need help

R

ripley rebel

Established Users
Finally got to go metal detecting for a while and came across something that has aroused my curiosity. The first piece is a brass plate measuring 1and1/2 by 3 inches with two small holes at the top. Someone told me this might be a plain buckle. The second item is half moon with a shaft in the center.Also brass. these were found about 100 yards from the train tracks leading out of Corinth.
 
Ripley, you didn't say anything about the size of the "half-moon with a shaft" item... but if it's about a half-inch wide, it could be the "locking tab" from an Epaulet (a.k.a. shoulder-scale). Take a look at an intact (non-dug) set of shoulder-scales and you'll see what I'm talking about. They had a sort of keyhole-slot at their narrow end ...and the rotatable "locking-tab" fit through that slot.

Regards,
Pete [PCGeorge]
 
the brass sheet material could be a modified sheet buckle. where the hooks broke off and the holes were drilled to attache the buckle

Thanks Will

I could be wrong I'm sure other will respond
 
Could the "locking tab" also be from a valise cover-flap? This tab would fit through the slot in the flap and twist a quarter-turn to hold the flap down and in place.

Just another suggestion.

Take care,

Kim
 
Thanks

Thanks for the input. Kim, it's good to hear from you again. Pete, do you think that there would be the chance that the scales would have a trace of threads on the piece. I can make out a small thread on the very end. I looked in the books I have and it doesn't show the piece separate from the scales. Thanks for your help.
Tim
 
Ripley Rebel wrote:
>Pete, do you think that there would be the chance that the scales would have a trace of threads on the piece.
>I can make out a small thread on the very end.

Yes, that is possible. I've seen dug shoulder-scales which had cloth (apparently thin white linen fabric) preserved in between the main body and the long flat sheet-brass "tongue" on the underside of the main body.

Regards,
Pete [PCGeorge]
 

hey RR, dug one of those locking-tabs a while back. There is a disc connected to the shaft of the half moon which floats insisde the raised piece that is sewn on to the jacket.
 
Smoothbore, thank you for posting that very descriptive photo (and the text which adds additional description & explanation). I struggled to do that without a photo, and yours is exactly the type I needed but couldn't find.

Guys, take a tip from an old digger. Whenever you get a chance to go to a relic-show, spend at least one uninterrupted hour there doing Close-Examination of the NON-DUG relics (such as Epaulets, cartridge-boxes, sword-scabbards & sword-belts, knapsacks, longarms, and horsegear). Pay special attention to the small metal parts on those nondug relics. When you do, I guarantee you'll suddenly recognize various iron and brass "mystery relics" you've dug.

Regards,
Pete [PCGeorge]
 
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