Calling Bill D. (VA), need help with possible colonial buckle. Carved lead, too.

[matt092079]

Got out for the first time in about a month today with my cousin. Today was a good reminder why summer hunting isn't that great. Wouldn't be as bad if it weren't so humid. Either way, we hit it around 6:30 and started finding some CW lead right off the bat. I was up to about 8 bullets in about a half hour. We both worked our way down to the bottom portion of the field and I didn't have much luck until I found this beautiful colonial(?) buckle. I'm not sure of the metal type, though. The condition is great. The buckle is a mixture of metals, brass for the center for sure, but not sure on the main part. Maybe I can get some help from the buckle people around here. I managed to lose about 5 bullets as I forgot to zip up my pouch. I ended up finding 3 of them, but lost 1 or 2 and one of them being the very first one I found which was carved. The other 2 carved ones are the smith carbine and the 3 ringer which is VERY cool looking. Also got the iron buckle. Only detected till about 1:00. I can't WAIT for fall to get here. Waaay better and can definitely keep my stamina up longer in the cooler temps. Thanks for looking guys and girls. HH.

 

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[Steve in PA]

Beautiful Colonial Knee Buckle. Looks to be silver and it's completely intact to boot!

 

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[johnnyblaze]

Sweet buckle

My kind of find..

Blaze

 

[Jyverb64]

Looks like it was worth getting out in the heat, great buckle and the bullets are cool

 

[the bone]

They carved them more for "fun" or out of boredom I think. They would used then for chess pieces, which I'm thinking that one was used for. Kinda looks like a crown.

ahh yes now I can see that!

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I just want to point out that some of the old timers in the colonial period who lived into the 19th century often still wore knee breeches even in those late times, so if you find a knee buckle in a early 19th century site it is probably a good assumption. But of course I don't want to down play anyone's colonial relics it is a beauty of a find! good job.

 

[matt092079]

I just want to point out that some of the old timers in the colonial period who lived into the 19th century often still wore knee breeches even in those late times, so if you find a knee buckle in a early 19th century site it is probably a good assumption. But of course I don't want to down play anyone's colonial relics it is a beauty of a find! good job.

No problem. Thanks for the info. I have only found one 1731 KG II in this field and then the knee buckle. My guess is not a homesite, but a traveler of the colonial time period.

 

[ReidMan]

Looks like a couple nice chess pieces also, according to Digger Wars $100 a piece, I'm a rich man now.

 

[matt092079]

Me, too!

 

[Evolution]

I love that buckle. Very nice find for sure!

 

[recentlycured]

Nice finds!!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Nice find Matt! That's almost certainly a 1700s 2-piece knee buckle. Tight fitting breeches and socks which were buckled below the knee came into fashion around 1720, and these style buckles were used to hold things in place. They went out of style by the 1790s as long trousers replaced the breeches and tights. Knee buckles can be confused with early shoe buckles, but generally when the spindle runs across the length (rather than the width) as yours does its a knee buckle. But its possible it could be a children's shoe buckle too. I couldn't find an exact match in my book, but I think a 1700s knee buckle is most likely what you have. Now go find the matching colonial silver coins.

Perfect ID - 1720-90 knee or breech buckle.

 

[matt092079]

I'm sure the possibility of it being silver is there, right? I guess I could have it tested, but was just curious. It rang in high on the F75 like silver and it was a good 10 inches down, too. But wondered also if they were made of tombac or possibly pewter, but I figured pewter wouldn't hold up that well.

 

[CRUSADER]

I'm sure the possibility of it being silver is there, right? I guess I could have it tested, but was just curious. It rang in high on the F75 like silver and it was a good 10 inches down, too. But wondered also if they were made of tombac or possibly pewter, but I figured pewter wouldn't hold up that well.

tombac