Silver Knee Buckle

[Vermonter]

Pretty little buckle. I've never found one of these. It's not plated I don't think. Looks like a more substantial layer of silver adhered somehow. Late 1700's I'm assuming.

 

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[bill_wabo]

Nice work on it, cool find. Congrats! So the ground must be totally unfrozen in your area if not, hope it was'nt deep.

 

[villagenut]

Sweet buckle,congrats. I would love to dig any kind of knee buckle....but you did one step up to silver .gotta love it.

 

[toasted]

If your hunting colonial relics then it doesnt get much better than that. Congrats

 

[Stretch Da Truth]

Congrats on a nice find!
Good detail on the front of it.

 

[Argentium]

Have you been able to figure out what the non silver backing metal is ? Nice find !

 

[Scrappy]

Excellent buckle. Looks silver plated to me, but still an excellent find. I've yet to find a plated shoe or knee buckle. Congrats!

 

[CRUSADER]

How little? Because whats left of the internal iron guts looks in the form of a Shoe Buckle, plus its curved which Knee buckles are not. So I'm going with small Shoe Buckle. That said its still a good 18th C find!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice Colonial relic.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Very nice buckle frame It looks like its "Applied Silver" or "Sheffield Plate" and its over a copper alloy frame. Its a thicker version of a silver plate, but the actually frame is made of brass... I have a couple items done in the same fashion. That thing will display very nicely.

 

[Vermonter]

Thanks all. I think you're right. I have seen small oval curved frames called knee buckles, but I guess typically the tongue goes the other way, right? This does look more like a shoe buckle orientation. So small though. I don't know anything about silver plating, but it's definitely only on the face and just seems thick. No evidence of any flaking at all.

 

[Vermonter]

Thanks OutdoorAdv. I didn't see your reply before I posted about the plating. Good to know. I'll research that.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Thanks OutdoorAdv. I didn't see your reply before I posted about the plating. Good to know. I'll research that.

Here is an example of a piece I dug that has the applied silver. Very thick and only on one side. The side view of the plating looks similar to your buckle.



I have a complete applied silver shoe buckle at home with a brass frame that looks very similar.

 

[crabstang44]

How little? Because whats left of the internal iron guts looks in the form of a Shoe Buckle, plus its curved which Knee buckles are not. So I'm going with small Shoe Buckle. That said its still a good 18th C find!

Agreed, it a nice shoe buckle

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on a very nice buckle

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks all. I think you're right. I have seen small oval curved frames called knee buckles, but I guess typically the tongue goes the other way, right? This does look more like a shoe buckle orientation. So small though. I don't know anything about silver plating, but it's definitely only on the face and just seems thick. No evidence of any flaking at all.
View attachment 1436086 View attachment 1436087

Although typically big was beautiful in the 18th C when looking at shoe buckles, they did have ones half the size of that one!

 

[toasted]

From what Ive read, it can sometimes be impossible to determine if it was a knee or shoe buckle but it really doesnt matter. Awesome find either way

 

[Z.K.]

Yeah, that's a pretty one wherever it was worn. A great recovery! I look forward to seeing what comes up next for you.

 

[Relicific]

Cool buckle
I'm sure there's more goodies around

 

[Kurios1]

I'm no colonial expert but, I say it's cool as heck and got a good amount of silver applied to it. Congrats on a sweet old buckle mate.