CSA Belt Buckle & Navy Buttons Real or Fake

cannonball59

Private
Joined
Nov 29, 2020
I am enclosing some pictures of a buckle and a pair of buttons. I am a beginner at collecting and my knowledge is limited at this time.

I have looked at many websites to identify this buckle with no luck. The buckle looks real to me but with anything Confederate, I have my doubts. I found many fake examples but they all had larger letters and had periods: "C. S. A." I did not find any examples with smaller letters "CSA" with no periods like this one. So I wonder about that. The backside looks good but I still have my doubts. Can anyone share some insight on this buckle?

I believe the buttons are real and I did read that the same company is making / had made newer ones but the thread loop on the backside is very obviously a more modern style. Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

Doug

CSA.jpg


CSA2.jpg


CSA BUTTONS.jpg
 
I am enclosing some pictures of a buckle and a pair of buttons. I am a beginner at collecting and my knowledge is limited at this time.

I have looked at many websites to identify this buckle with no luck. The buckle looks real to me but with anything Confederate, I have my doubts. I found many fake examples but they all had larger letters and had periods: "C. S. A." I did not find any examples with smaller letters "CSA" with no periods like this one. So I wonder about that. The backside looks good but I still have my doubts. Can anyone share some insight on this buckle?

I believe the buttons are real and I did read that the same company is making / had made newer ones but the thread loop on the backside is very obviously a more modern style. Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

Doug

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The CSA plate isn't even close to being an original and I don't need to see the CSN button backs as I can see from the front die pattern the are the re-strikes. Stay away from both of these items.
 
I have a picture of the backside of the re-struck buttons. That is easy to differentiate from the originals.

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I look at the belt buckle I posted and to me is seems old, possibly dug up and it has a buildup around the CSA. Any of which can be faked. But since the letters are smaller and the absence of the periods were both a red flag to me. Am I correct with this observation?
 
I look at the belt buckle I posted and to me is seems old, possibly dug up and it has a buildup around the CSA. Any of which can be faked. But since the letters are smaller and the absence of the periods were both a red flag to me. Am I correct with this observation?
yes and the buttons had a re strike in 1960 as well, below is the back of one of them.
1629419335833.png
 
The CSA plate isn't even close to being an original and I don't need to see the CSN button backs as I can see from the front die pattern the are the re-strikes. Stay away from both of these items.
I enjoy reading your posts regarding relics and period items. Your knowledge is impressive and I get to learn a thing or two along the way. We CWT members who don't know the difference between an original or fake, like me, appreciate your expertise.
 
Good list of excellent reference books on Civil War artifact collecting, with descriptions.

Civil War Collector Reference Books list...

Reputable sellers sometimes reference buttons or plates by other documented examples in these books (Kerksis #..., or Albert #..., etc.). If they don't perhaps best to get to know the types ones-self.
However, perhaps good to keep in mind some parties are employing the same books to "improve" their work.
 
You're picture looks like a very old button. 50 years + can be enough to make it look 155 years old.
Here is the front, look familiar? To quote a VERY wise man, "Your first purchase should be a reference book"
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Agreed. Are there any good books that give enough information to make correct decisions whether or not an item is an original or a fake?
 
Good list of excellent reference books on Civil War artifact collecting, with descriptions.

Civil War Collector Reference Books list...

Reputable sellers sometimes reference buttons or plates by other documented examples in these books (Kerksis #..., or Albert #..., etc.). If they don't perhaps best to get to know the types ones-self.
However, perhaps good to keep in mind some parties are employing the same books to "improve" their work.
I loaned kerksis a lot of my buckles for his book. The only buckle I was never satisfied with the identity was one I loaned him for the book was marked AMG
 
I loaned kerksis a lot of my buckles for his book. The only buckle I was never satisfied with the identity was one I loaned him for the book was marked AMG
Many years ago I had a small WWII german vechicle flag given to me. I took it to a militaria vendor who had an excellent library of reference. He looked over the item, and said it was a reproduction from the late 1940s-early 1950s, and showed me some old magazines with ads for them. Then he opened a reference book from the early 90s and said, "they are considered original by some authorities..."
 
The provenance of my buckle supports it’s authenticity. It was found by me in the 1940’s behind the Great Redoubt in Vicksburg lines in what was then Lum’s pasture. The rectangular buckle had 3 hooks, no keeper and was made of a high copper content. I let a teacher friend have this buckle in the 1970’s.
 
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