Confederate Buckle? Just Cleaned It

[Michigan Badger]

Here's a buckle I found but I didn't like it the way it was all nasty corroded and all.

So, I gave it the foil and baking soda treatment and then I polished it with SIMICHROME polish.

Now, what is this buckle? I've been told in was Confederate and others told me it dates to World War I. I can tell you it was dug and it's old.

I took a picture of it just before I decided to clean it but then like a Bozo I deleted the picture before loading it onto my computer.

I do have another picture someplace on a CD but good luck finding it.

Anyway, here she is now. What would you say it is?

 

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[Ilovetodig]

Hey PBK, I just re-read my post. If I offended or implied anything toward you that was not my intent. I was just speaking in general about people not believing the things we find. I have had that experience once but like I said I know I dug it I was there and that was all that mattered. I apologise if I came across the wrong way in any way.

 

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[ZumbroKid]

Nice job cleaning the relic, must be worth about 1/10th what it once was! Sorry but someone has to mention this. Hopefully it will help prevent a person new to this hobby from making a terrible mistake.

 

[dano91]

OHHHH that hurts!!! the Patina was 90 % of the value normaly but it's not real valuable normaly, I found one just like it used to repair a civil war bridle. It's a Martingale buckle cover, used to protect rolling buckles from snags, and brush and the like. Used on Officers horse tack normaly. But it's hard to track down because they are still making fakes, and they used them on all kinds of stuff. Still a GREAT find bud!!! Stick to soap and water until you do your research.
Dano.

 

[Charlene]

Cleaned, unclean.. its yours, you found it and you want it in your office. Great little buckle for a show piece.

 

[tsgman]

I'm not sure where all this "repro" rhetoric is coming from, but since it was preceded by a quote from my original post, I'd like to clear up a couple of things:

1. I did not say Badger's find was a repro, nor did I intend to imply that it was. I'm sure it's old, maybe even Civil War period (although I'd guess later). I've found a fair number of them myself over the years, so I don't have a hard time believing that anybody else did. I only mentioned that buckle shields of the same design have been made for well over 100 years, and are still being made (in a variety of sizes, by the way, not just 3/4")? and posted a link to confirm it.

2. I did say that his find is not a Confederate blanket roll buckle, and it isn't. I cited both the specific source of that error, and its subsequent correction. It is what it is: a fine old harness buckle shield. What's wrong with that?

It's entirely possible, maybe even probable, that somebody used one of these buckle shields on a blanket roll strap, but that doesn't alter the fact that it was made for an entirely different purpose. A lot of Civil War soldiers wore "flower" buttons, too, but that doesn't make them military buttons. You can put an anvil on your desk and call it a paperweight, but it's still an anvil.

Badger, if my post came across the wrong way, please consider this my apology. I was just trying to pass along some information that I thought might be of interest. HH

This picture is from Civil War collectors guide volume 1 and 2. The camp where mine came from was used by both US and CSA. Tsgman

 

[Michigan Badger]

I just was able to get back to post here. For some reason I couldn't even get to this site last night.

Thanks all for your posts and I found everything very informative.

I read something about being offended or something above....I wasn't offended in any way shape or form.

What free wrote about cleaning away the aged patina is true. DON'T DO THAT!

So what's next for me? Now I plan to clean an ancient coin down to the bare metal and polish it with SIMICHROME.

It's a rather large Byzantine coin that has just been removed from a lye soaking and it's next step is the rock tumbler with vinegar and aquarium rocks added. From there it will be neutralized and then polished with SIMICHROME. It should end up looking like the day it was minted (1000 years ago). I'll then seal it with a special new clear coating so it will stay bright and shiny for decades.

Why am I cleaning this coin? I've had hundreds of these with waxed "patinas" that looked more like they were coated in dog do-do. For once I'd like to see and feel one like they really were.

HH

Badger

 

[Michigan Badger]

Great cleaning job MB...This find can go both way's I'm afraid,That's why I hate REPRO'S too.Let us know if you find out the real story on it.I'm leaning toward's bed roll.Good luck and HH!!....Thank's for the info on Cleaning the hammer,can't wait...Don't think this one's a repro!!

Your gun hammer is awesome and everybody should see your post. Man, I'd give 20 buckles like this one for one hammer like you found.

Best,

Badger

 

[PBK]

[/quote]This picture is from Civil War collectors guide volume 1 and 2. The camp where mine came from was used by both US and CSA. Tsgman[/quote]

I agree: it's in there. Not only that, but the error was repeated again in Vol. IV, on p. 27. However, as pointed out in my previous post, it was acknowledged in Vol. V, which was first published 'way back in 1989. Quoting from p. iv of Vol. V:

"Additions and Corrections to Volume IV, Civil War Collector's Encyclopedia.

"Page 27. Mr. Durham [Roger S. Durham, then curator of Fort Bliss Museum, Texas] identifies these blanket roll buckles as hardware from horse harness. He is very probably correct."

This mistaken ID was also debunked by Charles S. Harris, the author of Civil War Relics of the Western Campaigns, in an article titled "Hearts in Harness"? North South Trader's Civil War magazine, Vol. XXIV, #6 (Dec. 1997), p. 62-63? which was accompanied by several photographs showing identical buckle shields or covers in place on harness straps.

No doubt the debate will go on. HH

 

[schlooppy]

I found a buckle exactly like this and have always thought it to be a horse harness buckle. Now I am going to have to find out if it is or not. What ever it is they are very nice buckles.

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice find MB, it sure cleaned up well. I prefer a nice patina but that is impressive all cleaned up! I once found a bowl weight, looks like a small mini bowl made so to stack into each other to save space however, it had the most beautiful green patina on it and I thought it was painted, threw it away and figured out what it was just a few weeks after it was gone, ouch! I've found 11 more since then but the patinas are crap so I may clean them, most are brass. HH, Mike

 

[Michigan Badger]

Nice find MB, it sure cleaned up well. I prefer a nice patina but that is impressive all cleaned up! I once found a bowl weight, looks like a small mini bowl made so to stack into each other to save space however, it had the most beautiful green patina on it and I thought it was painted, threw it away and figured out what it was just a few weeks after it was gone, ouch! I've found 11 more since then but the patinas are crap so I may clean them, most are brass. HH, Mike

Yes, I totally agree...normally I like the aged patina too.

But, on the other hand, there's also something to say for occasionally returning certain items back to their original state.

If one cleans something back to its original metal surface, one has the thrill of actually touching the very surface that the original owner touched.

I see scratches and marks on this buckle I never would have seen before cleaning and polishing it. Someone a long time ago made these marks. They're not from my work because I'm careful about that.

But again...normally in 99%+ of the cases I say leave the aged patina. But when an item literally stinks to look at...well, maybe it's a candidate for heavier cleaning.

Here's a 1777 Reale I just finished cleaning.

 

[Southcacalaky]

Good points from both sides, HH Art...

 

[Nana40]

Badger-

I have found some neat coins and relics that I would love to clean. But the fact that I don't have a clue HOW to clean them properly have kept me from it thus far......if one never intends on selling the items and you would like for them to look their best....why not clean them?

Awesome job cleaning that one!

Nana