Pre 1650 Buckle Frame, Childs Shoe Buckle?, Broken Belt Plate? Odd Chape

[Ahab8]

I got back to the site where I dug the early buckle last week. I dug an odd chape with a double internal spike and a single spiked tongue. It doesn't match any in my reference book. It appears to have a tiny little makers mark but I've been unable to make it out. If anybody has any idea on date range Id appreciate the info. Then I dug a small buckle that was a new design for me. Sent a pic to Bill D and was pretty surprised that it dated between 1500-1650. There's an exact match in the Whitehead buckle reference which I recommend to everyone who hunts colonial sites. It's free and very helpful with great pics. I also dug a couple of buttons and a tiny little spoon bowl. This morning I got out for a bit to a different site and dug a strange buckle? Or plate? Of some sort that's broken in half. The last two letters are PF. I would guess the first letter is missing. I really wish I knew what the hell this thing is and what that first letter was. Soon after I dug what looks like a babies shoe buckle. It's got a nice little design and you can see where the pin would have attached in the center. Maybe it was a knee buckle....any thoughts? Also dug the usual round balls and a knife handle. One of my monthly migraines came on so home I went. Now to sleep in a dark room. Thanks for any input guys

 

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[Carolina Tom]

Nice looking stuff Abe. Congrats on the buckles, you have found some nice ones so far. GL&HH.

 

[Ahab8]

Just added a pic of my mystery item. Last pic original post

 

[johnnyblaze]

Nice early relics there Abe i am still waiting to see a Washington Inaugural button come out of Maine..Your on the right track with these sites..

~Blaze~

 

[RelicMedic]

Dear lord. What a wicked site you have there! Those buckles are awesome!!!!! So jealous...but good for you. Sweet finds!

 

[Iron Patch]

Are you digging many targets and only posting the keepers? It's crazy how many early buckles you are finding, but not like there's anything wrong with that. Some finds are too old to suggest some Rev War military could be around, but definitely not all, so I can see it happening at some point.... you just have to up your button/target count.

Broken plate thing looks 20th century to me.

 

[Ahab8]

Are you digging many targets and only posting the keepers? It's crazy how many early buckles you are finding, but not like there's anything wrong with that. Some finds are too old to suggest some Rev War military could be around, but definitely not all, so I can see it happening at some point.... you just have to up your button/target count.

Broken plate thing looks 20th century to me.

Yeah I'm not posting everything but the number of buckles I've dug this season is absolutely ridiculous. Seems like that's all I can find. I'm not complaining at all but a nice early military button or a few early coins would be a nice change

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Abe - we've already had some discussion about these items off-line, but one thing I'd like to add is that I don't think that small one is a knee buckle. In those type of buckles, its common for the spindle to run across the length rather than the width like shoe buckles, and that doesn't appear to be the case here. So I believe its a small child's shoe buckle. And I'm stumped on the PF plate or buckle as well. Maybe the PF stands for Police Force, and the first letter would represent the town or city name. Just brainstorming. And I agree with IP that it doesn't look super old - maybe late 1800s to mid-1900s. Nice digs man!

 

[Ahab8]

Abe - we've already had some discussion about these items off-line, but one thing I'd like to add is that I don't think that small one is a knee buckle. In those type of buckles, its common for the spindle to run across the length rather than the width like shoe buckles, and that doesn't appear to be the case here. So I believe its a small child's shoe buckle. And I'm stumped on the PF plate or buckle as well. Hopefully someone will recognize that strange piece. Nice digs man!

Thanks Bill. I too thought shoe buckle but it's just so small that I questioned it. But yes I agree that the design absolutely is shoe buckle.

 

[Ahab8]

Are you digging many targets and only posting the keepers? It's crazy how many early buckles you are finding, but not like there's anything wrong with that. Some finds are too old to suggest some Rev War military could be around, but definitely not all, so I can see it happening at some point.... you just have to up your button/target count.

Broken plate thing looks 20th century to me.

I'm hoping to get to a Rev War battle site next weekend. Maybe I will get lucky

 

[Davers]

Good Stuff Ahab8.
Hope you get to feeling better.
Davers

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I like that small buckle, I agree with Bill as to the hinge pin orientation, and it's curvature. Maybe a hat buckle though...if not a small shoe ?

 

[Ahab8]

I like that small buckle, I agree with Bill as to the hinge pin orientation, and it's curvature. Maybe a hat buckle though...if not a small shoe ?

It's been nice to dig early buckles with new styles back to back weekends. Last weekends is prob my favorite. I'm thinking the little one is a shoe buckle. It's nice and solid and has a decent amount of curvature

 

[Iron Patch]

Yeah I'm not posting everything but the number of buckles I've dug this season is absolutely ridiculous. Seems like that's all I can find. I'm not complaining at all but a nice early military button or a few early coins would be a nice change

I do dig many different types of items, but after so many years a lot of times even with a variety it's often the same thing, and not real exciting to me. But there's still enough showing up that I haven't found before, so it keeps me going. Even if you didn't like buckles at all they would still be a good find if for no other reason than to indicate the age of the finds, and potential.... because there's only so many times you can dig stuff like that and not score something great. They fun is having absolutely no idea what that will be, and we'll see how long it takes.... but it is coming!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I do dig many different types of items, but after so many years a lot of times even with a variety it's often the same thing, and not real exciting to me. But there's still enough showing up that I haven't found before, so it keeps me going. Even if you didn't like buckles at all they would still be a good find if for no other reason than to indicate the age of the finds, and potential.... because there's only so many times you can dig stuff like that and not score something great. They fun is having absolutely no idea what that will be, and we'll see how long it takes.... but it is coming!

That's why I prefer colonial hunting - there are so many different varieties of everything, and no matter how many thousands of relics and coins you've dug it seems like new stuff is discovered all the time. Of course there are a lot of repeat finds, but every new signal could be something very unique and awesome. That definitely enhances the "thrill of the hunt" and that passion Kirk is always talking about..

 

[Vino]

They are some nice finds Abe.
I would so much dig for hours, and come home with them
relics then 10 merk dimes, and 100 wheats..
Its just the type of hunting we like to do..
I can feel a big one comming soon..

 

[Silver Searcher]

Nice looking site Abe The small curved buckle dates to 1660's-1720 These were used for shoes and for fastening the breeches knee-band below the knee and because of the small size of early shoe buckles they are difficult to differentiate. The Chape...This type was in use by the 1690's, the spike on the loop replacing the stud or anchor method of attaching the buckle to the shoe. This chape single type and the following type with double spike on it are probably both used exclusively for shoe buckles. Most shoe buckles up to the 1720's are used with the single tongue irrespective of the chape type.

Forgot to say, the second little buckle is earlier, first used in the Tudor period up till the 1600's, your type is slightly later, Tudor-Stuart period 1500-1650 so a very nice early buckle from your side..

SS

 

[j.d. in the usa]

sweet finds!! where do you find that buckle information you have? i have many buckles i need to get ID'd

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Awesome relic saves! Sweet!

 

[Steve in PA]

Love the buckles Abe. You are on some old ground. I dug the skin of that PF plate or whatever it is about two weeks ago. Mine was broken the same as yours with the last two letters showing. Mine was just the skin - no lead backing. I threw it away, so it will probably turn out to be a rare late - LOL