Need help on button

[TXDIRTFISHER]

I found this button today and I need some help. As you can see it has two swords crossing with a "4" at the top, and an "L" at the bottom. I don't know anything about buttons so I thought I'd ask the experts. Thanks.

<a href="http://s266.photobucket.com/albums/ii246/opsec1972/?action=view&current=DSC_0012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii246/opsec1972/DSC_0012.jpg" border="0" alt="4L Button"></a>

 

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[TXDIRTFISHER]

Sorry...here it is...

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii246/opsec1972/DSC_0012.jpg

 

[TXDIRTFISHER]

one more time...my brain is fried from 6 straight hours of MD in the sun.

 

[Daniel in Ak]

that appears to be a WWI Collar Disk (Insignia) for the 4th Cavalry Troop L,nice going.

 

[Montana Jim]

that appears to be a WWI Collar Disk (Insignia) for the 4th Cavalry Troop L,nice going.

I agree...

Sabers, not swords.

 

[TXDIRTFISHER]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm pretty excited about my find. Fellow t-net DignBandera found a large Eagle button with the shank on the back. Maybe he'll post a picture of it. It is in excellent condition...better than mine. Thanks again.

 

[Dig'n Bandera]

The 4th Cavalry didn't participate in WWI as a combat unit. During WWI they were stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI.

They were stationed in and around San Antonio on two occasions.

- In November 1865 the Regiment was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in order to defend San Antonio during the Indian Wars. Company or Troop L was eventually stationed at Camp Verde as the Regement pushed west.

- In 1919, after their duty in Hawaii, the unit returned to south TX and in 1921, once again returned to Fort Sam Houston.

Now the Big Question Is this button from the 1860s or the 1920s? I believe it's from the 1920s. The reason is that it was found less than 25ft from the Great Seal button pictured below which wasn't issued until at least 1902.

Jeff

http://www.25thida.com/4thcav.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Cavalry_Regiment_(United_States)

 

[Montana Jim]

They were not using collar brass like that in the 1860s.

However - the insignia itself (crossed sabers) was introduced in 1861. It would have been a hat pin design, not a collar brass at that time.


Source: http://www.army.mil/symbols/uniformtraditions2.html

Enlisted Collar Insignia
Complaints in 1907 about the loss or snagging of officer cut-out collar insignia led to the adoption of bronze circular disks for enlisted personnel. Die struck with the branch, US and unit designation, the collar ornaments changed to gilt after 1924.

So - if your's has NO gilt - it's pre 1924.