English buckle?

[mintcombo]

Just got my first detector - this stuff is fun Found this near a 1700's English fort in the Caribbean (West Indies). Is this a buckle?

 

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[Silver Searcher]

Knowing which fort in the Caribbean would probably narrow it down. But I agree this could be a very rare find.

SS

 

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[CMDiamonddawg]

Knowing which fort in the Caribbean would probably narrow it down. But I agree this could be a very rare find.

SS

I agree SS ...... Fort Royal , name change to Fort George in 1785 in St. George, Grenada had a Caribbean Black volunteer unit known as the Royal Etrangers

 

[K1DDO1979]

I agree SS ...... Fort Royal , name change to Fort George in 1785 in St. George, Grenada had a Caribbean Black volunteer unit known as the Royal Etrangers

I gave it a good look and can now see how I could have Rangers in it. I couldn't see it before but the a and n could be touching making it look like different letters.

 

[Silver Searcher]

I don't think this is a English Buckle.

SS

 

[Scrappy]

Bump bump

 

[K1DDO1979]

Bump bump

 

[Iron Patch]

Great plate. Any marked plate like this is easily a banner find!

I think it might be Royal West India Rangers. Edit: Thinking a little more I would assume the plate would match the button having a crown in the center, so maybe this is not correct. I think some of the more well know British units had varieties of buttons and plates that didn't always match.. but I would imagine this was a very small unit, and would match.

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick


The belt plate from the uniform of this button.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/...0010/lot-41141405-6d45-4917-a061-a53d00b3aa67

 

[Scrappy]

Great plate. Any marked plate like this is easily a banner find!

I think it might be [FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Royal West India Rangers.[/FONT]

Provincial Archives of New Brunswick


The belt plate from the uniform of this button.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/...0010/lot-41141405-6d45-4917-a061-a53d00b3aa67

Well I like it enough that, and with your explanation, I'm going to put in a BANNER vote. This is an awesome piece of history and likely wicked rare!

 

[Iron Patch]

Can't confirm an ID, but don't have to, to say it's rare. All early marked military plates are.

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Knowing which fort in the Caribbean would probably narrow it down. But I agree this could be a very rare find.

SS

Apparently The Original poster doesn't want to give up location , somewhere in the West Indies
I can understand his reasons but getting the Regt without the fort is a dead end street ....
Hey mintcombo , Where are you

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Apparently The Original poster doesn't want to give up location , somewhere in the West Indies
I can understand his reasons but getting the Regt without the fort is a dead end street ....
Hey mintcombo , Where are you

He apparently doesn't have a lot of interest in his find...participating in the forum, or what other have had to say about the find ?

Is possible digging too near a fort he wasn't supposed to be ? It would be nice to know where though.

It is a great story about what can happen out there. "just got my first detector" and BAM major find. I wish I could make a find similar to this.

 

[CRUSADER]

Can't confirm an ID, but don't have to, to say it's rare. All early marked military plates are.

I agree with that, its clearly at least a very rare plate. I still think it might be a small colonial unit (maybe the one your guessing) that had very poor quality engravers. Our ones of that period have a finer finish to the letters for example.

 

[Tommy G]

Can't help at all with the ID, but have to agree that is one cool find! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Tnmountains]

Yeah I would hesitate to vote banner if the finder is not going to communicate or help with the I.D. I am betting also though that it is a rare find anyways. I can't believe you guys are stumped?
Think we should move it to the what is it section?

 

[Scrappy]

Yeah I would hesitate to vote banner if the finder is not going to communicate or help with the I.D. I am betting also though that it is a rare find anyways. I can't believe you guys are stumped?
Think we should move it to the what is it section?

I'm just dying to get a positive ID. I can't believe everyone is stumped either! It must be scarce

 

[Gridwalker306]

Definitely a banner worthy find, hopefully the OP will return and join in on the conversation.

 

[Iron Patch]

I agree with that, its clearly at least a very rare plate. I still think it might be a small colonial unit (maybe the one your guessing) that had very poor quality engravers. Our ones of that period have a finer finish to the letters for example.

The engraving may also be an indication my ID is wrong.... because the buttons are very well done. Have a feeling it's something different... but still most definitely a banner find.

 

[Mud Hut]

What strikes me as being odd is how nicely the design on the plate is done in comparison to how poorly the lettering is done.

 

[JamieD]

There was a Royal Niger Company and I've also found reference to a Royal Niger Regiment.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HILL-COLONIAL-TROOPS-SWEET-AMERICAN-ROYAL-NIGER-REGIMENT-/361587712223

This would fit the clearly visible letters RNIGERS. Doesn't explain the fainter S or E before it though and they were only formed in 1890. I know nothing about the dating of this kind of plate but judging by previous responses it looks like 1890 would be too late for this style of plate?

 

[DownNDirty]

What strikes me as being odd is how nicely the design on the plate is done in comparison to how poorly the lettering is done.

I was thinking the same thing. Almost looks like the owner/wearer hand-inscribed the letters at the bottom after the plate was made. That would explain why no one has been able to find a similar one for a positive id.