Authentic 1851 Eagle belt buckle?

[netennis]

I have the opportunity to obtain some Civil War items. Included is a complete belt with a n 1851 Eagle belt buckle with applied silver wreath. It appears that the silver wreath was attached by rivets. Could this be a replacement or was that sometimes done in the past? Also, is the belt buckle an authentic 1851 Eagle belt buckle with a silver wreath. Please check out the front and back pictures provided and let me know what you think. All the items look quite old, but I realize there are many reproductions out there. Thank you very much.

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River. I have never seen a wreath attached that manner, but I know there'll be others posting on this who know more.

 

[tbuckley]

I believe that the originals had the wreaths soldered on and the rivets look modern. I could be wrong, but I think it's a reproduction.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Welcome

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome to the forum @netennis from South Florida. It doesn't look right to me either and the leather certainly doesn't look that old but I've been wrong on these things before so I'll leave it to the relics experts. I'm sure you'll get an answer before long.

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. Its hard to make a positive assessment from photos but from what I see the original threads have been cut and the plate which is questionable has been put on and then the rivets installed. The plate looks a little funky. I'm trying to figure out what all the holes are. IMHO it ain't right. Below is one from my collection which shows the period sewing.

 

[Billw12280]

View attachment 181679 View attachment 181680 View attachment 181680

I have the opportunity to obtain some Civil War items. Included is a complete belt with a n 1851 Eagle belt buckle with applied silver wreath. It appears that the silver wreath was attached by rivets. Could this be a replacement or was that sometimes done in the past? Also, is the belt buckle an authentic 1851 Eagle belt buckle with a silver wreath. Please check out the front and back pictures provided and let me know what you think. All the items look quite old, but I realize there are many reproductions out there. Thank you very much.

As stated it can be difficult to tell from photos but it appears to be a reproduction piece IMHO. The belt stitching simply looks too new and the leather looks too nice. The belt adjusting hook is also rounded. I believe most, if not all, adjusting hooks on ACW belts were flattened. The picture of the plate obverse is a little tough to see on my phone but it appears the patina is very inconsistent. The verdigris by the tongue also looks a little suspect. The wreath on the front would have been soldered on originals and the rivets don't look correct. Unless you are paying reproduction price for this my recommendation would be to walk away and be patient. There are plenty of authentic pieces out there.

 

[Billw12280]

Welcome to the forum by the way!

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. I agree it just doesn't look correct

 

[Kip124thNY]

Welcome from New Jersey.

 

[speedenforcer]

Run. Also keep in mind if 1 item in a group is suspect, take a 2nd look at the rest of the items.

 

[MRB1863]

Hello and welcome from 35 miles north of Gettysburg! By no means an expert, but my gut says repro.

 

[Package4]

When you have to make up a story to explain the anomalies, walk away, it is better than finding out later that you purchased a $10 item for $XXX.XX. Frankly I think the entire rig is a repro.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

The wreath should be three pieces. No this is not an authentic buckle with silver wreath. I have had one in the past. Don't recall what I did with it. However if u recall it should be soldered on to the plate. I wish I could look at the original a accuatince of mine has or had. But it is still a cool non authentic buckle none the less.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

When you have to make up a story to explain the anomalies, walk away, it is better than finding out later that you purchased a $10 item for $XXX.XX. Frankly I think the entire rig is a repro.

It looks repro to me. Too nice.

 

[Billw12280]

The wreath should be three pieces. No this is not an authentic buckle with silver wreath. I have had one in the past. Don't recall what I did with it. However if u recall it should be soldered on to the plate. I wish I could look at the original a accuatince of mine has or had. But it is still a cool non authentic buckle none the less.

The early 1851 belt plate (1851-1863) had a three piece wreath that extended above the eagles wings. This changed to a single wreath that ended below the eagles wings around 1864-1865. The picture below is from American Military Belt Plates by Michael O'Donnell and J Duncan Campbell.

I do agree that this is a reproduction plate though.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

The early 1851 belt plate (1851-1863) had a three piece wreath that extended above the eagles wings. This changed to a single wreath that ended below the eagles wings around 1864-1865. The picture below is from American Military Belt Plates by Michael O'Donnell and J Duncan Campbell.
View attachment 187464

I do agree that this is a reproduction plate though.

Never knew about a real one piece silver inlay. Cool thanks. Now I know that.