Military Button?

[ripvanb]

It's pretty beat up, missing the back part. Seems to be an Eagle surrounded by a lot of stars. I did a quick search and think it might be a General Staff button. Any help would be much obliged.

 

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[vpnavy]

I searched

and found a similar (if not the same) button on...

Waterbury Button Age? (Jun 28, 2010, 10:29 AM)

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[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks like a 2 piece steel back. Is that the remains of a steel back? If my memory doesnt fail me, this is kind of a mystery button. the consensus is 1890-post 1900. The Waterbury site still has the die in stock and lists it as both a civil war staff 782 - Civil War - Waterbury Button and an eagle with stars. Eagle w/ Stars (Old Army) - Eagles - Waterbury Button

Im thinking that it might be a latter replacement button for a lost 3 piece general staff button. Or I may be way off.

 

[P.ALLEN]

You are on to something, they had weird patterns (probably due the the reliability of standard uniform manufacture) all throughout 1770's to 1900's, even present. Every Colonel wants his star and upgrades the gear.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I searched

and found a similar (if not the same) button on...

Waterbury Button Age? (Jun 28, 2010, 10:29 AM)

View attachment 1460892 View attachment 1460893 View attachment 1460894​

The third button above has been identified as a 3 piece. The other 2 are 2 piece.

 

[fyrffytr1]

Is that rusty metal in the back or a fiber like material? The reason I ask is because I have seen buttons with a filler disc in the back made out of a paper fiber of some sort.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I actually have one like this somewhere and I think its a 2 piece 1890- 1900ish non military issued button to replace an old Army 3 piece staff officer button on uniforms for re-unions and such. Waterbury also made these 2 piece old Army replacement buttons. Eagle w/ Stars (Old Army) - Eagles - Waterbury Button

Maybe CBG can verify. His memory is a lot better than mine.

 

[ripvanb]

Is that rusty metal in the back or a fiber like material? The reason I ask is because I have seen buttons with a filler disc in the back made out of a paper fiber of some sort.

It seems to be fiber or something.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is that rusty metal in the back or a fiber like material? The reason I ask is because I have seen buttons with a filler disc in the back made out of a paper fiber of some sort.

You have a button with a fiber backing?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The fibrous paper backing Fyrffytr1 is talking about is a circular disc inside some 3-piece buttons. I've seen it inside some excavated (dug") New York State Militia 3-piece buttons and a US Staff Officer button, which were corroded badly enough that the applied rim came off and the front and back came apart, revealing the fibrous paper disc inside. No idea what its purpose is.

BigCypressHunter, the 2-piece early-1900s button you're remembering is one version of "false 3-piece" (a.k.a. false staff) button. The rim of the front is wide and flat, made to resemble the applied rim of a 3-piece "Staff Officer" button.

Having very closely examined the photo of the front of ripvanb's button, I have to say it looks like the front of a 3-piece button whose applied rim has corroded/broken off. (I've seen many 3-piece buttons in that condition during my 40+ years as a civil war relics digger & dealer.) I'm pretty sure it is not the 2-piece button shown next to it in vpnavy's post. But all of that being said, I could be wrong. It would be helpful to see a well-focused closeup "sideview" photo of ripvanb's button.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It would be helpful to see a well-focused closeup "sideview" photo of ripvanb's button.

I was assuming it was a steel back. I thought it was one of these- http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/238629-button-id-please.html



With the new fiber information, it would appear you are right. Thanks for helping.

 

[fyrffytr1]

My uneducated guess is that the fiber disc was used as a bushing to tighten the back and front together when the rim was crimped on.