🔎 UNIDENTIFIED A Military Pin?

[Bubba65]

Hi All,

I have looked for what this is and the age of it. I think it is a pin, but not sure. It says J.B. Howell and U.S.N.A on the back . Any help with age and what it is would be great. Thanks All !!

 

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[Sandog]

Neat find. Sent copies to my grandson who just left the USNA where he was a Master At Arms (cop). Didn't look familiar to him, but if it's from the Naval Academy it's more likely to from a midshipman's uniform. Someone here will know that for sure one way or the other.

 

[DownEast_Detecting]

well judging by this button on ebay
Antique US Navy Civil War Uniform Coat Button J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd

and these similar or same buttons on ebay
antique us navy civil war uniform coat button

then take this belt buckle into account.
Vintage 1978 baron Solid Brass 2-1/2" Round United States Navy Belt Buckle

i think someone made belt buckles using the design from a civil war US Navy coat button. you could probably find it googling. with that info in mind.

that's my best guess

 

[DownEast_Detecting]

or they just copied the actually belt buckle. Unless the clip parts broke off on yours and it is old.

 

[DownEast_Detecting]

so its not that obviously .... someone probably just used that design and made a more modern buckle.

 

[dieselfool]

It looks like '47' is visible. Could be the year, perhaps?

 

[WoodnHead]

I have found various styles of this buckle as a Naval officer's belt buckle, or sword buckle. It looks to be a re-purposed center medallion from such a buckle. The original buckle would have had an attachment on the side. I've marked your photos to show that you can see where the piece was altered. Also, there looks to be a mark where what would have been the attachment hook was removed. It would have originally probably looked similar to the set on the right, which is 1920's era. It was probably altered as a memento.