed wacker out there.

Awesome find Scrappy!! I'd be thrilled definitely a cool buckle. Just curious is that a 51 I see?does that mean 1851?

Congrats and HH. [emoji41]

I don't know much about these buckles besides what lightly researched. I'll try to find that out or perhaps someone on here is willing to share their knowledge

That would be a site that I would always have as a backup. Eventually you will find the wreath portion ....if it is there.

I hope so. Like I said above I'm going there with a weed wacker and a wish! Thanks for looking

 

[Scrappy]

That's quite a nice find Steve. In my experience it's very difficult to find both halves to a 2-piece buckle like that, but it just might be hiding somewhere at that site. Good luck finding it.

Thank you Bill, and thank you for your help narrowing the dates yesterday. With your info I was able to zero in on the exact ID, otherwise I'm not sure if I could have.

 

[Darby]

Wow!!! Awesome piece. Super big congrats buddy! Finding a buckle or plate of any type is on the top of my wish list. Congrats again on a great find.

 

[port ewen ace]

why settle for small SCRAPPs when you can dig BIGAS$ brass

 

[metalev4]

A really nice find rarely dug. If your only going to get half of a tongue and wreath, you dug the right half. Great condition as well.

 

[Iron Patch]

Damn nice! It's very tough here to find any type of badge, buckle, or plate that predates World war 1 or 2... so things like that really grab my attention.

 

[Scrappy]

That's a heart stopper Scrappy and I voted this sweet buckle for a banner find. I'll bet that other part will be found when the area is easier to get to.

Thanks coily for the banner vote. Even though I'm not quite a believer in the banner system, this early variety of the 1852 buckle is considered quite rare.

 

[CASPER-2]

I did not know they made buckles - know they made cannon - guns and swords for CW
I personally found the biggest lock you've ever seen - all brass - think it was for a rail car - it was marked Ames 1864
but don't think ive seen a buckle by them - if I can find any info - will certainly pass along
once again

 

[CASPER-2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Manufacturing_Company
is it naval or could it be marine?
Ames made ceremonial swords I know and made others too
is this yours -couple pics down
Civil War Antiques

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I forgot to mention, that I have seen many CS, USA plates, so many I'm nearly sick of, but this is the first I recall of this type in my 9 years here, and for that I call banner.

It's also good you got so much gold left on it.
Great find Steve , perhaps your best yet ?

 

[traverdog]

A really nice find.

 

[CoilyGirl]

I forgot to mention, that I have seen many CS, USA plates, so many I'm nearly sick of, but this is the first I recall of this type in my 9 years here, and for that I call banner.

It's also good you got so much gold left on it.
Great find Steve , perhaps your best yet ?

Confederate belt buckles are pretty rare around here Rick and definitely banner worthy to those of those that have found them. One man's' trash is another ones' treasure I guess. Anyway like I said,ya done good Scrappy.

 

[Scrappy]

Damn nice! It's very tough here to find any type of badge, buckle, or plate that predates World war 1 or 2... so things like that really grab my attention.

I agree. A few people mentioned how tough it is to find pre WW, and especially pre-CW. Although this may be considered VERY early Civil War. The early two stars below the eagle were apparently only made in 1851 and 1852. The latter ones went to 1 star, and no-stars were more from the late-1850's/early-1860's. I've always wanted a CW or earlier officers buckle and I'm very happy to add this one!

Cheers

 

[Gridwalker306]

That's an exquisite buckle Scrappy. I also haven't seen one like that. Even without the wreath I agree it's a banner find. Putting in a vote for you.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Confederate belt buckles are pretty rare around here Rick and definitely banner worthy to those of those that have found them. One man's' trash is another ones' treasure I guess. Anyway like I said,ya done good Scrappy.

I don't mean any disrespect to your find, as I would be very pleased to find one, but at the same time there is one on the banner nearly always, so is NOT the same caliber as the plate that Scrappy found, which almost NEVER shows up, and therefore clearly a banner find....if a somewhat commonly found CS plate is.
A genuine vote going in now.

 

[DigIron2]

Congratulations Scrappy. That is one heck of a find right there. Amazing how it cleaned up so nice too...wtg....Banner!

 

[etex]

Very nice one, hope you have better luck than me on finding the wreath.

 

[Brother Al]

Maybe you can carry a little lightweight swingblade back to the site and do a little cleaning. I KNOW YOU WANT THE OTHER HALF.

 

[Iron Patch]

I don't mean any disrespect to your find, as I would be very pleased to find one, but at the same time there is one on the banner nearly always, so is NOT the same caliber as the plate that Scrappy found, which almost NEVER shows up, and therefore clearly a banner find....if a somewhat commonly found CS plate is.
A genuine vote going in now.

I'm not sure where to rank something like this, but will say grouping a CS plate with a U.S. plate is a mistake, and before this thread is done I'll bet you'll hear that a few times. Considering how many people hunt CW relics it probably makes sense we see them on the banner on a regular basis... but they are in many cases finds of a lifetime, U.S. plates are not, at least for the most part. I would guess the Naval buckles aren't dug as much simply because they were mostly on ships, and I wouldn't be surprised less in numbers. But I'm still pretty sure most CW hunters are taking a CS plate way before a Union Navy buckle.... unless it's one special buckle... which maybe this one is... I don't know enough about them to say.