The cufflink site gave up another bucket lister

[DownNDirty]

My AT Pro is at the Garrett hospital for some much-needed warranty repairs. I was having withdrawal symptoms yesterday so after work I grabbed the Fisher F2 and headed out to the site where I found the cufflinks. After about an hour or so of digging all signals (including iron) in the heat with little success I decided to check the perimeter of the field. Just inside the woods I hit a very good signal right next to one of my (covered) dig holes from another day. Much to my surprise, about three inches down a complete brass shoe buckle frame popped out!



I have found pieces of shoe buckles before, but never a complete frame. The middle part of the iron tongue mechanism is still there but rusted badly.







This has been on my bucket list for a long time and I was thrilled to check it off the list. I guess now I need to do some more exploring in the woods-who knows what might be there!

 

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[OutdoorAdv]

KILLER! That's a heck of a complete frame to dig too. Very ornate and seems like it would be more fragile than a solid frame. All of my complete ones are the solid frame type. Loving this site of yours and cant wait until they plow it.

 

[DownNDirty]

KILLER! That's a heck of a complete frame to dig too. Very ornate and seems like it would be more fragile than a solid frame. All of my complete ones are the solid frame type. Loving this site of yours and cant wait until they plow it.

Thanks Brad. I'm not sure what to do about the iron part-can't do electrolysis because of the brass so it will continue to rust. Should I remove it? I think the frame would display better without it.

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Thanks Brad. I'm not sure what to do about the iron part-can't do electrolysis because of the brass so it will continue to rust. Should I remove it? I think the frame would display better without it.

Those mixed material items are always bitter sweet to find as far as preservation goes. ha If it were me, I would probably leave it as it is for now and enjoy it.

Here's why: A couple years ago I dug this knee buckle. It was a nice green, but the iron in the middle I thought was ugly. I decided to try and preserve the iron with electrolysis and not only lost the patina (expected) but the iron also broke in half and fell off. It looked its best before I messed with it.



I have preserved items that were originally in two pieces where the oxidation breaks the continuity of metal. So, there is a chance you could zap the iron and its not conductive to the brass.... but after I ruined that knee buckle, I wouldn't even chance it with a buckle like yours. So I wouldn't do any electrolysis on that shoe buckle iron pin.

I say leave it with the iron for now because it might grow on you and you enjoy seeing where the pin went across the buckle. Once you break it off there is no going back. If you think its ugly down the road then break off the iron and enjoy it!

Once again, sick buckle man

 

[birdman]

Love shoe buckles,congrats on the site that keeps giving.

 

[DirtStalker]

Great dig Glenn. Congratulations on reducing your bucket list. It came out great after cleaning. I'm glad I could leave it for you to find knowing how you've been wanting to find one. Man you're gonna have to store your boat at your mom's house so you can turn garage into a relic room if you keep this up and this is only the start of that area.I agree with Brad I'd leave it as is.

 

[A2coins]

That is awesome I like seeing people find their bucket list items.Garrett is great with service repair and replacements free of charge.Im sure there is more in those woods I know what its like not to have your detector Its kinda like winter here in ?Michigan Great job!!!!

 

[Scrappy]

Those mixed material items are always bitter sweet to find as far as preservation goes. ha If it were me, I would probably leave it as it is for now and enjoy it.

Here's why: A couple years ago I dug this knee buckle. It was a nice green, but the iron in the middle I thought was ugly. I decided to try and preserve the iron with electrolysis and not only lost the patina (expected) but the iron also broke in half and fell off. It looked its best before I messed with it.

View attachment 1336733

I have preserved items that were originally in two pieces where the oxidation breaks the continuity of metal. So, there is a chance you could zap the iron and its not conductive to the brass.... but after I ruined that knee buckle, I wouldn't even chance it with a buckle like yours. So I wouldn't do any electrolysis on that shoe buckle iron pin.

I say leave it with the iron for now because it might grow on you and you enjoy seeing where the pin went across the buckle. Once you break it off there is no going back. If you think its ugly down the road then break off the iron and enjoy it!

Once again, sick buckle man

Ewww Brad! Lol. And just when you think you've seen it all years later, you see my buckle

To the OP- wow, that's an amazing shoe buckle. If it were me I would keep the pin as is and maybe apply several coats of poly with a brush.

 

[trapperart]

Beautiful buckle frame congrats

 

[K1DDO1979]

Very nice buckle! [emoji106]

 

[Carolina Tom]

WOW. Very well done DND. That is an extremely nice find.

 

[Gridwalker306]

That's a fabulous Buckle frame, congrats

 

[Gaspipe]

Gotta love colonial buckles. Nice

 

[Steve in PA]

Congrats on the shoe buckle frame. Those open work ones are tough to find intact.

 

[JerV3]

Beautiful buckle

Congrats must have been some wealthy individual living there

HH Jer

 

[Iron Patch]

Nice one!

You could use some needle nose pliers to trim the rust, and then paint on a coat of clear lacquer to seal it... leaving the buckle as is. Maybe just seal the brass on the bottom that's around the iron.

 

[Ahab8]

That's a really nice frame. Of the 20 complete frames I've dug only 2 are complete openwork frames

 

[DownNDirty]

I found another etched tombac button at the site this evening-another indication that the home owners had money.

 

[DownNDirty]

...

 

[cerebus]

Awesome buckle! Nice.