Estimate Age of a Buckle?

[BryanM362]

Found this large steel (iron?) buckle today, at an old farm. I think it may be from a horse harness?

Any way to estimate it's age? Guesses as to it's function (Besides holding someone's pants up....)?

It's about the size of deck of cards.

Thanks

 

[BryanM362]

Anyone, Anyone?

 

[spartacus53]

I'd say 1906 to be exact

It looks to be a hasp from Paul Bunyan's diaper

Sorry, I really have no clue, so I went for a cheap shot

 

[Tom_in_CA]

those can date up to fairly modern tack stuff.

 

[BryanM362]

those can date up to fairly modern tack stuff.

Thanks Tom. I'm thinking it's early 1900's, based on it's condition, the fact that it came from an old farm (that no longer has horses), and the way it's constructed, just doesn't look modern to me. But who knows, could be 1950ish too....

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I can think of sites where corrals and horse and tack things went on, where iron square and rectangular stuff like that is so common, we just chuck it to the side. Or drop it off at the first trash can we come to. Unfortunately, it's one of those items can cover 200 yrs. Could be as early as the 1750s (I suppose), and/or could be as recent as the 1950s (I suppose). Contrast to a copper or brass buckle, and the color and feel (alloys and impurities and machined "feel") will indeed give you an idea as to the age. But iron just rusts up, leaving the finder little to go on, unfortunately.

 

[vpnavy]

If you really want to be sure BryanM362 - you can sent that puppy out for radiocarbon dating.

 

[BryanM362]

If you really want to be sure BryanM362 - you can sent that puppy out for radiocarbon dating.

Haha!