Learning my buckles

[Kevo_DFX]

Hi all,

I know none of these are spectacular finds, but I really like to know what I'm digging out of the ground. I have a bunch of different buckles, so if one or two of you more knowledgeable folks could tell me what I have, I'll know what it is next time I dig one, so without further ado:

Buckle 1 - 2 and 3/4 inches by 2 1/8 inches:

Buckle 2 - both about 1 and 1/2 inches square

Buckle 3 - smaller is about 1 and 1/4 inches square, larger is 1 and 1/2 inches square

Buckle 4 - smaller is 7/8 inches by 5/8 inches, larger is 1 and 1/8 by 1 and 5/8 inches

Buckle 5 - 1 inch by 5/8 inch

Buckle 6 - 1 and 1/4 inch by 1 and 1/2 inch

Buckle 7 - various, all around an inch

Buckle 8 - 1 and 5/8 inches long, broken

Thanks for your help!
Kevo

 

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[vayank54]

Can you post a pic of the other side of the first buckle? The 2nd,5th and 8th pictures are suspender buckles. 3,6,&7 are more than likely harness buckles but could have been used on belts. Kind of hard to date and that type of buckle has been used for years. The 4th pic. I don't know

 

[Kevo_DFX]

Here ya go, Thanks Vayank!

I'm gonna guess number 4 is for a garter.

 

[vayank54]

Really not sure about 4 but I guess it could be froma garter.
Is the first buckle made of brass? In a way it looks like it and then in a way not. If it's brass I'm not sure what it is but dug one like it and about the same size in a civil war hut site years ago.

 

[Kevo_DFX]

Definitely not brass. Softer metal and and lead colored. My guess is pot metal, but I really don't know. Lead and pewter would be way too soft for a buckle, right?

 

[vayank54]

They did make buckles out of pewter but those were earlier types. I thought it looks like it might be aluminum or pot metal from the whitish spots in the first pic. I'm not sure what it would be unless it is a harness buckle. What ever it is it's modern.

 

[Kevo_DFX]

Thanks for your help!

 

[Lucas]

Number 5 is a vest buckle, 19th century... except it seems a little bit too fancy. Could also be 18th century (man's) garter/knee buckle or a hat buckle.

 

[vayank54]

Number 5 is a vest buckle, 19th century... except it seems a little bit too fancy. Could also be 18th century (man's) garter/knee buckle or a hat buckle.

Yeah You caught me not thinking. It could be a vest buckle or also a pants buckle. Don't know about the garter buckle thing though.

 

[Lucas]

See Whitehead's book on buckles.

 

[leddel]

no. 5 looks to be a very late to early 19th century suspender buckle and no.8 is a mid 19 century suspender buckle