Quick lunch hunt in the snow, cool ornate buckle.

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Needed to take a break from researching sites and decided to hit a spot in the woods I have tried to locate 3 times without success this fall. It shows up as a dot on all of my old map overlays, but never was able to locate it with all of the brambles and high weeds.

First sign that I was near the "X" was these guys giving nice signals under 4" of snow/light crusty ice.

These harmonica reeds are typically a sign that I am into the site.
This guy also gave a nice signal, most complete oil lamp fixture I've found.


Then the best signal of the lunch hour. High tone, consistent and small.

Here it is cleaned up, one of my best suspender buckles.

Here is today's mystery item.

Also dug a little musket ball, not sure if old or modern, but looks like a dropped one.


Sort of psyched that I finally found this old 1800's homestead.Looking forward to hitting this spot next week when the temps get into the 40's and I will get my 4" of depth back.

Good luck out there!

 

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[K1DDO1979]

Nice hunt. Id go back there another time again for sure! [emoji2]

 

[Steve in PA]

You are on a good CW era site there. The mystery item is from a McClellan saddle and is CW era or just after. The suspender clip is probable 1860s or 70s as well.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1......0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..7.0.0....0.m4hK7_IefHk

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

You are on a good CW era site there. The mystery item is from a McClellan saddle and is CW era or just after. The suspender clip is probable 1860s or 70s as well.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1......0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..7.0.0....0.m4hK7_IefHk

Thx Steve! I guess this is my first saddle shield. Very cool ID help. Probably looked more like this 100 years ago...

 

[Steve in PA]

Thx Steve! I guess this is my first saddle shield. Very cool ID help. Probably looked more like this 100 years ago...View attachment 1547981

There were a number of models of the McClellan Saddle, the earliest being 1859. You would have to look into the seat shields and see if you can ID which model by shield.

 

[BLK HOLE]

That is a really sweet suspender buckle. This site continues to amaze me, how quickly members can identify the mystery find!

 

[Steve in PA]

I notice that your shield has Inch abbreviated. I'll bet that would be a clue in dating it. I posted it on the "Civil War and Indian Wars Relic Identification" Facebook group. Should have an answer soon.

 

[BeenThere DugThat]

I have a feeling you waste time at work researching spots to hunt haha or am I the only one?

Those aren't every day finds, very cool!

 

[Steve in PA]

I have a feeling you waste time at work researching spots to hunt haha or am I the only one?

Those aren't every day finds, very cool!

He needs professional help. The "bug" has become part of his brain.

 

[Relicific]

Very beautiful buckle you got there

 

[HighVDI]

That susp. Clip is incredible! I used to love finding coins but these finds are just as satisfying IMO. Congrats on a fine hunt.

 

[BeenThere DugThat]

He needs professional help. The "bug" has become part of his brain.

I'm waiting for the day he says he got fired because he gets no work done haha.

 

[Steve in PA]

I'm waiting for the day he says he got fired because he gets no work done haha.

He probably tracks mud into the office in the winter, and when he hunts at lunch during the summer when it's 90 degrees, no one wants to get near him when he gets back

 

[BeenThere DugThat]

He probably tracks mud into the office in the winter, and when he hunts at lunch during the summer when it's 90 degrees, no one wants to get near him when he gets back

Too funny! Does this site have a roast forum?

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

I have a feeling you waste time at work researching spots to hunt haha or am I the only one?

Those aren't every day finds, very cool!

I think I'm addicted to old maps...

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

That susp. Clip is incredible! I used to love finding coins but these finds are just as satisfying IMO. Congrats on a fine hunt.

Thx HighV! I'm still a coin shooter at heart, I only dig the mid and high tones, no iron for me. So I guess I'm not a true relic hunter, yet... FYI, the dirt is nice and moist under the snow in the W PA woods! I'm sort of shocked that I was able to pull so many high tones in a short 45 min hunt through 4 inches of snow and then another inch or so of leaves. I could not sweep into the snow because of the ice crust, just glide on the surface.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

I'm waiting for the day he says he got fired because he gets no work done haha.

Hey guys! I'm extremely productive in the woods if you must know. I can participate on a conf call with my iPhone earbud and still be swinging through the brambles. I only need one earphone for my detector...

 

[HighVDI]

Thx HighV! I'm still a coin shooter at heart, I only dig the mid and high tones, no iron for me. So I guess I'm not a true relic hunter, yet... FYI, the dirt is nice and moist under the snow in the W PA woods! I'm sort of shocked that I was able to pull so many high tones in a short 45 min hunt through 4 inches of snow and then another inch or so of leaves. I could not sweep into the snow because of the ice crust, just glide on the surface.

Top 2 inches is crusty out in the yards+fields. Your finds are totally justified by hard work and research.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the nice relics!

 

[Steve in PA]

My cavalry expert says that seat shield could be late civil war to the 1904 model saddle. Said they didn't change much and the abbreviated "Inch" doesn't mean anything.