Helmet Insignia I think?

[SgtJim]

Would appreciate any help with identification. I believe it may be a helmet insignia of some sort. It is a 2 piece plate measures 1-3/8” wide and back has a stud for mounting. There is a cutout stamped insignia attached to the center which I cannot ID after close inspection I think this is right side up due to the lay of the belt. To me it looks like a rooster sitting on top of a power horn with a lanyard that goes around the rooster’s neck. The large end of the horn has a stitched cover. Also there is a sword and scabbard, with a belt tongue that gangs over the horn. This was found on the NY side of Lake Champlain which has had Spanish, French, British and American navies and army’s in large numbers. The only military reference I have heard connected to a rooster is they were part of the American navy ship of war under sail in some way. Every year here they reenact the battle of Plattsburg 1814 in which the American flag ship signals the other ships that the British ships are insight with a ship board rooster calling loudly. I don’t think it’s that old helmet plates were one piece, buttons also. Just not sure please help. Thank You

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

An interesting find. Looks kinda like a large collar stud. I see what looks like a birds head, are you sure its a rooster?

 

[clovis97]

My first thought was that it was a bird on a collar stud.

Sometimes birds represent an observer of some sort....

All of this is just a sheer guess on my part.

 

[RelicHunter97]

Bird looks like a cardinal...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The bird has some unusual breast feathers. ...or is it wrapped up in something?

Im not even sure its a bird.


I see the powder horn with a lanyard that goes around the "rooster’s" neck. I see the large end of the horn has a stitched cover. I see the sword and scabbard, with a belt tongue that hangs over the horn. But what are these 3 areas circled? And where is the cutout stamped insignia?

 

[Dano Sverige]

Very hard to make out. I'll go with a wild guess...i'll say the sword is a rifle,purely because having a sword with a powder horn is a bit silly?
The little curved bit that looks like the hand guard of the sword i think is the birds (sparrow?) wing.
The item on the left (as we look) with the pull tab looking thing looks like a grenade, but probably isn't.
The type of stud on the back of this item usually signifies it's worn on the lapel of a jacket.

All in all i'm guessing it's the emblem of some kind of state militia, re-enactment group, or "minuteman" appreciation society...or something!

 

[DirtDigler]

Well, anything with such a unique symbol should be traceable. The bird could be a blue jay also. I'll see what I can find.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I thought about a rifle but it looks too much like a scabbard. Sparrow sounds good but...
It doesnt look like a wing. I dont see any feathers or birds feet. I have a feeling its not even a bird.

 

[NolanTheExplorer]

left red circle looks like three musket balls to me (2 dented)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

left red circle looks like three musket balls to me (2 dented)

That could be but what is to the right?

The center circle looks like a piece of leather hanging down.

 

[NolanTheExplorer]

i have no idea what the other two red circles are.
-nolan

 

[Dano Sverige]

If you look at the birds eye, to the right of it is...another eye...so now it looks like a small monkey facing left and the birds beak is now the monkeys ear!
We now have a monkey bird straddling a powder horn with two peg-legs. Pirates? This is getting bizarre now...someone solve it!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The beak is not exacty correct but could it be a hunting button/stud?

It has the mean eye of a falcon.

That would explain the belt and leather and maybe the "pegleg".

 

[SgtJim]

Thanks for all the help. I will be adding more macro photos on an angle that reviles alot more depth and details to the plain head-on photo I posted.

 

[fishbone3d]

It looks a lot like a Falconry seal for an old "hawking bag" to me. It looks similar to ones I have seen before.

 

[Monty]

All I could make out was the powder horn. I'm glad someone saw a bird 'cause now I see it. But it stumps me. MOnty

 

[AU24K]

Isn't that a rifle in the background with the butt end at the top right going down to the barrel end at the lower left?

Best,
Scott

 

[Monty]

Dang! Now I see a bird with a peg leg wearing some kind of tunic. And there is a large dagger in a scabbard behind him/her. I see the hand guard and hilt of the dagger and the end of the scabbard is sticking out at the bottom. I'm not looking any longer or there is no telling what it might morph into! Neat find and realliy different, and likely something to do with hunting. Monty