Part of Civil War buckle?

[Gregg3131]

Found this at CW site. Looks like it has a letter and wreath and rim. Any thoughts if this is a buckle. It's very heavy.

 

[DCMatt]

Please put something in the pictures as a size reference.


Nothing about it says "buckle" to me...


Is it lead? Pewter? Brass?

 

[Carolina Tom]

I believe it is an eagle belt plate. Albeit, one that has seen better days!

Pic 1 is the left side of a plate similar to this IMHO.

 

[mlutz]

It looks to me that it may be a VA buckle.

 

[mlutz]

V being above the A. Or maybe I am crazy. That is entirely possible.

 

[DCMatt]

It looks to me that it may be a VA buckle.

You are correct! It's the left of a VA blockade (English made) belt buckle. That's a cool find!

 

[mlutz]

Bang.... That is the one!!! Nice job DCMatt.

 

[DCMatt]

 

[Gregg3131]

Great ID!!!! These seem very rare as I can not find much on them. I have heard they might be post war 1870 however another sour cell had them war period. Any idea??

 

[mlutz]

I have seen them in the past somewhere, but for the life of me I cannot remember where. I am not sure of the timeline they were used either. I will keep looking. They very well may be fairly rare with the difficulty I am having finding info on it. Outstanding find though for certain!

 

[DCMatt]

Once mlutz put me on the right track, I recognized it.


The guy who is usually in the file next to me in my re-enactment company wears that buckle.


I assure you, if it wasn't period, he would not be wearing it. He is THAT kind of guy...


DCMatt
13th Virginia Volunteer Infantry - Co. I
13th Virginia Infantry Company I

 

[Gregg3131]

Very cool the only info I can find is in a book on VA buckles but that source says 1870 very rare and limited production plate. If you guys can come up with anything earlier that would be awesome as it would be great if it's period for sure

 

[DCMatt]

The red background picture I posted is from Hanover Brass, in Mechanicsville, VA.


I believe those guys are recognized as a reputable source for information on American Civil War buckles.


On their website they show a rectangular VA buckle with an oval around it (instead of a wreath) as post-war.


The VA buckle with wreath is not specified as 'post-war'.


I'm still looking for a little more info.

 

[mlutz]

Once mlutz put me on the right track, I recognized it.


The guy who is usually in the file next to me in my re-enactment company wears that buckle.


I assure you, if it wasn't period, he would not be wearing it. He is THAT kind of guy...


DCMatt
13th Virginia Volunteer Infantry - Co. I
13th Virginia Infantry Company I

Now that is interesting. I will have to research this a little.

 

[Gregg3131]

Thanks Matt. Let me know.

 

[Gregg3131]

Hey Matt were you able to find anything else on this?

 

[Gregg3131]

Anybody else have more info on this?