Possible Musket, Pistol or Rifle, Sideplate or Not ????????

[detectordude]

While relic hunting with the club I ran across this item which is brass. It is four inches long, 5/8 inch at the widest end, 1/4 inch at the narrow end. The item sticking out is a brass screw.
The musket side plate was ideas from others as well as mine. One thought that it could be and inlay to a knife handle.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Woodland Detectors]

I'm going with knife inlay buddy.

 

[Lucas]

Part of a rifle patch box. Cool item.

 

[olepossum]

knife insert NO SIR i have a 45 cal black powder rifle it has a brass but plate that is 3 piece brass the top and bottom go on first then the butt piece to cover up the corners i say rifle butt piece 1 of 3 i have shot bp for 15 years PIECE OF A BUTT PLATE

 

[Lucas]

PIECE OF A BUTT PLATE

Picture, please?

These are patchboxes. Look for the screws.

 

[l.cutler]

Definitely not a sideplate or buttplate piece. Could be piece of a patchbox, but the brass screw is odd. I have never seen a brass wood screw in an antique muzzleloader, and in the custom longrifle building world it is considered taboo to use them because they weren't used in originals. A decorative piece of brass to be sure, but what it went to is impossible to tell with certainty.

 

[Lucas]

Yes the brass screw is problematic... they used iron/steel on guns, and everything else in those days.

 

[Sky Pilot]

Yes the brass screw is problematic... they used iron/steel on guns, and everything else in those days.

True, but do you think it may be a part of a navigational compass?

The brass screw would be a must for that, wouldn't it?

SkyPilot

 

[Monty]

I say not. Monty