Tigerdude
Sr. Member
Is this a reproduction or original Thanks.
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Great post. Thanks for the education.That US "eagle breastplate" (shoulder-belt plate) is a genuine Original one, not a reproduction. In this case, the key ID-clue is the small "scaling" corrosion at the edge of the solder back-filler metal. The 1830s-60s Originals were filled with solder, not lead. (But that fact has not stopped relic diggers from constantly calling them "lead-filled" plates.) The difference is important. Lead tends to develop a white patina as it oxidizes in soil and outdoor weather... and the white lead-oxide patina isn't scaly or flaky. But solder corrosion does tend to be flaky/scaly. Also, lead patina is easily faked with acid. That method of faked aging doesn't "work" on solder.
Thanks,Cannonball. I wasn’t sureThat US "eagle breastplate" (shoulder-belt plate) is a genuine Original one, not a reproduction. In this case, the key ID-clue is the small "scaling" corrosion at the edge of the solder back-filler metal. The 1830s-60s Originals were filled with solder, not lead. (But that fact has not stopped relic diggers from constantly calling them "lead-filled" plates.) The difference is important. Lead tends to develop a white patina as it oxidizes in soil and outdoor weather... and the white lead-oxide patina isn't scaly or flaky. But solder corrosion does tend to be flaky/scaly. Also, lead patina is easily faked with acid. That method of faked aging doesn't "work" on solder.
You the man, CBG!That US "eagle breastplate" (shoulder-belt plate) is a genuine Original one, not a reproduction. In this case, the key ID-clue is the small "scaling" corrosion at the edge of the solder back-filler metal. The 1830s-60s Originals were filled with solder, not lead. (But that fact has not stopped relic diggers from constantly calling them "lead-filled" plates.) The difference is important. Lead tends to develop a white patina as it oxidizes in soil and outdoor weather... and the white lead-oxide patina isn't scaly or flaky. But solder corrosion does tend to be flaky/scaly. Also, lead patina is easily faked with acid. That method of faked aging doesn't "work" on solder.