Found at a Civil War site

[BuckleBoy]

Any ideas on this mystery item? It appears to be silver-plated. The side view in the last photo will give you an idea about the attachments on the back...







Regards,


Buckleboy

 

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[nhbenz]

For some reason it reminds me of a scout's pin... but take that with with a grain of salt.

 

[Ramitt]

I think it could be about anything pin related. Reminds me of my pledge pin. This one will be tough to find a perfect match.

 

[EDDE]

Any ideas on this mystery item? It appears to be silver-plated. The side view in the last photo will give you an idea about the attachments on the back...
Regards,
Buckleboy

I think it could be about anything pin related. Reminds me of my pledge pin. This one will be tough to find a perfect match.

not sure ask around "Flounder"

 

[CRUSADER]

I have a bag full of them & over here we would call them Sexfoils. They are belt decorations which attached to the leather. They would date in the UK from late medieval until 17th century. So its a puzzeller for the US. I guess they may have still used them in the 18/19th century??

 

[wildrider]

My "guess" would be some sort of saddle decoration.

 

[CRUSADER]

My "guess" would be some sort of saddle decoration.

In the UK they did use Sexfoils on horse leathers as well, so very possible.

 

[DCMatt]

Agree - belt tip.

DCMatt

 

[dasabighole]

Saddle shield, pre civil war. Used to decorate leather. We find them on early Ga fort sites. 1798-1821

 

[Mackaydon]

I don't know about the pin, but the lighter looks like a Ronson 1934 "Fine Line".
Don........

 

[BuckleBoy]

Saddle shield, pre civil war. Used to decorate leather. We find them on early Ga fort sites. 1798-1821

This sounds correct...I know I have seen these before somewhere. Do you have a photo you can post?

-Buckleboy

 

[BuckleBoy]

I don't know about the pin, but the lighter looks like a Ronson 1934 "Fine Line".
Don........

I think the lighter is an old cheapo. It says "Companion" on the bottom and "EZ Lite" on the side at the top near the screw.

-Buckleboy

 

[BuckleBoy]

OK--I found it. This is not a belt tip, but it is a tip for decoration of leather. Crusader, this dates much later than the "sexfoils" you find. 1820-1860, give or take, for here in the U.S.

The proper name for this item is a "Harness Boss"--and it was frequently found on each of the leather tips hanging off of the harness, bridle, etc. As Crusader put it, it is "horse furniture."

I found it in an issue of North South Trader's Civil War--Jan./Feb. 1994--page 26.

There is also this photo there of General Sherman on his horse. You can see the harness bosses hanging down in the close-up posted below.

(Sometimes relics just stay in the back of my mind for Months or Years until I can finally get a firm ID and a real name for them... )







Regards,


Buckles

 

[fortbball9]

I agree with you Buckles we have found them in Va. on civil war sites and that is what we have been told that they was.Good call.

fortbball9

 

[duggap]

Buckle Boy is dead on with this one. Saddle bosses are correct. It seems they started appearing more after the war with Mexico. The Mexicans were know for their fancy saddle work as well as fancy spurs. I have one with 13 stars and an eagle on it as well as several plain ones.