✅ SOLVED Found On Civil War Battlefield - Some Type of Clip?

[Valley Ranger]

**UPDATE-New Photos** Found On Civil War Battlefield - Some Type of Clip?

Ok, per Cannonballguy's request, here are 2 additional pics that might help to resolve this mystery.

Yes, there is definitely another rivet pin that appears to have broken off. But there is still some of it extending up above the piece itself, as I think the photo reveals.

I recently found this on an 1864 Civil War Battlefield here in the Shenandoah Valley. Appears to be brass and it looks familiar - any ideas fellas?

 

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[got2dig]

Hum, love to get them brass parts that we find then have to find out what they are. HH

 

[Valley Ranger]

I almost tossed this one, but I believe it is period and related.

 

[creskol]

It looks like a portion of a small spring snap to me, or maybe a bit snap. Not really a lot to go on, though, so I may well be wrong.

 

[DCMatt]

It looks like a portion of a small spring snap to me, or maybe a bit snap. Not really a lot to go on, though, so I may well be wrong.

Correct. Spring from a snap swivel hook (sword belt hanger).



Cool save!

DCMatt

 

[vhs07]

Looks like one side of an old electrical plug.

 

[Valley Ranger]

It looks like a portion of a small spring snap to me, or maybe a bit snap. Not really a lot to go on, though, so I may well be wrong.

Thanks Rob!

 

[Valley Ranger]

Correct. Spring from a snap swivel hook (sword belt hanger).

View attachment 706978

Cool save!

DCMatt

Thanks DC. I'm glad I followed my gut and saved it!

 

[vhs07]

A brass spring? Can someone post an example of a vintage one that doesn't use steel.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I was going to post the same point raised by Vhs07 -- but he beat me to it. In nearly 40 years of closely examining dug relics, I've never seen a snap-hook with a brass spring. (That being said, I don't operate under an illusion that I've already seen everything there is to see.) Note that the example posted by DCMatt has an iron/steel spring.

I lean toward Vhs07's suggestion... the object does closely resemble the length-&-width, thickness, and shape of a brass prong from an electical plug, even including the little mounting-pin.

 

[creskol]

A brass spring? Can someone post an example of a vintage one that doesn't use steel.

I wasn't suggesting at all that this was a spring .. not sure where that notion came in to play??

I merely said I thought it looks like part of a spring clip or a snap .. and I still do!

Spring snaps were all different sizes ranging from 1/2 inch up to 2 inches .. may even have been some bigger. some were very light weight and some were extremely heavy.

Here is a reconstruction of what I envision.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Hmmm . . . all very interesting. I appreciate all the suggestions. Nothing conclusive I suppose. Back into the mystery bin - thanks all!

 

[Gunrunner61]

Im thinking that it is one half of a 110 v. male plug. jmho

 

[Valley Ranger]

I guess the plug theory is a good possibility. However, this was found in a farm field at least 1500 yards from the nearest house. There's never been any house in this field . . . checking maps back to the early 1800's. I realize it could have gotten there by other means, but thought that was important to mention.

 

[vhs07]

It sized about right for a plug prong.

 

[skeeterd]

I don't think it's a plug prong because it has small pin through the little holes on each end of it. Most male plugins have these little holes at the end of the prongs, but I have never seen a pin of any sort in them. I could very well be wrong tho!

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Skeetered wrote:
> [...] it has small pin through the little holes on each end of it.

When I read your mention of "holes on each end of it" I was curious, because I'd seen only one hole/pin. So I went back to Old Stonewall's photos and clicked twice on them for the super-magnified view. Your eyes may have noticed an extremely tiny clue that mine didn't spot in the normal-size and one-click enlarged photos. Unfortunately, none of Old Stonewall's three photos show a "front-view" of the short bent end ...just a "side-view" of that end. If there is indeed a hole/pin there, as well as on the long not-bent end, having two holes (with rivet-pins in them) would exclude the object from being an electrical plug's prong.

Old Stonewall, please make and post one more photo, showing a front-view photo of the short bent end, to confirm whether or not the object has two holes/pins in it.

If it does, I've have a suggestion of what it might be... a broken sling/belt/strap-hook, which was attached to the leather by two small rivet-pins. I think I've got a photo somewhere on my computer showing an intact one, which I'll post when I find it.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Skeetered wrote:
> [...] it has small pin through the little holes on each end of it.

When I read your mention of "holes on each end of it" I was curious, because I'd seen only one hole/pin. So I went back to Old Stonewall's photos and clicked twice on them for the super-magnified view. Your eyes may have noticed an extremely tiny clue that mine didn't spot in the normal-size and one-click enlarged photos. Unfortunately, none of Old Stonewall's three photos show a "front-view" of the short bent end ...just a "side-view" of that end. If there is indeed a hole/pin there, as well as on the long not-bent end, having two holes (with rivet-pins in them) would exclude the object from being an electrical plug's prong.

Old Stonewall, please make and post one more photo, showing a front-view photo of the short bent end, to confirm whether or not the object has two holes/pins in it.

If it does, I've have a suggestion of what it might be... a broken sling/belt/strap-hook, which was attached to the leather by two small rivet-pins. I think I've got a photo somewhere on my computer showing an intact one, which I'll post when I find it.

Thanks CBG - new pics up. There's definitely another hole/pin.

 

[Valley Ranger]

I don't think it's a plug prong because it has small pin through the little holes on each end of it. Most male plugins have these little holes at the end of the prongs, but I have never seen a pin of any sort in them. I could very well be wrong tho!

I think you're on to something - maybe.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I found a photo of a dug sling/belt/strap-hook. See image, below. I've noticed that the distance between the holes/rivet-pins can vary, due to being manufactured by different producers.

Can't be 100%-certain that you found the upper end of a bent-and-broken sling/belt/strap-hook, but your find's shape and size is a very close resemblance.