OLD STAG BELT BUCKLE? VERMONT MILITIA? CIVIL WAR OR EARLIER?

[spudnutt]

I dug this today. I've tried to do some research but am just coming up with dead ends. I think the stag signifies something with Vermont? I believe this is part of a 2 piece belt buckle. Has anyone seen one before? Is it Civil War? Revolutionary War??

Any help is appreciated!

 

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[CC Hunter]

Interesting buckle piece!

You have the center piece from a mid-19th century two-piece stamped brass tongue & wreath buckle. This style is generally pre-Civil War with popularity at a peak in the 1850's. There are several varieties of these buckles with the design motif stamped separately, and attached with two wires through the buckle center disk, including leaves, lions and tiger heads, and the more popular stag design as shown below. These buckles are actually non-military, being worn by civilian men, women, and children. The stag head design, is a popular European style feature, that may have origins from Germany or the United Kingdom. Your particular stag head buckle design is a rather uncommon variety, yet the style is quite similar to the ones shown here, being found across America in 1850's-1860's period sites.

CC Hunter

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

"One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony" (sounds like myself)

http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/B/buttons.htm




It has the livery torse

 

[CC Hunter]

Upon closer study of the "Old Stag Belt Buckle" first posted, I believe we are seeing a depiction of a European Fallow Deer buck on the two-piece buckle center tongue. The antlers appear to be slightly palmed with points both forward and back of the main beam. A "Stag" is generally termed towards a Red Stag or European Red Deer (cervus elaphus), a close cousin of our American Elk (wapiti by native name).

CC Hunter

 

[kuger]

 

[Ironman!]

Most excellent find spudnutt! I'm not sure about the Vermont correlation, but I am most definitely sure about the existence of that type of buckle pre CW. And to be more exact, I have seen many of these type (stag head, tiger, leaf) come from 1850's sites worn by civilians. I did notice however, the positioning of the holes on your buckle is different from one of my latest tongues I found minus the attachment. My hunting buddies and myself study these tongue and wreath buckles quite profusely and take notice of any differences that one buckle might have from another. So, now I am intrigued to not only know what attachment could go to my buckle, but also to the positioning of the holes on yours.

Thanks for posting and congrats on a beautiful piece.

IM