Please Help with Chain I.D.

[Beep'n]

I found this chain detecting in a wash in Arizona. I would like to know what it is and how old it is?

Its 12 inches long and about 1/2 inch wide.
Its Not magnetic, possibly brass.
I dont see any markings on it.
The ends have rivets, but no material was attached to it when I dug it.
Looks like a decorative piece to me.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks

 

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[Tony in SC]

From a fancy boot?

 

[A2coins]

Cool find Ill tell ya when I worked in AZ that dirt was like cement had to get it wet then hit it with a pick just to start a trench burying electrical conduit.

 

[Beep'n]

That's a possibility. I could see that attached to a boot.

 

[Beep'n]

From a fancy boot?

Luckily in the wash it wasn't too bad. I could dig with my trowel. Glad I didn't break it. I wasn't expecting that to come out of the ground.

 

[Beep'n]

Luckily in the wash it wasn't too bad. I could dig with my trowel. Glad I didn't break it. I wasn't expecting that to come out of the ground.

 

[Reanm8er]

Welcome Beep'n, nice find. Perhaps an ornate spur strap or a hat band. Any idea what the material is?

 

[Hawks88]

Nice save. Congrats. Sorry I can’t help with the ID.

 

[Beep'n]

Welcome Beep'n, nice find. Perhaps an ornate spur strap or a hat band. Any idea what the material is?

Its not magnetic. I think its brass.

 

[DCMatt]

That type chain is/was called 'bookchain'. Popular @ the turn of the 20th C. Used for watch chains, fraternal sword belts, even women's fashion jewelry.

 

[A2coins]

Welcome also

 

[Reanm8er]

Do both ends have a rivet or just one?

 

[Beep'n]

That type chain is/was called 'bookchain'. Popular @ the turn of the 20th C. Used for watch chains, fraternal sword belts, even women's fashion jewelry.

View attachment 1703812

Thanks DCMatt, I can do some more searching with that info.

 

[Beep'n]

Do both ends have a rivet or just one?

Hi Phil,

Both ends have a rivet.

 

[DCMatt]

IMO it seems too heavy for a watch chain. I'll go with fraternal sword hanger. Early 20th C.

 

[Beep'n]

IMO it seems too heavy for a watch chain. I'll go with fraternal sword hanger. Early 20th C.

View attachment 1704180

Agreed..Too heavy for a watch..I looked at some "Bookchain" photos after seeing your previous post..very helpful by the way, thanks...I found some decorative cowboy boot chains that were somewhat similar...Sword hanger is one I didnt think of.

 

[DCMatt]

Agreed..Too heavy for a watch..I looked at some "Bookchain" photos after seeing your previous post..very helpful by the way, thanks...I found some decorative cowboy boot chains that were somewhat similar...Sword hanger is one I didnt think of.

I was thinking it was too long for a boot chain. But I happen to be wearing my boots today so I measured. It would take a 15 inch chain to go around my boot.

I'll go with 'boot chain'...

 

[DCMatt]

Researching something else today and it occurred to me that this could be off a shako. That would explain the rivets on each end...

I looked for a little while but did not find a good match.

 

[Beep'n]

Researching something else today and it occurred to me that this could be off a shako. That would explain the rivets on each end...

I looked for a little while but did not find a good match.

Hey DCMatt, thanks for looking and the tip. I wasnt sure what a Shako was...well at least I didnt know those hats were called that...I learned something new today. That could be a possibility. Its a hard one to find because there isnt any marks on the piece to help identify it. I looked through images of Shako's but couldnt find one that matched. It sure looks like it could go on one of those hats.