Need help id'ing buckle

[tj.cama]

Found this in a field next to a musket ball and have no clue what it is. A large skirmish with a few hundred soldiers fought here and want to see if it's in any way related to the time period. Thanks!

 

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[BIGSCOTT]

No expert by along shot, but what comes to mind is something for handeling
hot molten lead, a handle(probably wooden) and a square shaped crucible would be the parts that are missing

 

[tj.cama]

No expert by along shot, but what comes to mind is something for handeling
hot molten lead, a handle(probably wooden) and a square shaped crucible would be the parts that are missing

Are you thinking more for casting bullets? Would make sense if it was dropped considering where I found it.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your mystery object's size, and the shape of its shaft, and the presence of a broken-off iron stud in the shaft's base indicate it is a horse-harness terret, also known as a reins-guide. Yours having a square top is a scarcer variety... most had a circular top. See the photos and the 1907 US Patent diagram below. As the patent indicates, they date from the late-1800s into the early 20th Century. As the photo shows, some are still in use today.

 

[tj.cama]

Your mystery object's size, and the shape of its shaft, and the presence of a broken-off iron stud in the shaft's base indicate it is a horse-harness terret, also known as a reins-guide. Yours having a square top is a scarcer variety... most had a circular top. See the photos and the 1907 US Patent diagram below. As the patent indicates, they date from the late-1800s into the early 20th Century. As the photo shows, some are still in use today.

Thanks for the insight! Would have never thought that. Would you venture to guess it is colonial era?

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

I've owned lots of "vintage" horse tack - never saw a square rein guide. I'm thinking that its not that. imo

Mrs.O

 

[nhbenz]

It seems maybe to have looked like the one in this thread originally (with no positive ID): http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...n-early-1700s-relics-turn-century-bottle.html

I don’t know if that bottom bracket helps identify its use?

 

[nhbenz]

OR was it more like the one in this thread, very similar to the design shown in the patent Pete posted: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/559138-different-reins-guide-lc.html