Civil war belt buckle, ??????

[doublet2a]

A hunting buddy found this the other day. Unfortunately he decided to clean it up with a wire brush..........
Measures 2 & 7/8" X 1 & 7/8 "..Made of brass. Dime for size reference.
Is it real,, Is it civil war, or what, I have no idea It was found in California
Thanks

Tim

 

[21stTNCav]

A hunting buddy found this the other day. Unfortunately he decided to clean it up with a wire brush..........
Measures 2 & 7/8" X 1 & 7/8 "..Made of brass. Dime for size reference.
Is it real,, Is it civil war, or what, I have no idea It was found in California
Thanks

Tim

Amigo whatchu got there is one Union Officers belt buckle!!! Congrats, but your buddy oughta have not take that brush to it. Congrats http://www.medievalcollectables.com/s-66-civil-war-buckles.aspx

 

[CC Hunter]

The buckle is indeed a U.S. Officer's Belt Plate.........although a tad bit later than the American Civil War.

That is a Model 1874 Pattern. The earlier Model 1851 (in use during the ACW), had a narrow catch bar that attached into the belt keeper (with matching belt loop), as well as an integral cast belt loop to the side of the belt plate. The Model 1874 had a braised wire belt loop on the back, along with the wide catch bar extending nearly completely top to bottom on the back of the belt plate.

The wire wheel cleaning method is a bit harsh! :P

Here is a nearly identical Model 1874 Officer's Belt Plate that was just posted a few days ago:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,382139.0.html

CC Hunter

 

[doublet2a]

WOW!! Thanks for the info.. You think it's real
I know there is a lot of fakes out there..

Tim

 

[CC Hunter]

Assuming the buckle is a legitimate find by your buddy, being dug at a site that may have produced items of possibly at least a century old, then I say yes........most likely the real deal. Also, taking note of the fact that the buckle still has evidence of a heavy patina on the back, and that your buddy applied a very drastic cleaning method, tends to lead one to believe it has been in the ground for quite some time.

I really doubt that it was common practice to hide reproduction buckles in the ground a few decades ago.

On the other hand, if your buddy "found" the buckle at the local flea market, or on Ebay...........well then, we might have another story.

Anyhow, it looks right and real to me, a digger and collector of Civil War and earlier relics for nearly 30 years.

CC Hunter

 

[Iron Patch]

Assuming the buckle is a legitimate find by your buddy, being dug at a site that may have produced items of possibly at least a century old, then I say yes........most likely the real deal. Also, taking note of the fact that the buckle still has evidence of a heavy patina on the back, and that your buddy applied a very drastic cleaning method, tends to lead one to believe it has been in the ground for quite some time.

I really doubt that it was common practice to hide reproduction buckles in the ground a few decades ago.

On the other hand, if your buddy "found" the buckle at the local flea market, or on Ebay...........well then, we might have another story.

Anyhow, it looks right and real to me, a digger and collector of Civil War and earlier relics for nearly 30 years.

CC Hunter

I knew it was fake as soon as I seen it.



ooops... you're here.

 

[doublet2a]

You guys are great!!!
He dug it a 12 inches at a site we have gotten coins from late 1800's.
This time I wasn't with him, Or I would have kept him from using his precision cleaning methods..
A couple of weeks ago he found a 1921 "D" dime in nice condition.
When he came to show it to me, he had already rubbed it vigorously to see the date
We sold it on E-bay after he took it home and cleaned it up.
Took about $300 of the value. He's been MDing for 20+ years and still won't learn!!!
Here's the E-bay link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280626470694&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

Tim

 

[BuckleBoy]

It is genuine, although after that harsh cleaning, I'm not certain that many folks would be interested in buying it. Still a great find though.


-Buckles

 

[CC Hunter]

I knew it was fake as soon as I seen it.

The hairpiece? Should have never bought one from an Infomercial.

CC Hunter

 

[relichunters]

The patina says it all

 

[Iron Patch]

I knew it was fake as soon as I seen it.

The hairpiece? Should have never bought one from an Infomercial.

CC Hunter

Just buy some spray on stuff, and while you're there see if they have anything for patina in a can.

 

[aa battery]

hi TIM

 

[CC Hunter]

Just buy some spray on stuff, and while you're there see if they have anything for patina in a can.

The "spray on patina" will add an awesome green for that punk hairstyle.

Oh........you were thinking for the brillo buckle.

CC Hunter

 

[doublet2a]

hi TIM

Hi aa

 

[doublet2a]

"Oh........you were thinking for the brillo buckle. sign13"




Tim

 

[Goodyguy]

He only cleaned about fifty dollars off it...... still should be worth about $10 even though it's missing parts and bent.

 

[DirtyMike]

Here is one in the first 2 pictures that is similar and from the same approximate time period of yours that I had found a couple years ago. Notice the attachment bar on the back. Its goes from the top to the bottom. Now in the last 2 photos is one found this past year in a civil war camp. Notice the small attachment bar on the back.