Need a CW Button expert.

[Baldingboy]

Hunted a Homesite yesterday that once had a large plantation type house on it during the Civil War. I found fork from the Civil War a few yards over from this a year or two ago. Is this button an Officers coat button? It has stars around the outer skirt and has an eagle with a shield in the middle. I think it looks like one I saw on Google the other night. Tell me what you think.


















Buckleboy...thanks for your cleaning tips on buttons. I used your techniques and think it turned out pretty well. Does anyone know how to stablize buttons? It isn't falling apart, but it has dirt inside I am afraid to remove. What would you coat this with to protect it. If I remove the dirt inside the back, is there something I should put inside it to stabilize it? All advice appreciated.

Baldingboy

 

[BuckleBoy]

Bb,

I would go ahead and remove the dirt from the back. When I have a brass backed button that the back has caved in on, or broken, I usually save any pieces of the back that I find inside. Looks good in terms of cleaning, and I'd say it'll hold up just fine in a display case.

I am not quite sure what this button is, though. It is not a staff officer button, and it is not a regular issue eagle.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

[Baldingboy]

Bb,

I would go ahead and remove the dirt from the back. When I have a brass backed button that the back has caved in on, or broken, I usually save any pieces of the back that I find inside. Looks good in terms of cleaning, and I'd say it'll hold up just fine in a display case.

I am not quite sure what this button is, though. It is not a staff officer button, and it is not a regular issue eagle.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

Thanks for your advice. I think I will clean the back then. I didn't know if the dirt in there was a bad thing, but suspected long term that it may be better to remove it. Thanks for your advice.

Baldingboy

 

[vayank54]

The back on the button was tin. That type of button was cheaply made. That's why I'm so sure it's early 1900's I've got quite a few nondug ones lying around here.

 

[Baldingboy]

The back on the button was tin. That type of button was cheaply made. That's why I'm so sure it's early 1900's I've got quite a few nondug ones lying around here.

vayank54
Take a look at this though....I found these pics online. Very similar, don't you think?

 

[vayank54]

Yes they are similar but not the same quality or time period. The civil war period buttons had fine detail. The detail declined in the later buttons. I promise you the one you dug is not civil war. Look at the pics again and notice the differences detail on the eagles. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I know I have some nondug buttons like the one you dug. I'm pretty sure I have a civil war period one as well. If you want I'll dig them out and show them side by side so you can see the difference. It will be easier to see on nondug buttons.

 

[traderoftreasures]

us regulations staff button is similar

 

[Baldingboy]

Yes they are similar but not the same quality or time period. The civil war period buttons had fine detail. The detail declined in the later buttons. I promise you the one you dug is not civil war. Look at the pics again and notice the differences detail on the eagles. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I know I have some nondug buttons like the one you dug. I'm pretty sure I have a civil war period one as well. If you want I'll dig them out and show them side by side so you can see the difference. It will be easier to see on nondug buttons.

Vayank54~
I believe you brother. I just wanted to show you why I was thinking it was. I can see differences as you mentioned. Well darn...I thought I found my first CW button. Well, I would rather bury my head in the sand, but I believe you.

 

[vayank54]

Yeah they are close. There are a lot of buttons that are close though. Some are hard to tell if they are civil war or not. In 1970 I dug a tinback Virginia button in a civil war camp no matter how many people told me it wasn't civil war I wouldn't believe them. Yes I'm hard headed. I found out later it was no earlier than 1870's. I wish it was civil war . One thing to look for on the staffs is the rim. If it is a seperate piece from the face it could be civil war if the face and rim are one piece they are always post civil war. Also coat size staff buttons and most cuffs with a tin back are post civil war as well.
I hope you find a civil war button soon.

 

[Baldingboy]

Yeah they are close. There are a lot of buttons that are close though. Some are hard to tell if they are civil war or not. In 1970 I dug a tinback Virginia button in a civil war camp no matter how many people told me it wasn't civil war I wouldn't believe them. Yes I'm hard headed. I found out later it was no earlier than 1870's. I wish it was civil war . One thing to look for on the staffs is the rim. If it is a seperate piece from the face it could be civil war if the face and rim are one piece they are always post civil war. Also coat size staff buttons and most cuffs with a tin back are post civil war as well.
I hope you find a civil war button soon.

Vayank,

Thanks for the tip. That's the great thing about this hobby. Always something to learn and share with others. Good luck hunting. I appreciate your help with this.

BB

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Yes they are similar but not the same quality or time period. The civil war period buttons had fine detail. The detail declined in the later buttons. I promise you the one you dug is not civil war.

Vayank knows his buttons. There are many variations of wings and shields.

Heres a similar eagle with a steel back with 1875 patent date..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Military-U-...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0015d8e6

 

[vayank54]

You're more than welcome Baldingboy I've been digging a little over 40 years and always seemed to be lucky at finding buttons and that became my main point of interest. By the way I'm still learning stuff too.

BCH Thanks for the compliment. I've just been messing with this stuff to long.