1700s Colonial Shoe Buckle dug at the beach yesterday, bucket list checked off!

[DocBeav]

1700's Colonial Shoe Buckle dug at the beach yesterday, bucket list checked off!

Beach hunt on 26 Mar 2016, Not many targets for 4 hours but it was worth the effort! I believe the buckle is the "Atrtois" style and dates from the 1720's to 1790's. It is 9.5 cm long, 6 cm wide and weighs 31.7 grams.
Its missing the spindle that would have gone through the center but you can see the holes still for it. Pretty sure it's pewter and it has held up well for however long it's been banging around the ocean and beach. I had never found one of these before and couldn't believe what good shape it was in!

I did some light "toothpicking" on it with olive oil to get the surface crud off and it came out nice.

I'm sure there are others who know more so feel free to share any info you may have!

 

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[trapperart]

Great finds congrats

 

[Kk77]

Awsome find!! Really good shape for being on the ocean that long!!

 

[Ahab8]

That's a very nice open work frame

 

[BuckleBoy]

Be sure to visit that site more times. Some more old items will very likely turn up.

 

[DigIron2]

That's a very nice open work frame

Very nice piece! congrats. I am glad you posted that Ahab. I always wondered what that style of shoe buckle is called, I always just reffered to them as decrotive. Learn something new every day .

 

[JSM1986]

I'm not trying to jack your thread, but I found a buckle very similar to yours although its not as decrotive. Do you think it's a colonial buckle also? The center piece fell out but it was just a clump of rust.

 

[Ahab8]

I'm not trying to jack your thread, but I found a buckle very similar to yours although its not as decrotive. Do you think it's a colonial buckle also? The center piece fell out but it was just a clump of rust.

Most of these are 1720-1790. Here's a few examples

 

[joeyfresh]

Nice beach score Doc! You always hear about all of the colonial sites around all the rivers around Hampton Roads but not much about the ocean front. I wonder if the colonial folks ever took time to enjoy the beach??

 

[DocBeav]

Thanks for all the great info Ahab8! I know you are one of the people who are up on this stuff with all the great finds you have had!

Most of these are 1720-1790. Here's a few examples
View attachment 1291029

 

[plymouthian12]

Kinda looks like silver

 

[DocBeav]

I'm not the expert like the others here but it certainly looks like it's in the same style... I know from reading that different metals were used, some pewter, some silver but also a mix of copper and (I believe) iron. I'm sure many people here could really ID it better for you. If nobody else chimes in here, I'm sure you could make another post in the relic forums and someone could tell you for sure.

For my money though....I think you have a keeper there from the same time frame. Did alot of reading the last 2 days on the buckles....man...so many styles!

I'm not trying to jack your thread, but I found a buckle very similar to yours although its not as decrotive. Do you think it's a colonial buckle also? The center piece fell out but it was just a clump of rust.

 

[DocBeav]

I was thinking the same thing but when I tried to do a scratch acid test it was still pretty corroded and didn't really show anything. I also wasn't sure how strong/brittle it was and was afraid to break it. I may try again now that I know it's pretty solid and more cleaned up just to know.

Kinda looks like silver

 

[DocBeav]

Thanks joeyfresh!

Yeah, ya gotta think they did...unless it came from an unfortunate soul that went down with a ship or something.

I haven't been at it as long as alot of the other local hunters, and get pretty fired up over finds like this, but I'd like to find some of the stuff in one area that has a road leading to the beach with the same name (since the 1700's) but it's been so developed with houses and other construction that most of that history has been covered up or destroyed. Gotta keep hoping and waiting for those storms!

Nice beach score Doc! You always hear about all of the colonial sites around all the rivers around Hampton Roads but not much about the ocean front. I wonder if the colonial folks ever took time to enjoy the beach??

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Nice find Doc, but very strange considering where it was found. But I know you're not complaining.

 

[rsilva02667]

Take a piece of tin foil and spit in it and fold it over your buckle for 10 seconds, if it's silver it will wreak like rotten egg


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[DocBeav]

Absolutely! No complaints at all! Yeah, it did seem strange to find it where I did but sometimes unexpected items find their way into your scoop at the beach. Of late on the last few hunts, conditions have been bad so I've been going in with high hopes and low expectations!

Nice find Doc, but very strange considering where it was found. But I know you're not complaining.

 

[46Wheat]

Very nice looking buckle . Congrats

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Amazing condition for a beach find! Those are so fragile, great job!

 

[DocBeav]

Gave it a shot, no smell so still thinking pewter but it certainly looks silver.

Take a piece of tin foil and spit in it and fold it over your buckle for 10 seconds, if it's silver it will wreak like rotten egg


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