Dug a beauty today!

[PhillyMike68]

This thing is in great shape, the mud is drying and flaking off and its like new, everything moves on it still... Amazing!!

 

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[Isaac]

Sweet find!!!! Those are hard to get intact let alone moving!!!!

 

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[Msbeepbeep]

That is just crazy, a buckle comes out looking that great! Congrats!

You may want to scoop that mud up put it in jars and sell it! I think you found the mud of youth!

 

[HCW]

I haven't read everyone's response yet but that's a beauty.
Not just intact but it looks like it works also.
On top of that the hallmark tells me that it's sterling.
Someone chime in and tell me if I'm wrong.

 

[Doubter in MD]

Very cool find!

 

[OWK]

I cleaned it up a little and found this, US ?View attachment 1173793

The mark looks to me like "I" and "S".

Possibly the mark of John Syng (an early Philadelphia Silversmith working in the 1730's)

Early marks used an "I" for a "J".

Silversmiths often made buckles in base metal as well as silver.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

The mark looks to me like "I" and "S".

Possibly the mark of John Syng (an early Philadelphia Silversmith working in the 1730's)

Early marks used an "I" for a "J".

Silversmiths often made buckles in base metal as well as silver.

Agree with OWL 100%.
Complete and working condition...awesome.

 

[PhillyMike68]

The mark looks to me like "I" and "S".

Possibly the mark of John Syng (an early Philadelphia Silversmith working in the 1730's)

Early marks used an "I" for a "J".



Silversmiths often made buckles in base metal as well as silver.

Could be any of those, I thought the U might have been worn off. Very possible it's an I or J. I hope your right. You guys and Gals would know more than me, thats why i love this site. So many knowledgeable people on here, so helpful. Makes this find even better!! Thanks everyone

 

[OWK]

Not sure if the mark is John Syng, but the buckle seems contemporaneous with his time, and (assuming it was found somewhere near Philadelphia) with his place as well. He worked on Market St. in Philly for only a few years (1734-38). He died early.

His brother Philip Syng however, went on to become perhaps the most celebrated smith in Philadelphia at the time. He (philip) made the inkwell used by the signatories to the Declaration of Independence.

If it is John's mark, it would be very rare.

 

[OWK]

. Very possible it's an I or J.

It would be an "I" and not a "J" if it were John Syng.

In both the printed word, and in Makers' Marks, a Capital "J" was almost without exception represented as an "I". (just as a lower case "s" was always represented as an "f" at the time.

 

[Erik in NJ]

It looks like each letter is enclosed by a shallow box. To me it looks like I S. Cool find for sure with the maker's mark!

 

[46Wheat]

That is very cool

 

[OutdoorAdv]

Excellent find Philly Mike! That thing is just awesome... I'm jealous. It's been a goal of mine to dig a complete shoe buckle. Just pulled bits and pieces so far. One day hopefully.

 

[Tnmountains]

I haven't read everyone's response yet but that's a beauty.
Not just intact but it looks like it works also.
On top of that the hallmark tells me that it's sterling.
Someone chime in and tell me if I'm wrong.

I agree its perfect. What is it made of? That stamp seems to be the key.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Isn't it fascinating? Something that old and not only is it looking good, it even works!

Check that thing closely for a patent date on it somewhere. I an old one that helped date itself.

Nice!

 

[PhillyMike68]

Isn't it fascinating? Something that old and not only is it looking good, it even works!

Check that thing closely for a patent date on it somewhere. I an old one that helped date itself.

Nice!

Reminds me of the other day when i went to use my hose and i had a newer nozzle on it, plastic of course. I turn on the water and its leaking from every freaking seam possible. I rip the nozzle off and go get an old nozzle i found while detecting that has to be at least 50 years old, put a rubber washer on it and it works PERFECTLY!! haha This buckle works like the day it was made! unreal

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

It is definitely "I. S." a makers mark, as OWK suggests, time period 1720's to qbout 1770's georgian buckle, wheather or not it is US made is in question, as it certainly "could" have been made else where ?

Def. not silver as one poster suggested, as I have a chape with makers mark too, a different one "T.G." and it is not silver either.

Here's a pic. of a "typical" Georgian shoe buckle like yours.



And a pic of the makers marked Chape I found (T.G.) not silver.



Again GREAT FIND ! I hope to find one as nice some day....someday soon...?

 

[PhillyMike68]

It is definitely "I. S." a makers mark, as OWK suggests, time period 1720's to qbout 1770's georgian buckle, wheather or not it is US made is in question, as it certainly "could" have been made else where ?

Def. not silver as one poster suggested, as I have a chape with makers mark too, a different one "T.G." and it is not silver either.

Here's a pic. of a "typical" Georgian shoe buckle like yours.


View attachment 1173868



And a pic of the makers marked Chape I found (T.G.) not silver.



View attachment 1173873



Again GREAT FIND ! I hope to find one as nice some day....someday soon...?

I'm positive it's not silver, i'm pretty sure it's brass..

 

[pepperj]

Congrats on the great buckle, it's really nice to see that it's complete and in such fine shape.

 

[Steve in PA]

The mark looks to me like "I" and "S".

Possibly the mark of John Syng (an early Philadelphia Silversmith working in the 1730's)

Early marks used an "I" for a "J".

Silversmiths often made buckles in base metal as well as silver.

I agree the mark is I S. but when the I was used as a J in the 18th century, the I usually had a horizontal crossbar through it Look at this scribed coin I found. It has John spelled with an I with crossbar. It also has the date 1758 scribed into it.

 

[basque-man]

SWEET!!!! Looks like maybe the makers mark Silver plate? Kinda old for that though.