Culps Hill Plate

[Salterr]

Reach out to @ucvrelics (Richard). I am in the exact same position, except I have never accidentally found a relic. Closest I came was when I was with someone who eyeballed a fired Colt pistol bullet. On Shy's Hill in the 1980s!

Thank you. I'll reach out to him, I think he's a good distance away from me but would be worth the drive for sure. I didn't ever expect to find a relic on accident. When I did I was so excited, everyone else was probably thinking something's wrong with that guy haha.

 

[JOHN42768]

Found on culps hill by Ken brame! Mint almost condition US stamped and TJ Sheppard stamped on back!!

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Welcome, enjoy

 

[Salterr]

I see a difference in the plates as if made by different makers

I don't remember just how many die variations there are but it's a decent amount. Many makers like Boyd & Sons, Smith, Wilkinson, or Pittman all with slight differences.

 

[Salterr]

Gosh these "breast plates" are both beautiful and interesting. I copied both images so I could more easily compare. The Franklin original carving appears to have considerably more detail in the areas of the arrow fletching, legs, and neck feathers, while the Culp's Hill lower wing feathers are more pronounced. The position of each eagle is also quite different. Obviously a different artist and likely a different foundry location. Details? Could someone possibly post an image or two showing similar being worn; possibly studio and in the field? Thanks to @Salterr and @2ndDEboy for posting.

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Here is a link for comparing the real Franklin piece to a reproduction one.
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/us-breast-plate.198834/

 

[VaFredneck]

I've dug many breast plates over the years but that one would steal the showcase, 2 of my ancestors, 28th Pa, defended that hill.

 

[Ethan S.]

I thought Culp's Hill was inside the National Park, where relic collecting is a federal crime? Was this collected before the park was established?

Thousands and thousands of artifacts were collected by the citizens and those interested in the battle starting almost immediately after the shells stopped falling. Relic hunting with metal detectors went all the way through the 1970s and even then, some parts of the current park weren't federally protected until more recently.

 

[UCVRelics]

Reach out to @ucvrelics (Richard). I am in the exact same position, except I have never accidentally found a relic. Closest I came was when I was with someone who eyeballed a fired Colt pistol bullet. On Shy's Hill in the 1980s!

I normally only hunt by my self as I have had issues in the past with folks going back in without me.

 

[UCVRelics]

Thousands and thousands of artifacts were collected by the citizens and those interested in the battle starting almost immediately after the shells stopped falling. Relic hunting with metal detectors went all the way through the 1970s and even then, some parts of the current park weren't federally protected until more recently.

We have a saying in the relic hunting world. Found on private property with landowners permission which is code for found on the park at night

 

[Salterr]

I normally only hunt by my self as I have had issues in the past with folks going back in without me.

I understand the hesitation, I didn't want to ask or be a bother. Really I just want the experience. I know there might be people looking to profit off of sites but I don't even really collect dug artifacts. I don't collect to profit just preserve so I've never sold a single civil war item out of my collection. I'd still like to have the offer open for anyone if they'd like to take me I'd pay them for their time and experience. My grandfather always wanted to metal detect for relics and he never got the chance before passing, I'd like to fulfill that for him if I can.

 

[gjpratt]

I would be happy and content to dig one fired bullet. Bucket list.

 

[UCVRelics]

I would be happy and content to dig one fired bullet. Bucket list.

There was a time back in the early 70's I got tired of digging them, but with the detectors we had then, they had the same signal as a button.

 

[JackADriscoll]

Not to be macabre but have you ever found a plate with a bullet or shrapnel hole? Looking at the photos they just look like a spot that would be a natural point of aim

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

Gosh these "breast plates" are both beautiful and interesting. I copied both images so I could more easily compare. The Franklin original carving appears to have considerably more detail in the areas of the arrow fletching, legs, and neck feathers, while the Culp's Hill lower wing feathers are more pronounced. The position of each eagle is also quite different. Obviously a different artist and likely a different foundry location. Details? Could someone possibly post an image or two showing similar being worn; possibly studio and in the field? Thanks to @Salterr and @2ndDEboy for posting.

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Here is mine from Franklin.