Old Silver Buckle?

testing123 · Aug 5, 2009

Found this today. There are no markings on it, but my home testing kit indicates it is silver (Sterling I believe). Measures about 1 inch wide by 1 1/4 inch tall. Any idea if it's some kind of buckle? I'm not quite sure how the center hole functioned... Age?

Thanks for your help!

(edited to make images smaller)

traderoftreasures · Aug 5, 2009

looks like a buckle for a fancy set of bibs or a set of fancy suspenders

traderoftreasures · Aug 5, 2009

testing123 said:
Found this today. There are no markings on it, but my home testing kit indicates it is silver (Sterling I believe). Measures about 1 inch wide by 1 1/4 inch tall. Any idea if it's some kind of buckle? I'm not quite sure how the center hole functioned... Age?

Thanks for your help!

(edited to make images smaller)

welcome to the t'net :hello:

72cheyenne · Aug 5, 2009

Its part of a two piece, most likely ladies, buckle. It works similar to the tongue and wreath type CW buckle.

Bigcypresshunter · Aug 5, 2009

72cheyenne said:
Its part of a two piece, most likely ladies, buckle. It works similar to the tongue and wreath type CW buckle.

Yes a 2 piece buckle but not military. Your missing the round inside half of the buckle.

BuckleBoy · Aug 6, 2009

72cheyenne said:
Its part of a two piece, most likely ladies, buckle. It works similar to the tongue and wreath type CW buckle.

Yep. Probably the same vintage (mid 1800s), and it could be a mens buckle as well, although at that size it is likely ladies as cheyenne said. Quite a lovely piece there--a fantastic find. Now go and find the tongue portion of it. :thumbsup:

Best Wishes,

Buckleboy

CRUSADER · Aug 6, 2009

I believe this is a late 19th C nurses buckle or matron type.

Woodland Detectors · Aug 6, 2009

Yes, nice buckle half. The other half can't be too far away

Monty · Aug 6, 2009

I think it is a knee buckle that once belonged to Bobby Chaptoe. "Bobby Chaptoe's gone to sea, Silver buckles on his knee, He'll come back and marry me,,,,,,,,etc, etc, etc." Monty

kuger · Aug 11, 2009

72cheyenne said:
Its part of a two piece, most likely ladies, buckle. It works similar to the tongue and wreath type CW buckle.

YEP!As said we find them in camps quite often though where there were no women so one is led to beleive men wore them as well.I would bet yours is "Feminine",though.

BuckleBoy · Aug 11, 2009

4-H said:
Yes, nice buckle half. The other half can't be too far away

Actually, usually the other half is seldom found. I always hunt for them, but they seldom turn up for anyone. I got lucky with a sword belt plate and keeper in finding them both the same hunt last year, but the odds are against it by far.

Worth hunting for though.

kuger · Aug 11, 2009

BuckleBoy said:
4-H said:

Yes, nice buckle half. The other half can't be too far away

Click to expand...

Actually, usually the other half is seldom found. I always hunt for them, but they seldom turn up for anyone. I got lucky with a sword belt plate and keeper in finding them both the same hunt last year, but the odds are against it by far.

Worth hunting for though.

Buckles....I have to disagree,The other half is often found(as you know that type of buckle is all I search for)There are times it is not and that is frustrating,but they are found.If they were not I or my freinds would have no complete buckles.

BuckleBoy · Aug 11, 2009

kuger said:
BuckleBoy said:

4-H said:

Yes, nice buckle half. The other half can't be too far away

Click to expand...

Actually, usually the other half is seldom found. I always hunt for them, but they seldom turn up for anyone. I got lucky with a sword belt plate and keeper in finding them both the same hunt last year, but the odds are against it by far.

Worth hunting for though.

Click to expand...

Buckles....I have to disagree,The other half is often found(as you know that type of buckle is all I search for)There are times it is not and that is frustrating,but they are found.If they were not I or my freinds would have no complete buckles.

Maybe that style is different from CW military buckles. :icon_scratch:

Seems like few of that type few pieces are ever found. Do you think that this is due to the type of attachment on the buckle, or perhaps a difference in the type of material the belts/sashes were made from?

kuger · Aug 11, 2009

Hello Buckles, first although the are reffered to as "Sash",buckles,that is false.I challenge anybody to sho one period picture of on worn on a Sash.We have countless Dags of them on belts.I myself have found remnants of rubber cloth on buckles and recently a Tongue and Wreath was found with remnants of leather proving my point.Second I can not speak for C.W buckles but I have posted just a few COMPLETE buckles in the past.Understand just because we are not posting them doesnt mean they are not being found :wink:

BuckleBoy · Aug 11, 2009

kuger said:
Hello Buckles, first although the are reffered to as "Sash",buckles,that is false.I challenge anybody to sho one period picture of on worn on a Sash.We have countless Dags of them on belts.I myself have found remnants of rubber cloth on buckles and recently a Tongue and Wreath was found with remnants of leather proving my point.Second I can not speak for C.W buckles but I have posted just a few COMPLETE buckles in the past.Understand just because we are not posting them doesnt mean they are not being found

I understand that.

Just trying to think of why the whole belt would've been lost with those types of buckles, but not a CW thick brass two piece or similar (or even sword belt plates and keepers).

You just must live in a good area I guess--where they threw out the other half on the spot after the first piece broke.

kuger · Aug 11, 2009

BuckleBoy said:
kuger said:

Hello Buckles, first although the are reffered to as "Sash",buckles,that is false.I challenge anybody to sho one period picture of on worn on a Sash.We have countless Dags of them on belts.I myself have found remnants of rubber cloth on buckles and recently a Tongue and Wreath was found with remnants of leather proving my point.Second I can not speak for C.W buckles but I have posted just a few COMPLETE buckles in the past.Understand just because we are not posting them doesnt mean they are not being found

Click to expand...

I understand that. Just trying to think of why the whole belt would've been lost with those types of buckles, but not a CW thick brass two piece or similar (or even sword belt plates and keepers).

You just must live in a good area I guess--where they threw out the other half on the spot after the first piece broke. Here are just a couple examples

If one side broke(which they were prone to)the whole thing was worthless and probably discarded.It is a mystery as to why we have found complete (several in some places)sets that were not broken.We have also found the wreath portions of the cast type that were obviosly used for other tasks than as a belt buckle,whether or not the buckle was broke before is anybodys guess.

BuckleBoy · Aug 11, 2009

Do you think they were discarded for vanity reasons? (i.e.--the discarded ones were out of style?)

traderoftreasures · Aug 12, 2009

mabye where you found them they made or repaired them

kuger · Aug 12, 2009

They were "THE",style from about 1848 into the late 1850's,everybody wore one.Given the scarcity of goods and the numbers we find I doubt they were just pitched cause they were not the style any longer.We find them in the remote camps many miles from where we know they were made.Thats what I love about them,there are a lot of questions about them and I am good freinds with the top authorities and collectors of them.