🔎 UNIDENTIFIED What in tarnation?

[VaGent]

Found this odd brass whatsit today in a Central Va. Civil War site along with some bullets. I have never seen anything like it before, so I figured I would ask here. There is some turn-of-the-century trash in the site, so this item may very well be post-Civil War, although the patina is about right for the late 1800s. It measures approx. 2" x 2" x 2-1/2", has a single hole at each of the 3 "wings", and is curved along both the outer "wing" edges and the "spine". Anyone have any suggestion what it might be?

 

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[Older The Better]

Just a wag but something similar to a badge on a bicycle?

 

[VaGent]

Just a wag but something similar to a badge on a bicycle?

That idea occurred to me as well, like a guard for something on a fender?

 

[Blackfoot58]

Found this odd brass whatsit today in a Central Va. Civil War site along with some bullets. I have never seen anything like it before, so I figured I would ask here. There is some turn-of-the-century trash in the site, so this item may very well be post-Civil War, although the patina is about right for the late 1800s. It measures approx. 2" x 2" x 2-1/2", has a single hole at each of the 3 "wings", and is curved along both the outer "wing" edges and the "spine". Anyone have any suggestion what it might be?

Kind of small, but reminds me of a knee plate from a very small suit of armor. I’m pretty certain the civil war was completely devoid of Dark Ages’ armored suits. 😆 Good luck. Maybe a Cavalry expert will recognize it.

 

[VaGent]

Kind of small, but reminds me of a knee plate from a very small suit of armor. I’m pretty certain the civil war was completely devoid of Dark Ages’ armored suits. 😆 Good luck. Maybe a Cavalry expert will recognize it.

Believe it or not, quite a few soldiers purchased private-sale "bullet proof armor". Of course, against modern rifled arms it didnt work and was heavy, so much of it was thrown away. The area I am in (early war Peninsula campaign) is one of the few places relic hunters have actually found some. https://www.mnhs.org/blog/collectionsupclose/william-leducs-civil-war-body-armor

 

[dozer dan]

A a decorative brass overlay for a wooden furniture foot?

 

[tamrock]

It's another Couldbe

 

[VaGent]

It's another Couldbe

also known as a "howfar"?

 

[GlowingArtist]

I see the gaudy early 1980's earrings I had at age ten! It is missing the pin across the holes that goes through the ear lobe.

 

[Beezly]

Sure does look bicycle related, fender or reflector shroud. Maybe even a gauge shroud off a tractor?

 

[Blackfoot58]

Sure does look bicycle related, fender or reflector shroud. Maybe even a gauge shroud off a tractor?

I does look like a sun shroud for gauges, or headlights. Moonshine runners would dress headlights so they were harder to see from the sides, at night but still could see the road ok.