Mint Georgian Shoe and Knee Buckles

[Deleted member 140734]

Today I got out hiking and detecting for 6 hours in 32 degree weather and completely enjoyed myself. Little bit of ice crust in top inch but the forest floor is still soft. No ticks to think about. I was deep in the woods so I ran the Manticore at 32 sens in General search mode (all other settings default). The buckles were in the 8" depth range in sloped well-drained soil. The buckles didn't require any cleaning. The shoe buckle chape and tines swing freely as there is no corrosion on the center pin. Also got a large button nearby. This area has previously given me a 1723 KGI half pence, a 1722 Rosa Americana two pence, and a nice embossed copper black powder flask. But it was my first time to run the Manticore through, having previously hit it with the Nox 800 and 900.

I like coins as much as anyone, but will take these buckles over any crusty well-worn King George half pence any day..

 

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[Jeff H]

Nice! They don't come out of the ground much nice than that! I am sure I've never pulled a complete knee and a complete shoe buckle in the same hunt!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Fantastic finds - congrats !

 

[pepperj]

That's one for the display for sure, congratulations on the beauty.

 

[ModernMiner]

Beautiful buckles!!! I'm drooling.
Great finds for sure.
MM

 

[oldmxrat]

Wow, fantastic recoveries, congrats!

 

[lenmac65]

Those buckles are fantastic. I started detecting to find old coins, but digging relics like those buckles make the hobby even more interesting. Congrats!

 

[Deleted member 140734]

Those buckles are fantastic. I started detecting to find old coins, but digging relics like those buckles make the hobby even more interesting. Congrats!

It's great how buckles are diagnostics for dating a site to within a couple of decades. The evolution of buckles during the 1700s is quite interesting. They became a masculine and social standing fashion statement, becoming larger and more ornate as the century progressed. But these are from an agrarian rural area on the ocean. Large shoe buckles were impractical around farms. Big buckles could get caught on horse stirrups. Also impractical on a sailing ship. I have found a bag worth of basic utilitarian cast copper alloy shoe buckles and fragments over the past five years. Only two wooden clog buckles. Zero ornate or silver buckles. Certainly, fine buckles were heirlooms listed in wills and passed on. Sold in times of need or precious metals reclaimed. Basic buckles were tossed to the fields and chewed up by the plow and left for us to find. Metal detectorists have greatly contributed to the buckle knowledge base. It's interesting how sentiments stirred during the French revolution killed off the large ornate buckle as a fashion statement. Also how knee buckles became obsolete with full pants.

 

[lenmac65]

It's great how buckles are diagnostics for dating a site to within a couple of decades. The evolution of buckles during the 1700s is quite interesting. They became a masculine and social standing fashion statement, becoming larger and more ornate as the century progressed. But these are from an agrarian rural area on the ocean. Large shoe buckles were impractical around farms. Big buckles could get caught on horse stirrups. Also impractical on a sailing ship. I have found a bag worth of basic utilitarian cast copper alloy shoe buckles and fragments over the past five years. Only two wooden clog buckles. Zero ornate or silver buckles. Certainly, fine buckles were heirlooms listed in wills and passed on. Sold in times of need or precious metals reclaimed. Basic buckles were tossed to the fields and chewed up by the plow and left for us to find. Metal detectorists have greatly contributed to the buckle knowledge base. It's interesting how sentiments stirred during the French revolution killed off the large ornate buckle as a fashion statement. Also how knee buckles became obsolete with full pants.

Very interesting info. Thanks!

 

[The Rebel]

Those are fantastic finds!

That hole showing how deep they were is a testament to how deep and sensitive the manticore is. I'm digging down to targets with it as well.

 

[Digger RJ]

Today I got out hiking and detecting for 6 hours in 32 degree weather and completely enjoyed myself. Little bit of ice crust in top inch but the forest floor is still soft. No ticks to think about. I was deep in the woods so I ran the Manticore at 32 sens in General search mode (all other settings default). The buckles were in the 8" depth range in sloped well-drained soil. The buckles didn't require any cleaning. The shoe buckle chape and tines swing freely as there is no corrosion on the center pin. Also got a large button nearby. This area has previously given me a 1723 KGI half pence, a 1722 Rosa Americana two pence, and a nice embossed copper black powder flask. But it was my first time to run the Manticore through, having previously hit it with the Nox 800 and 900.

I like coins as much as anyone, but will take these buckles over any crusty well-worn King George half pence any day..

Very Cool!!! Congrats!!!

 

[ganthercage]

Great find ! Congrats

Kodi​

 

[Silvermonkey]

Really beautiful buckles! It's amazing when you can pop them out of the ground it should good condition. Guess they knew how to make things that last back in the day. Congrats!