Confederate buckle

[Duane Pringle]

A friend of mine that hunts with me has been hunting since early 70s dug this on the out skirts of a near by town that had a civil war battle in july 1861. I know this battle was to early for these buckles but this erea seen alot of skirmishes through out the war. Ok he wants to know is this the real thing he said he dug it 12 to 15 inchs down he dug it long ago and has had it packed away. I feel the place were he dug it is close to battle field but way to early for that battle. So is it real or not? Hopefully you all can help.

 

[Busvette]

I am not an expert and these belt buckles and breast plates have been reproduced in great numbers for re-enactors, etc. That being said, this one has the arrow back pins which would have been correct. When assessing cw items that did not have makers marks , serial numbers or other means of I D, a good dose of common sense and critical deduction will go a long way. With that I pose the following question. Why would someone purchase a reproduction belt buckle, then bury it on the side of a hill, 12 to 16 inches deep and leave it for 20 to 30 years in hopes someone ( they will never know) will come along and unearth it ?
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[Duane Pringle]

I completely agree I think my friend is amazed he dug it and just can not beleive it.

 

[Cumpston1862]

Sorry to break it to you but its a reproduction. Either lost by a reenactor or one playing a joke for someone in the future. More than likely lost. The Confederacy did not fill their "rope buckles" with lead. Here is an example of an original found in the Carolinas below.

If you are looking to buy or hunt Confederate belt buckles than Steve Mullinax's book needs to be in your library. And even then let the buyer/finder beware.

 

[UCVRelics]

It is a repop. The CS never made a plate with arrow head hooks.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Thats what I needed to know will let him know I had no clue have not dug one yet and dont know if I ever will. Thank you for the education.

 

[Package4]

Completely concur with the above assessments, it could have been a reunion piece or most likely a re-enactor lost piece.

 

[Package4]

We need to be very careful here, the CS did make lead backed arrow hooked oval CS plates, but the specimen in the OP is definitely not one of them. The brass would be a reddish hue due to the high copper content and the hooks were made of copper. They are found primarily in the areas inhabited by the ANV. The Virginia Historical Society has a variation on display that was a battlefield pickup and they are still being dug today. They are extremely rare though.

 

[MRB1863]

Repro or not...Digging that would have made my heart beat faster!

 

[UCVRelics]

Ive been digging and collecting 45+ years and have only dug 5 and I have never seen a CS oval with arrow head hooks? I would love to see one.

 

[Mr. King]

Belt buckles, minie balls, and cannon balls are the most forged relics. I am so wary of fakes, I literally have a "guilty until proven innocent" mindset about them unless I am viewing them in a reputable museum.

Even when people say they dug it themselves, I generally don't believe it.

The ghost of Shelby Foote could show up at my door offering to sell me a saber with US Grant's name etched into it, with a photo of Grant being presented that sword by some dignitary, and several letters of authenticity.... And I would not believe it.

 

[Package4]

Ive been digging and collecting 45+ years and have only dug 5 and I have never seen a CS oval with arrow head hooks? I would love to see one.

I have seen a couple in person, but the one that is readily viewable is in the Maryland Steuart Collection at the Virginia Historical Society. The theory is that a couple of regiments had these made quickly near the beginning of the war, similar to the 6th NC buckle that few have unearthed, but they do exist. There are two examples in both Mullinax and Kerksis, both found/donated well before fakes were prevalent. I believe the Steuart buckle to have been donated in the late 40s early 50s with a provenance of a battlefield pick up.

 

[Michael W.]

Not having the knowledge and expertise of @Package4 or @ucvrelics.com, and not a Confederate collector myself, I could not give the knowledgeable answers that they gave. But after years of looking at authentic examples, I would respond, "It just doesn't look right." Which is always the first red flag.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Alright did some research on page 91 in the book recommended is a cs buckle with lead and arrow hooks. Like I said I am no expert but seems to be alot of variations.

 

[Package4]

Alright did some research on page 91 in the book recommended is a cs buckle with lead and arrow hooks. Like I said I am no expert but seems to be alot of variations.View attachment 173656

Glad you found it, but the one in your original post is a repro, I'm looking at an exact replica of it right now, had to go down into the basement and pull through all of my reenacting gear. Apparently I had pulled it out for another reason and left it on the washer, it had bleach spilled on it and developed a very quick patina.

The die is a known reproduction strike and utilized for sale to sutlers and suppliers of reenactment gear. Have there been reenactments of that particular battle that you are aware?

 

[Duane Pringle]

Copy that I cant figure out why it would of been that deep but any way Thanks for the education!

 

[Duane Pringle]

I would be happy digging any us or confederate.

 

[Package4]

Copy that I cant figure out why it would of been that deep but any way Thanks for the education!

Belt plates, like coins can go deep, not to mention one never knows if a farmer plows the area or any other anomalies.

 

[Duane Pringle]

Hopefully one day I can dig one.

 

[Package4]

Exact same die strike