Not a button?

[McCDig]

Curious piece from my hunt on Kent Island, MD, yesterdayday. It looks like a button with that shank on the back. Do you think it's a button or something quite different?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Truth]

Well it’s definitely quite different and I like it.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The "Tri-foil" shape, and the fact that the rest of the object's body below the loop is broken off suggest it is a flintlock pistol escutcheon plate. (Its small size indicates it was on a pistol rather than a musket.) The loop is how it was pinned in place on the wooden stock. Note that I said "suggests." I'm not sure on that ID. Just going by what the evidence suggests. Unlike Sherlock, my deductions are occasionally incorrect.

 

[McCDig]

Thank you. This was found in an area replete with early flat buttons and a couple Spanish coins, one dated 1766.

 

[McCDig]

Yes. I ruled out button due to the shape and that it is only part of the original piece.

 

[smokeythecat]

I'm with cannonballguy. It does look 18th century. I was thinking escutcheon also, it may have been pinned on the back.

 

[McCDig]

Maybe a decorative piece to the featherspring where it attached to the gun?

 

[invent4hir]

There might be a pattern or some letters on the first photo. Will look at it closer tomorrow on my PC.

 

[McCDig]

Thanks Smokey. Maybe an extension of one end of the trigger guard?

 

[invent4hir]

There might be a pattern or some letters on the first photo. Will look at it closer tomorrow on my PC.

It was just my imagination...

 

[McCDig]

Yes, I took a closer look with a loop and it's just scratches.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

There might be a pattern or some letters on the first photo. Will look at it closer tomorrow on my PC.

I see what you're talking about invent4hir, but I'm thinking it's more likely the verdigris playing tricks on our eyes.

Dave

 

[CRUSADER]

Yeap gun furniture.