✅ SOLVED Any Ideas what this Brass item is??

[BuckleBoy]

Hello All,

I found two of these items--flat brass items with two holes for rivets/nails in them. They looked at the time like they would have some sort of stamping on them, but both are plain... The older one has some design and it is cast. It also has a part of an old nail still in one hole of it...








I found this one online that was stamped "CS" from a CW camp--the finder at the site says that it's a "watch fob" but it obviously isn't...and it's the same dimensions as the plain oval one I found (pictured above). I'm not suggesting that these are war related, but I'm just wondering what the heck they are...



http://www.midtenrelics.com/buttons.htm (See #2, second photo...)


Regards,


Buckleboy

 

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[CRUSADER]

I forgot to mention that my piece is a little bit longer than the other posted sizes. It does seem that they should be of different sizes and shapes if this is what they were used for. They could also be used on belts? Did they use waist belts from the time period in question?

They had similar 'belt sniffener' which were of a much earlier period (several hundred). I'm not sure (don't think) that they had these in the Georgian/Victorian times.

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

I think I got this one. Look at the link and scroll down to the engraved rifle medallion. Also one in rifle parts photo a.
Probably not their only use but this is one example.
Randy

http://www.korns.org/lepley_gunsmithing/Lepley_gunsmithing_index.html

Found in a bucket of gun parts. http://korns.org/lepley_gunsmithing/lepley-engraved-medallion.html

 

[CRUSADER]

I think I got this one. Look at the link and scroll down to the engraved rifle medallion. Also one in rifle parts photo a.
Probably not their only use but this is one example.
Randy

http://www.korns.org/lepley_gunsmithing/Lepley_gunsmithing_index.html

Found in a bucket of gun parts. http://korns.org/lepley_gunsmithing/lepley-engraved-medallion.html

Only problem is, that we in the UK find so many as to discount this theory for all of them.

 

[RPG]

I think I got this one. Look at the link and scroll down to the engraved rifle medallion. Also one in rifle parts photo a.
Probably not their only use but this is one example.
Randy

http://www.korns.org/lepley_gunsmithing/Lepley_gunsmithing_index.html

Found in a bucket of gun parts. http://korns.org/lepley_gunsmithing/lepley-engraved-medallion.html

Only problem is, that we in the UK find so many as to discount this theory for all of them.

I agree. Upon further research I have found very few sites that mention these being used on guns. So this
cannot account for the numbers of them being found. I think scratcher is on to something. Leather related?
I think so.
Randy

 

[leddel]

my buddy found one with the other part still connected , its in his display but i put a red square around it

 

[CRUSADER]

my buddy found one with the other part still connected , its in his display but i put a red square around it

I have found many of those things with the nails (although nails mostly missing). They were identicial to the ones in the photo. Always wonder what it attached to & now I know. So its more likely Horse related as previously discussed.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

my buddy found one with the other part still connected , its in his display but i put a red square around it

I wonder what side has the design?

 

[CRUSADER]

my buddy found one with the other part still connected , its in his display but i put a red square around it

I wonder what side has the design?

most are plain, only some decorated

 

[scratcher]

Leddel,

Thanks for taking the time to post that picture. I hoped someone had more evidence buried somewhere in their finds. So I think we have significatly narrowed down their purpose. It's too bad more old horse tack or leather hasn't survived to show us exactly how they were used. With more teamwork maybe someone can come up with a picture in use. I'd say it's pretty close to solved.....

 

[RPG]

Well...I have been looking at this until I am crosseyed. What we need is someone with a book on civil war
saddles. These things are a type of saddle shield. Instead of being slotted for the leather strap to pass through,
the strap passes through the staple which is driven into the saddle tree. The oval piece is for decoration and
strength. If you google "civil war saddle shield" you will find more pictures of them. I have yet to find a good
picture of a saddle with one showing on it, but if someone has a book I think we can solve this thread. The
pictures below shows some found in Tennessee. Ohio Jerry almost had this one solved back on Aug 27. Instead
of McClellan, this is much older like the Grimsley Dragoon or older.
Randy

 

[CRUSADER]

Well...I have been looking at this until I am crosseyed. What we need is someone with a book on civil war
saddles. These things are a type of saddle shield. Instead of being slotted for the leather strap to pass through,
the strap passes through the staple which is driven into the saddle tree. The oval piece is for decoration and
strength. If you google "civil war saddle shield" you will find more pictures of them. I have yet to find a good
picture of a saddle with one showing on it, but if someone has a book I think we can solve this thread. The
pictures below shows some found in Tennessee.
Randy

No CW at that time over here

 

[RPG]

Well...I have been looking at this until I am crosseyed. What we need is someone with a book on civil war
saddles. These things are a type of saddle shield. Instead of being slotted for the leather strap to pass through,
the strap passes through the staple which is driven into the saddle tree. The oval piece is for decoration and
strength. If you google "civil war saddle shield" you will find more pictures of them. I have yet to find a good
picture of a saddle with one showing on it, but if someone has a book I think we can solve this thread. The
pictures below shows some found in Tennessee.
Randy

No CW at that time over here

Sorry Cru...I have modified my post above. Civil War or older.

 

[scratcher]

If they are driven into a saddle tree wouldn't the prongs all be broken off or straight instead of bent? I suppose they could have been bent after they came out, but it seems awfully unlikely that the samples would have both the prongs bent inward if they were driven into wood and then pulled out. Just my two cents worth of course, could be way off...

 

[RPG]

I'm not 100% convinced myself. Lots of people have found them and call them saddle shields. The only picture I can find that shows them is dark and you can't really see them very well. That's why we need a book on saddles. I have posted that pic below. You can see the staple pieces in front but can't see the oval piece. There is however an oval tag right in front. I think these things had many uses and the ones posted with the staple looking pieces are just one such use. Back to the research.
Randy

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thank you all for keeping the trail hot on figuring this item out during my absence.


I found yet another one this past week at an early 1800s site.



I agree that we need a book on saddles. Any suggestions?

 

[CRUSADER]

Thank you all for keeping the trail hot on figuring this item out during my absence.


I found yet another one this past week at an early 1800s site.



I agree that we need a book on saddles. Any suggestions?

Are you back then? 8)

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thank you all for keeping the trail hot on figuring this item out during my absence.


I found yet another one this past week at an early 1800s site.



I agree that we need a book on saddles. Any suggestions?

Are you back then? 8)

I won't tell if you won't.

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Hey Buckleboy,we've got yet another decorative oval brass piece to add to the mystery;

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,222253.msg1610069.html#msg1610069

 

[redlined]

Here's another one for reference Buckles

 

[Michelle]

Someone hit the mother load on a calvary camp...NICE