I think someone can ID this one...

[BuckleBoy]

I have a strong hunch of what this is, but not certain. Can anyone positively ID the brass piece in the 8 o'clock position on this photo? It is 2 3/4 inches long and 7/8 inch wide at its widest. The back has a square shaped nub about 1cm long coming out of it (which you can see the imprint of on the front), and it has not markings of any kind. The piece is cast brass.

Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Agony and Death on a Gold Rush Steamer: The Disastrous Sinking of the Side-Wheeler Yankee Blade - Grab it through Amazon!

[creskol]

It sorta resembles the rear section a sideplate broken off of a late 1700's musket, although I can't recall seeing any with those little square ears on them.

 

[DCMatt]

Broken ember/pipe tongs? (Tweezer style)

DCMatt

 

[kccj76]

No clue, but I have one similar to it. Roughly same size, brass and very few visible markings on it. Have had no luck I.D.'ing. Possibly a garment clasp?

 

[creskol]

No clue, but I have one similar to it. Roughly same size, brass and very few visible markings on it. Have had no luck I.D.'ing. Possibly a garment clasp?

Here is an article on an item like yours as it appeared in American Digger magazine:
Hope this helps solve the mystery.
Rob

 

[kuger]

It sorta resembles the rear section a sideplate broken off of a late 1700's musket, although I can't recall seeing any with those little square ears on them.

Thats what my first thought was as well?BB,you have seen enough patch box lids,any resemblance?

 

[CRUSADER]

looks gun part to me

 

[Breezie]

looks gun part to me

Me too . . .is it a butt plate? Actually we needs some more pics Buckles. Breezie

 

[l.cutler]

I just can't see it being a gun part, but don't know what it might be either!

 

[BuckleBoy]

I will post another photo or two after I drag in back home again tonight from the airplane. A gun piece was what I thought it was as well, but I didn't want to influence what others might think. Now...not so sure.


Best Wishes,

Buckles

 

[savant365]

Just a guess but it really looks like a cover to a patch box to me

 

[kuger]

Just a guess but it really looks like a cover to a patch box to me

Thats what I asked,too,but I guess not Sure looks like ones I have dug

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I just recently stumbled onto this thread, and even though I know nothing about antique gun parts, that's where my search will begin. I am eliminating rail hook for pictures because those should be curved on both ends. Based on what I've seen so far, I like the patch box cover idea the best.

SBB

P.S. ~ Of the dozens of buttplates I've already looked at, 100% of them had mounting holes.

 

[creskol]

I just recently stumbled onto this thread, and even though I know nothing about antique gun parts, that's where my search will begin. I am eliminating rail hook for pictures because those should be curved on both ends. Based on what I've seen so far, I like the patch box cover idea the best.

SBB

P.S. ~ Of the dozens of buttplates I've already looked at, 100% of them had mounting holes.

I don't think it is a buttplate .. It could be part of a sideplate though.

 

[kuger]

Patchbox lid

 

[l.cutler]

At only 7/8" wide and 2 3/4" long it wouldn't be a patchbox lid. It just isn't shaped like a sideplate, and there would be holes for the lock bolts. I think the answer lies somewhere other than a gun part. It does look like the one end is hooked for hanging.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I'm beginning to think its not a gun/musket part either. If it were, you'd think one of the numerous gun-guys on this site would recognize it immediately. I searched from A to Z on everything I could think of that might be gun related, but never did come up with anything specific. However, when I changed my search mode to "Civil War Relics," I started to see a lot more stuff that might be "possibles." But there's a problem with this type of searching because most of the pictures that come up are of miscellaneous lots, with no detailed descriptions of the items shown. Take for example the picture below, the item on the right looks like it might be a possible, but unfortunately it didn't say what it was, and simply described the entire lot as "Dug Civil War Relics." Like I said earlier, I'm no gun expert, and even though this contradicts what I said above, I have an itching feeling the item in question "might" be a patch box cover, but is just missing the hinge part. I also think that's what the item in the picture below is, but admit I can't say for sure.

SBB

The similar looking Civil War Relic on the right doesn't have the so called "wings" like the one in question does, but it does appear to have the center part that would bend and wrap around the hinge.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

This is for dummies like me who don't know a Musket from a Muskrat ...

Link: http://winchestersutler.com/Part.html

Based on the various illustrations shown on the website, if the item is gun related, then it appears the only thing that even comes close is a patch box cover. But I'm starting to get a bad feeling about that possibility, and may have to start thinking outside of the "box."

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Maybe its not a patchbox but it sure seems to match the hinge like item in lot picture "Dug Civil War Relics" that Bob posted.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

~ For Comparison ~

But please be reminded that we still don't know for sure what the relic is either!