Buckle - but what kind?

NH Civil War Gal

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I was at an antique mall today and they had a box of with dozens of buckles. They were $5.00 each. Many, many from all over the US and many fake CSA ones. However, my hand found this one. The patina was completely different from any of the others and it is stamped twice with an HP on the back. Also different, the prongs were not sharp and picky like all the others. I’m sure it can’t be Civil War but does anyone know what it is?
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Thank you! When were these made? In the 1980s?
So here is the skinny, the plate that you have was most likely made by Hanover Brass and it does appear to be an early one, so 80's would be correct.

What puzzles me is that Gary even made that plate because the larger plates were actually cartridge box plates and the buckles were the smaller one hook version. (roughly 41 X 71 mm)
 
It was and attractive belt plate. How long did the Volunteer Maine Militia wear these?
The plates were manufactured from 1855-1861 and were pre war militia plates, they are mostly found in the Eastern battlefields from Manassas through Chancellorsville. Maine plates are found throughout Virginia, their typical theatre of operations during the war.
 
So here is the skinny, the plate that you have was most likely made by Hanover Brass and it does appear to be an early one, so 80's would be correct.

What puzzles me is that Gary even made that plate because the larger plates were actually cartridge box plates and the buckles were the smaller one hook version. (roughly 41 X 71 mm)
It is exactly 3.25“ long by 2” in width. Now who is Gary?
 
Thank you so much @Package4! I learned a lot! I went over to his website and discovered that the original buckle for VMM was discovered at the battle site of Fair Oaks, Va. He originally charged $45.00 for the belt buckle I bought for $5.00. I like to put all identifying information with everything I get, so I will put who made the reproduction and the original purchase price, etc.

I also didn’t realize that Gary makes pieces (or did) for the Museum of the Confederacy AND that Stonewall Jackson’s sword belt plate has NEVER been found! Now wouldn’t that be something to have turn up on Antique Roadshow!

So I actually did get a quality reproduction piece at the right price!
 
A very nice looking plate. I had one of these buckles once in far worse shape. I also and an OVM buckle that was terrible. I am still looking for a MVM (Missouri Volunteer Militia) buckle. If they ever really existed in any form, except maybe repop.
 
A very nice looking plate. I had one of these buckles once in far worse shape. I also and an OVM buckle that was terrible. I am still looking for a MVM (Missouri Volunteer Militia) buckle. If they ever really existed in any form, except maybe repop.
Never say never, but I am pretty sure there was no such MVM plate ever made.
 
HP marked plates were made by Harry Parsley, not Gary. As far as I know, he still makes them. $5 is a great price for repros, even obviously repro ones like this.
Okay, I just went to the site and I can find the buckle but he marks his with a P and a circle around it. Mine are marked with a smaller HP and no circle - in two places.
 
Never say never, but I am pretty sure there was no such MVM plate ever made.
Sure there were, two different types:

  1. a rolled brass plate with applied hooks made from 1865-1880
  2. a nickel plated rolled brass with brass script letters affixed by wires with soldered hooks 1875-1885
Though they were both made for the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.......
 
"
  1. a rolled brass plate with applied hooks made from 1865-1880
  2. a nickel plated rolled brass with brass script letters affixed by wires with soldered hooks 1875-1885"

    I thought the discussion was centered around Civil War or pre-CW artifacts. I stand by my statement that there are no documented MVM plates from the era. The only one I am aware of being claimed is the sand cast example below, and the only source for it is from this site. It is not in any of the standard reference works or anywhere else online that I can find; it is likely a fantasy piece.


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