This is what expert said
-----Original Message-----
From: mike <mike@odonnellpublications.com>
To: ransom hundley <elrandino@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Apr 27, 2016 9:38 am
Subject: Re: help please
Hi,
It would more likely have been worn as a shoulder belt plate than on a cartridge box flap. In those early days, the leather boxes of Americans were usually unadorned. If anything, they displayed small cast stars, hearts, or something similar. But some militiamen wore plates like this from the Revolution thru the War of 1812. Not all plates of those were functional, i.e., a tongue and two studs for adjustment, like the U.S. Army adopted in 1808. Many plates worn by the "common" militia were permanently affixed like this example. The problem is - the same size, hook arrangement and shape was also associated with trunk plates of the era. So, we must look for clues and make a judgement call. I firmly believe this actually was a militia shoulder belt plate. It appears thinner than many of the trunk plates and the surface of its front looks like it had been repeatedly polished. The fact that one upper corner shows signs of wear further supports my supposition.
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: ransom hundley [mailto:elrandino@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 03:59 PM
To:
mike@odonnellpublications.com
Subject: help please
Hi Mike,
We had a customer bring this in today. Ran believes its an 1812 cartridge box plate. Can you tell us what you think it is?
Thanks,
Angela