Uniform Found in the ground

SouthJerseyJim · Jan 8, 2009

Ya I couldn't believe i found either. Started hunting an old stage coach area and stumbled across an Eagle button in the middle of the road. Further up started detecting in the brush and eyeball this baby sticking out of the ground. I dont have much faith that it is CW period, more like WW1 or 2 but none the less it is a navy peacoat with almost all the buttons still attached. Was wondering if anyone has an age approx or vaule. Thanks for the help! :thumbsup:

Montana Jim · Jan 8, 2009

I don't know... a look at the back of those buttons might help narrow down the dates.

I wanted to tell you... this is about one of the coolest finds I've seen posted here!

I hope those buttons date back a ways... can you tell what might be written on the back of them?

Welcome to TreasureNet!

Mighty AP · Jan 8, 2009

WOW!!! Big congrats on that find! Someone here should be able to give you an aproximate date on that.

SouthJerseyJim · Jan 8, 2009

All the backs are rusted, Tin backs. Ya I found this a while ago hunting with my Mom and a Friend. Still amazed that is was just laying half out of the ground. The sleeve section was found about 50 ft away sticking about half way out of the ground to. I actually stepped on it thinking nothing of it. Thanks for the replies.

aa battery · Jan 8, 2009

Harry_Morant · Jan 8, 2009

Fascinating find - well done!

Montana Jim · Jan 8, 2009

The plastic button makes it "modern"... very likely WW II or newer.

pippinwhitepaws · Jan 8, 2009

oops...correcting my post...sorry.

RELICDUDE07 · Jan 8, 2009

Thats a great find!!!!!!! They did make some buttons like yours in the civil war days....Beautiful Civil War Goodyear's Patent Hard Rubber U.S. Navy Great Coat Button

Click on an image to enlarge
This is one of my favorite buttons of the Civil War! It is the hard rubber style great coat button worn by the United States Navy. This is the pattern illustrated as figure NA137 in Albert’s button book and as NA244c1 in Tice’s button book, both of which we sell. It has the bold “U.S.N

Noodle · Jan 8, 2009

If you found the actual coat in the ground, it's almost a sure bet it hasn't been there for 50+ years. Maybe somebody hauled things to the dump from an estate and it got dropped along the way sometime in the last 10 years? Nice find, though. But unless you live in the desert, I doubt it was put down to the earth in the 1940s. Good luck on finding info! Nice find! -Noodle

fortbball9 · Jan 8, 2009

The black anchor button looks just like the one that I got from my Grandfather from his WWII Navy Coat.So I would guess WWII uniform.
But that would be my guess
But that is a very nice find no matter what War :thumbsup:

Here is a pic of the one that I have but it is a little different,the back of mine is blank,the four holes are turned a little.But close.

fortbball9

MonkeyBoy · Jan 9, 2009

Wow!! No matter what period that is just as cool as all get out!!! Would have been better if it was a Marine one ;-) but I might be tainted!!

Great find!!! I have a friend who specializes in restoring and preserving old cloth.. i can talk to her if you like? i found a 18490s mans night shirt u up in my attic when I was redoing my house... along with some high formal collars...let me know...

MB

Bigcypresshunter · Jan 10, 2009

Im surprised this hasnt been IDed yet. It appears to be very similar to a WWI period Navy button. Check out #11. http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.jspa?threadID=1000664297

NGE · Jan 10, 2009

Looks like one of the coats that were popular in the 1970's worn by hippies and other people who thought they were cool. I went with my brother in the early '70's to the local Army-Surplus stores to buy one of these Pea-Coats, they were made of wool and had the original buttons on them.......NGE

SouthJerseyJim · Jan 11, 2009

Thanks Cypress that looks very similiar to the buttons on my jacket. The backings on all my buttons are rusted and no lettering can be seen. Could possibly be a hippie coat too hiding out in the woods. :tongue3:

Thanks for all the info. Im thinking we narrowed it down bewteen WW1 and 2.

Bigcypresshunter · Jan 11, 2009

Im not so sure. The eagles head is lower on yours and the stars are smaller. Maybe an older version?

NGE · Jan 11, 2009

Take a piece of the inside collar, and have it tested for drugs, if it is positive

, then you have a hippie generation pea-coat, since the collar area would be where some sweat was produced :tongue7:

.......NGE

crazyjarhead · Jan 11, 2009

That's a bizarre find

wildrider · Jan 11, 2009

notgittinenny ( treasures ) said:
Looks like one of the coats that were popular in the 1970's worn by hippies and other people who thought they were cool. I went with my brother in the early '70's to the local Army-Surplus stores to buy one of these Pea-Coats, they were made of wool and had the original buttons on them.......NGE

I tend to agree. It isn't in Tice's book, nor is an identical button in Albert's. The black button looks similar to
NA140B (pg 105) in Albert's book. However, while the anchor looks very similar, the anchor tips aren't the same and neither is the loop and the connection with the cross bar.