Dug my first Civil War buckle today!!! Eagle sword belt plate!!

matt092079 · Feb 18, 2013

I went out after work to a farm we have been pounding for almost 2 years since I first started metal detecting. We have dug tons of bullets and more than a handful of eagle buttons, coins, and various colonial buttons. Today was really slow and I was kinda all over the place hitting spots that have produced before, but weren't today. My first find was an early tombac button. Dug a few CW bullets after that. Then nothing. I was tired of walking all over and decided to leave. As I'm leaving I'm walking in a straight line through a field to get to my truck and maybe 40 feet into the field, BAM! Got a great signal, but it was close to a gravel road that runs through the farm and thought for sure a deep can as I have dug them before along there. But to my surprise I dug the hole and in slow motion I saw the buckle fly out with the clump of dirt!! I knew right away it was a buckle and checked quickly to see if it was confederate, but saw the eagle and knew right away that I had an eagle sword belt plate! Still amazing for me and with all the CW relics I have dug, this is my first buckle! Of course I started working the area a little bit and found a flat button and a pistol bullet.

This almost makes my year, unless I find that super duper silver or gold coin or a CS buckle! I'm on cloud nine right now, just because I didn't think I would ever find a buckle and not on this farm that's been pounded for 20 or so years. Just in awe! Some pics below and just wondering how I should clean the dirt off of it without ruining it. I've used a toothbrush, but was afraid water would kinda ruin the patina. Any suggestions? Thanks for looking and HH!

Bill D. (VA) · Feb 18, 2013

Congrats Matt - that's an awesome find!! It really pays to hit those junky areas near the road as they can sometime pay off bigtime as it did for you today. And I can't tell you how many times I've made a great find on the way back to the truck. Amazing how that seems to happen so frequently. Now I'm sure your interest has been renewed in that site. Still gotta be a few goodies left for you to uncover there.

Steve in PA · Feb 18, 2013

Good job Matt, that fits right in with all the spurs and other cavalry relics you've been finding lately.

HutSiteDigger · Feb 18, 2013

Awesome job Matt ! I sure remember my first eagle sword plate now your gonna be really hooked :headbang:

... Now someone you know will ask "Hey Where's Matt at" :dontknow:

and everyone gonna reply "Oh! He is out digging relics" Good job man and let me know about any early 20th century trash dumps like we been talking about! :occasion14:

rhoffart · Feb 18, 2013

Wow, great find ... congrats

SilverPirate · Feb 18, 2013

Congrats, what amazing finds! Awesome!

Kyboy · Feb 18, 2013

Digging something like that puts a permanent grin on your face! Congrats!

Scotdixon · Feb 18, 2013

Jam up! still lookin for that one... There is always something left, somewhere!

BuckleBoy · Feb 19, 2013

Congrats on your first plate! One heck of a year for you so far! I figured that would happen. It's funny... Plates are always dug when you least expect them. My mentor dug a plate in a site this past spring that he had detected for close to 20 years! It was where he least expected to find it: right near a road in a trashy area.

Congratulations to you! Many more will come your way.

Best Wishes,

Buck

matt092079 · Feb 19, 2013

BuckleBoy said:
Congrats on your first plate! One heck of a year for you so far! I figured that would happen. It's funny... Plates are always dug when you least expect them. My mentor dug a plate in a site this past spring that he had detected for close to 20 years! It was where he least expected to find it: right near a road in a trashy area.

Congratulations to you! Many more will come your way.

Best Wishes,

Buck

Thanks everyone for the comments! I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders! lol It's an awesome feeling.

CSA2K · Feb 19, 2013

WTG!!!

nutsdad · Feb 19, 2013

Great find. One day I hope to be lucky enough to find such a great buckle. It's in great shape.

deltamann · Feb 19, 2013

Sweet Save!

okerraine · Feb 19, 2013

Incredible find congratulations!

CoilyGirl · Feb 19, 2013

Very,very nice,congrats to you! :hello2:

CMDiamonddawg · Feb 19, 2013

Congrats , that's quite a discovery ! I noticed your wreath is missing . Looks like you dug an Enlistedman's sword plate . A few tidbits of information ; Enlisted man's plates were fed made and issued and are less detailed than the Officer's sword plate . These plates are worn by enlisted men who carried swords, such as cavalrymen and field artillerymen.
The wreath on enlisted man's plates were made of applied German silver. Some plates made by the Alleghany Arsenal were made with both the wreath and eagle sweated on a cast plate.
Recovered dug plates are often missing their wreaths due to oxidation. A good md hunting friend of mine found one in his front yard recently , turns out the house belonged to a Yank CW vet who was in the First Cav. from New Jersey . We are planing a dig there soon , may be more military but not a given , anywho :icon_thumleft:

that's one find I would want to get before I croak. .HH

CMD :skullflag:

matt092079 · Feb 19, 2013

CMDiamonddawg said:
Congrats , that's quite a discovery ! I noticed your wreath is missing . Looks like you dug an Enlistedman's sword plate . A few tidbits of information ; Enlisted man's plates were fed made and issued and are less detailed than the Officer's sword plate . These plates are worn by enlisted men who carried swords, such as cavalrymen and field artillerymen.
The wreath on enlisted man's plates were made of applied German silver. Some plates made by the Alleghany Arsenal were made with both the wreath and eagle sweated on a cast plate.
Recovered dug plates are often missing their wreaths due to oxidation. A good md hunting friend of mine found one in his front yard recently , turns out the house belonged to a Yank CW vet who was in the First Cav. from New Jersey . We are planing a dig there soon , may be more military but not a given , anywho that's one find I would want to get before I croak. .HH

CMD

Thanks for the info. Dawg!