Help with item identification

V

vstardan

Established Users
My father recently passed away and left some items he found during his years as a land surveyor. He found this item in Eastern Missouri near a old homestead. It was in the edge of a heavily timbered area in a washout ditch. He commented at one time that it looked to be a piece of some kind of civil war buckle. The item appears to be made of brass and is about 1/8" thick Any ideas or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot!.
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0936.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0935.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0934.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0933.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0932.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0931.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0930.jpg
http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr31/vstardan/CIMG0929.jpg
 
Hello Vstardan. Welcome to the Civil War Bullet Forum.

First let me say, you did the right thing, asking for identification info at a Militaria collectors' discussion website (like this one) ...instead of relying on the opinion of (let's say) antique-shop owners who have little knowledge about real-deal antique Military equipment.

That having been said.. unfortunately, I must tell you that your brass item is not a belt buckle of any kind. Similar-looking items which ARE a belt buckle consist of two brass pieces which "interlock" in some way with each other (one brass peice for each end of the belt). Instead, your item appears to be ONE solid-cast piece, not two interlocking pieces (based on viewing your photo of its back). Also, it is has no loops for the belt to pass through, nor any hooks for attaching it to a belt. Therefore, it appears to simply be an "ornamental" item that is based on a similar-looking 2-piece US Navy Officer's belt buckle. By "ornamental," I mean something that was on a wall-plaque, or trophy, etc. Your item could not be worn on a uniform, because it has no provision for attaching it to clothing or a belt.

Specifically, the emblem at your item's circular center is a copy of the US Navy's model-1905 emblem for its Officer buckles. Note that there are just 3 cannonballs by the anchor, and the eagle faces toward ITS left side. That specific emblem was used on the Navy Officers' belt buckles from 1905 up until 1940, when the Navy changed the eagle from facing to its left, over to facing to its right. Information source: "American Military Belt Plates", a 616-page "encyclopedia" on the subject, with hundreds of photos of Military belt-buckles' and plates' emblems. The authors are Michael J. O'Donnell and J. Duncan Campbell.

Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]
 
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Pete,
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and educate me. Dad always picked up things like this during his years as a land surveyor. He has a lot of items that I know nothing about. Folks such as yourself that have the knowledge and willingness to help others are greatly appreciated.
Thanks again and take care,
Dan
 
You're welcome, Dan. I do it because I remember the helpfulness of three oldtimer Experts who freely shared their knowledge with me, 30-something years ago, when I was a beginner in the relic-hunting & collecting hobby. What if instead of helping, they'd said "Go away kid, don't bother me." ?

Let me say again, never be embarrassed about posting a request for relic-identification help.

And don't rely on what un-educated sellers on Ebay say ...nor rely too heavily on what antique-shop owners say. Instead, find and contact longtime Collectors who own lots of relic-reference books and know what's in those books.

Believe me, there are many civil war relic-reference books, on just about any category of such relics ...bullets, Edged-Weapons, firearms, artillery projectiles, belt-buckles-&-plates, uniform buttons, insignia, etc.

Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]
 
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