Knights Templar Help

[OutBack Duo]

This was also posted on Todays finds but no one could offer any help. This is a Brass Belt plate I found near Iowa City, IA at an old farm house. As you can see it says Knights Templar near the top and says IN HOC SIGNO VINCES near the bottom. you can see where I scratched it on the back retrieving it. Any information on this would be appreciated, I have searched the internet and can't find anything like it.

Thanks for looking!

 

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[irbaddadjoe]

check out uniform section. Interesting legends including Holy Grail.

http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonic_manual/knight_templar.htm

 

[mojjax]

Nice find !

looks very old . Here's a newer buckle on ebay :

http://cgi.ebay.com/Masonic-Knights...goryZ518QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[CRUSADER]

"in this sign you will conquer" is the motto. Thats all I can add.

 

[wesfrye53]

Outback:

The Knights Templar is an active organization within the Royal Arch mason of Freemasonry. I checked their website looking for medallions, etc. but didn't have the time right now to do it well.

Here's the link to their website and there's a "request for info" spot you may wish to try.

http://www.knightstemplar.org/index.html

 

[txkickergirl]

sorry I am of no help what so ever, but I just wanted to say congrats that is one cool find!

 

[OutBack Duo]

WOW, I can't believe this artifact can't be dated or found anywhere? I have Emailed 2 different Knights Templar organizations but still no response. I will post any responses or information that I get on here.

Thanks again for looking!

OBD

 

[BioProfessor]

That's what happens when you deal with a secret society I guess.

Daryl

 

[dg39]

Appears to be a ceremonial buckle to a sword sash or belt. It even could be from a sholder strap, but I think more likely a buckle.I have seen Knights of Pithias uniform items that look similar. At one time they were chrome plated and enameled. Probably from the early 1900's. Possibly a little earlier..Similar to what is referenced in above replies..

DG

 

[wesfrye53]

Outback,

Maybe that's why I couldn't find any thing...I'm not a member of that "society"....I'm a Scottish Rite Mason. I'll send your pics to a fellow I know is one and see what he says.

Sorry for sending you on a "wild goose chase"

 

[wesfrye53]

Outback,

Here's what I got back from my friend who is in the Knights Templar; nothing definitive though.


I’m inclined to go with the belt buckle, possibly a sword belt, because the area on the right in this picture indicates the loop where the belt went. The area that appears to be hollow is probably where the hook was attached and was broken off. It is probably made of cast brass with a back (with hook) and belt loop brazed to it. Iowa has a large contingency of KT. However, with very much overhang, the points on the top could be painful to a corn fed man.

 

[OutBack Duo]

wesfrye53, Thanks for the great information and thank your friend also. Just so there is no misunderstanding, this item is complete and not broken. I have taken better pictures of the back of this so you can see that it is complete.

Thanks again for the info!

 

[dg39]

Outback,

Here's what I got back from my friend who is in the Knights Templar; nothing definitive though.


I’m inclined to go with the belt buckle, possibly a sword belt, because the area on the right in this picture indicates the loop where the belt went. The area that appears to be hollow is probably where the hook was attached and was broken off. It is probably made of cast brass with a back (with hook) and belt loop brazed to it. Iowa has a large contingency of KT. However, with very much overhang, the points on the top could be painful to a corn fed man.

Sword belt buckle.
DG

 

[kiddrock33]

ill be at the local masons lodge tommorrow night ill ask a few older members about it. ill look through the old sword belts to see if it matches any of them there is stuff in the lodge that dates to the 1700's. kiddrock33

 

[OutBack Duo]

Well after researching and asking questions for 3 days now I think I am going to come to the conclusion that this piece is VERY RARE! No one can show me a picture of anything like it. I have emailed the Knights Templar (2 different individuals) with pictures and have not gotten any responses. I have also posted it on 2 other Forums dealing with relics and only response is that it is a cross over sword belt hook but still no one has ever seen anything similar to it. If anyone has any other ideas or a picture of something similar I would be very interested. For the time being I will get a small display case for it and set it up on display with all my other treasures. Thanks for all the responses and for taking the time to help me research this.

OBD

 

[DCMatt]

Here's your buckle - almost... Yours looks like an older version.

See if yours is marked Pettibone Mfg. Co. Cincinnati, OH. They were a well known maker of military and society swords from the 1870's into the 1920's.

DCMatt

 

[OutBack Duo]

DCMatt, My wife came up with that same picture last night, she thought for sure she had found it. Once I looked at it side by side we noticed the differences. Mine doesn't have any kind of manufacturer stamp on it so I don't know where it came from. I may try to contact Pettibone Mfg to see if they can date it.

Thanks!

here are the pictures side by side for comparison.

 

[lonesomebob]

To all the non masonic members of the forum. Masonry is not a secret society. otherwise there would not be signs rings flags etc. Masonry is a society with secrets ! Men of good repute are welcome to petition to join. G.R. Holton PM/2 Napoleon 301, Napoleon MI

 

[dg39]

To all the non masonic members of the forum. Masonry is not a secret society. otherwise there would not be signs rings flags etc. Masonry is a society with secrets ! Men of good repute are welcome to petition to join. G.R. Holton PM/2 Napoleon 301, Napoleon MI

True

 

[wesfrye53]

Well said lonesomebob!