NY Militia Relics - Buckle, Button

[dirtdigger1581]

05/30/13 -

Went out to a school down the road last night and hunted an area that, last week, produced a KG III copper anda surprise 3-cent piece. Using the E-trac and 8x6 SEF coil I went very slowly over a trashy(iron infested) area and pulled out a few keepers. First two targets I dug in that area were the two .54 cal three ringers. Followed that up shortly after with a nice New York Officers Button. It's splitting the band on one side, and the shank is missing, but it's my first officer's button, so I'm very happy with it! And to top it all off, just before I left I got a sweet 11-40 signal on the E-trac. Depth gauge showed it at 4", but dug down to that depth and it was further down. Turned out the target was down between 8-9". I couldn't believe what I pulled out of the hole! I just found my first ever Civil War era belt buckle. The buckle is supposed to have the letters "SNY" on an oval plate, but the lead is flaking away. I had to get it home, clean it up, and it now sits nicely in a display case with its relatives from the same hunt. Last night was one hunt I won't soon forget. I'm still in shock!!!

Happy hunting everyone!

-Nate

 

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[genlee]

I know what else would be great, and that would be to see some pictures.

John

 

[recondigger]

Awesome! I hope to see some pics.

Scouts out!

 

[dirtdigger1581]

The pictures showed up as broken links in my original post, and I've tried resubmitting them numerous times. Can't seem to get them to work. Strange. I'll try again later. Sorry for the suspense.

 

[recondigger]

The pictures showed up as broken links in my original post, and I've tried resubmitting them numerous times. Can't seem to get them to work. Strange. I'll try again later. Sorry for the suspense.

That's ok your a fly boy so I'll forgive you this one time

Scouts out!

 

[dirtdigger1581]

That's ok your a fly boy so I'll forgive you this one time

Scouts out!

That I am! Looks like there are others that are having issues posting photos today though. Once the problem has been resolved by the Admin's I'll get back to this thread and hit you all with some photos. Again, sorry for the inconvenience. Had I known there was a problem posting photos I would have held off on my post. Guess I'll wait to post the gold ring I found today as well.

 

[recondigger]

Thanks for your service brother. And I can't wait to see the pics

Scouts out!

 

[dirtdigger1581]

UPDATE: Pictures added to the main body of original message. Couldn't get them up last night due to issues on Tnet...Glad they're resolved. Enjoy!

 

[Erving]

Congrats on the Civil War era relics.

 

[dirtdigger1581]

Congrats on the Civil War era relics.

Thanks Erving. Surprised to find something like that at a school site, but around here you never know.

 

[diggervet]

I would take an SNY in any condition! Great finds! go back to that trashy area again!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Nice work! ANY SNY is a great buckle to dig, no matter the condition!

Congratulations!

-Buck

 

[dirtdigger1581]

I would take an SNY in any condition! Great finds! go back to that trashy area again!

Thanks for looking...I plan on heading back to that spot on Monday night, so hopefully there is more to be found.

 

[parsonwalker]

Love the stuff! I have a question - how do you know . . . or why do you call this an officer's button? I have found a few of these in central Virginia, and wonder if I have officer or enlisted buttons?

 

[StormSurge]

Nate, Nice finds! I really wasn't expecting the button and buckle when you told me that you had something to show me and where you hunted. I was surprised at how good shape the hooks were in considering the rest of the buckle but brass does seem to fair better in the soil around here. Anyway I love 'me. It gets my blood pumping. I'm ready to hunt relics in between beach hunts! Oh, and nice diamond/sapphire ring find last Tuesday.

 

[dirtdigger1581]

Love the stuff! I have a question - how do you know . . . or why do you call this an officer's button? I have found a few of these in central Virginia, and wonder if I have officer or enlisted buttons?

Here's a book that helps any relic hunter trying to ID buttons. I've added the pages that describe the button as well. Enjoy!

 

[Wildcat1750]

Here's a book that helps any relic hunter trying to ID buttons. I've added the pages that describe the button as well. Enjoy!

Thanks for the ID chart. I've dug almost a dozen NY Militia buttons myself so it's a great resource for me. Awesome CW finds, especially the SNY plate!

 

[blugotti1]

nice!! wish you could've gotten all the baby ny buckle.

 

[Wes-N-VA]

NATE!!!! Outstanding my good ol yankee friend, outstanding. Gotcha a nice couple of yankee relics I see. I am still surprised with that SNY buckle, but with the research I have done I knew some NY troops were around the area destroying my beloved Virginia lol. I hope to get out with you soon either at the beach so you can break me in to that or back out in my kinda zone....relic hunting! I am glad that you scored your first CW buckle! Congrats!

Wes

 

[scott9050]

Every time I see one of these posted I think about the decimation of the 5th New York at Second Manassas:

Destruction of the 5th New York Zouaves

Very good finds.