Best way/book to date eagle plate

[Mark1985]

My two eagle plates look different just wondering how many types are out there and if there is a way to date them







The top was my first one and the eagle looks much more vicious

 

[taz42o]

I know of 2 ,1826 pattern and 1839 pattern .

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The best reference-book for specifically identifying and time-dating it is the book "American Military Belt Plates" by Michael J. O'Donnell & J. Duncan Campbell. It sells for $49.95 at civil war relics shows and relic-shops. I've got a couple of extra copies, if you happen to visit the Richmond VA area anytime soon.

As Taz42o said, there are two basic forms of "eagle breastplate"... the US Army Model 1826 and Model-1839. However, because they were produced by more than just one manufacturer, the book shows 28 variations of the eagle-emblem, and tells the manufacturer (if known), and gives an approximate time-period for each variation. I'm sure the specific variation you found is shown in that book.