Bat wing buckle.

[Brian C.]

I have been detecting an old ghost town for several years on and off. I have found several kool finds. I was told there were 23 lots settled in the town, I have found maybe 7-9 so far. I found this buckle on a hill just behind where the cabin would have been. I spoke to the land owner today about detecting his big back yard, I think there were more cabins on his yard, he said no problem, now to see what else may be there, I can't wait.

 

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[rodarian]

It looks like there is great potential there. Good luck, man. Nice looking piece of history there, btw.

 

[bootybandit]

Nice buckle! congrats!

 

[BuckleBoy]

I love these buckles.

 

[dirtlooter]

nice buckle and in great shape

 

[CRUSADER]

These horse buckles seem pretty popular over there, not so many turn up here.

 

[jewelerguy]

cool

 

[Valley Ranger]

She's a beauty!

 

[CoilyGirl]

Love that buckle,its in great shape too.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Did you find any colonial relics around the site? Lot think the batwing is colonial period - I have done some research and think the buckles are 1820s-1830s but many say colonial

 

[CRUSADER]

Did you find any colonial relics around the site? Lot think the batwing is colonial period - I have done some research and think the buckles are 1820s-1830s but many say colonial

This one with the slight off-set bar, for taking heavy leather straps on horses is very much that period & a little later.

 

[70monte68]

That buckle is kool!

 

[Brian C.]

This old village was there from 1845 - 1860s time frame. There was a mill of coarse, twenty families so I am told. It was a military settlement for some, I have found pewter XX regiments, nutting & son London buttons. American artillery buttons,gun flints, trade beads, early coins. I was hoping for a belt plate, but not yet.

 

[CRUSADER]

This old village was there from 1845 - 1860s time frame. There was a mill of coarse, twenty families so I am told. It was a military settlement for some, I have found pewter XX regiments, nutting & son London buttons. American artillery buttonsView attachment 1053473,gun flints, trade beads, early coins. I was hoping for a belt plateView attachment 1053489View attachment 1053490, but not yet.

Thanks Brian, that fits perfectly to the mid-19th C date that I have been saying for some time. Glad your adding more weight to the arguement. Doesn't prove it 100% but tnet has basically bust the myth. Nice buttons by the way.

 

[Brian C.]

Not sure of what is going on but, if I can help let me know.

 

[CRUSADER]

Not sure of what is going on but, if I can help let me know.

OK, I thought you may have been in the picture. These have been misidentified as Rev War or Colonial Period buckles. Yet many people on here, like yourself have found them on 1830-1860 period sites. I never fall into the trap of thinking that because it's from a period site, it has to be that period, but in this case the facts are its a mid-19th C horse harness buckle. The problem is there are no good reference books or sites that have IDed this correctly, or even have one identical (some similar-ish). They are not a common UK find, which to me is interesting, as they seem common in the US & Canadian regions.

 

[Brian C.]

Ok thanks, I have seen other buckles like the one I found. I was not sure of its age except the age of the village. I know the pioneers brought along what they had or maybe even less than some, I just enjoy finding early items, not as early as what you can find. I truly love the black smith items, thanks for your excellent knowledge Crusader.

 

[Iron Patch]

OK, I thought you may have been in the picture. These have been misidentified as Rev War or Colonial Period buckles. Yet many people on here, like yourself have found them on 1830-1860 period sites. I never fall into the trap of thinking that because it's from a period site, it has to be that period, but in this case the facts are its a mid-19th C horse harness buckle. The problem is there are no good reference books or sites that have IDed this correctly, or even have one identical (some similar-ish). They are not a common UK find, which to me is interesting, as they seem common in the US & Canadian regions.

Definitely not common on this end of the country. Maybe in provinces near the American border, specifically Ontario.

 

[treblehunter]

Nice finds.

 

[CRUSADER]

Definitely not common on this end of the country. Maybe in provinces near the American border, specifically Ontario.

I've wondered if they may have been American made. I have seen & found so many hundreds of horse harness buckle, I think by now I should have had one or seen one referenced, if they were UK made.
My other thought was that they were made here for the export market only, don't know really just guess work right now.
(or made by France??)