Civil war sling or belt fastener?

[FloodcityTom]

Found this "buckle"? along with some civil war relics probably confederate calvary/guerilla's operating near Martinsburg Wva. Any of you fellow 'diggers' recognize it? Never dug anything like this before, my first guess was some type of rifle sling but the end is long enough to accomodate a leather belt and it is slightly concave. Thanks always.

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

Your buckle is one part of a 2-piece buckle. It is a US Military equipment buckle... but it's from 50 years after the end of the civil war. It is half of the 2-piece brass strap-buckle from a World War One era US Army gasmask bag. You'll see your buckle-half at upper left in the photo below. Note, the bag is soldier-marked with the battles/operations he served in, so the WW-1 time-dating on it is definitely correct.

 

[FloodcityTom]

Thanks mystery solved