Impressions Belt plates

[Capt7thWvCoA]

Which of these belt plates are more accurate to use for a company grade officer

 

[iron bender]

Top plate. Lower plate is enlisted nco

 

[RedRover]

From the Army Regulations... 1857 and 1863 editions...

NICE MODEL 1851 SWORD BELT PLATE WITH MATCHING BENCH NUMBERED KEEPER — Horse Soldier

The commercially sold plates, as purchased by officers, are often described as more detailed, etc., and featured a "silver wash" to color the wreath, etc. The plates issued by the Army for NCO sword belts and cavalry saber belts had a cheaper "nickel wash" coloring the wreath, etc.

For a replica plate, you might get a metal wash electro plate kit to spruce it up, or perhaps try some kind of metallic paint.

 

[iron bender]

I've always thought the applied 'silvered' wreath was an nco plate while the officer plate was a solid cast plate with a silver wash. RedRover's info is teaching me differently. Learning all the time!