✅ SOLVED Old Buckle...but just how old?

[villagenut]

This one I dug so long ago that I still get mad at myself when I see how I scraped at it to get the black paint off of it, if that was what it was.Way back when I thought everything had to be made shiny. I have never really pinned down anything solid on its age or why the bronze tang is on backwards. I think so anyways. Is it shoe buckle or what? I know someones gotta know. Thanks for looking.

 

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[BosnMate]

I see what you mean by backwards. Now that's a head scratcher.

 

[villagenut]

I just know one of you all out there know exactly what I am , don't give up on me.....signed"buckle".

 

[Ant]

I bet that prong slipped to the back side, that does happen you know, and it is hard to get it back to the other side, simple.

 

[Ant]

As for age, is the bridge that the prong is fastened to welded onto the frame?

 

[coinman123]

Just to let you know, that is not black paint, it is just a layer of encrusted dirt and corrosion, that flakes off easily with abrasion. Almost every old brass/copper find I find has that. It looks to be a late 1700's/early 1800's batwing buckle (also known as "baldric buckles), these buckles usually went on straps.



Cool find!

 

[villagenut]

As for age, is the bridge that the prong is fastened to welded onto the frame?

Appears to be all one piece and strangely enough, I don't know how prong could have slipped over, it is not a loose enough fit for that to accidentally flip for it is longer than the opening it crosses over

.

 

[villagenut]

Just to let you know, that is not black paint, it is just a layer of encrusted dirt and corrosion, that flakes off easily with abrasion. Almost every old brass/copper find I find has that. It looks to be a late 1700's/early 1800's batwing buckle (also known as "baldric buckles), these buckles usually went on straps.



Thanks Coinman, It was a long time back but I seem to remember scraping pretty hard at it and giving up when I got half way done with the back side.Most brass I find around my parts usually come out with great patina. This one was quite different, that's probably why I took a scraper to it, otherwise I would not have.Thanks so much for the info..vn

 

[Ant]

It is not uncommon for the prong to slip to the other side of a buckle like that. The prong flexes (bends) and the prong spreads open where it is bent around the bridge. When that starts to happen it is time to drop some pounds or get a new belt.

It looks like a cast buckle. Here's a doodle that I created on my cell that shows the angle that the prong slips over at.

 

[villagenut]

It is not uncommon for the prong to slip to the other side of a buckle like that. The prong flexes (bends) and the prong spreads open where it is bent around the bridge. When that starts to happen it is time to drop some pounds or get a new belt.

It looks like a cast buckle. Here's a doodle that I created on my cell that shows the angle that the prong slips over at.
View attachment 1074828View attachment 1074828

The prong is I believe bronze so not sure how flexible it is, but it is obviously not on there right so it must have. Does it being a cast piece mean anything as to its age? Coinman said about late 1700-early 1800. Was there a distinction of how they were made and the time period? This was found where a settlement was made in mid 1840-50. It could have just been an older buckle worn by a settler...a fat one...lol

 

[Ant]

Bro just looking at that I could maneuver that prong to the other side, easley. I can tell you that the prong is flexable, can't reflect on age though.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Double looped buckles with off-set bar are harness buckles, it looks like it's made from stamped brass, which would make it date to the 1900's.

SS

 

[villagenut]

Double looped buckles with off-set bar are harness buckles, it looks like it's made from stamped brass, which would make it date to the 1900's.

SS

Thanks SS, that was what I was after.Hoping it was older but at least I know more now and that is great....vn

 

[Silver Searcher]

Thanks SS, that was what I was after.Hoping it was older but at least I know more now and that is great....vn

The design is unusual for a harness buckle, they are usually just plain.

SS

 

[ARC]

shoe buckle

 

[Ant]

 

[Ant]

The prong would work in that configuration, I’m with ARRC as it being a shoe or boot buckle.

 

[villagenut]

The prong would work in that configuration, I’m with ARRC as it being a shoe or boot buckle.

When I saw yor post, I thought you had found one online that was identical..lol. Seems to be a big shoe buckle for after 1900, Is this what they looked like at that time period? SS thought that time period but now I am a bit confused.

 

[ARC]

What makes you say 1900's?.... could have been from 1600's for all ya know... anyone walking through that area in the last 300 years... they do not have to "live" there ... just pass through... I have found items that WAY pre date the "history" of a site.
I found a 1700's coin near an 1850 dated house with no prior history. hence things are not always where they "should be"... the buckle resembles a shoe buckle... but my second guess is a buckle from a horses satchel bag. heh stick that in you pipe and smoke it

 

[villagenut]

What makes you say 1900's?.... could have been from 1600's for all ya know... anyone walking through that area in the last 300 years... they do not have to "live" there ... just pass through... I have found items that WAY pre date the "history" of a site.
I found a 1700's coin near an 1850 dated house with no prior history. hence things are not always where they "should be"... the buckle resembles a shoe buckle... but my second guess is a buckle from a horses satchel bag. heh stick that in you pipe and smoke it

I fully realize that artifacts are not always where you think they should be, many of the sites that I have searched over the years have had multiple layers of history and with that in mind you have to figure that in as you interpret a site, especially one with archaeological value. I just simply desired to know how old it may be, so that I may interpret my site accurately based on all that was found there. No I don't think it is from 1900, but would like to know if it were or not, based on other's experience in finding and identifying ones like this.I had thought maybe 1850, but again that's why I posted it, to find credible information as to its age and use. Thanks... vn