🥇 BANNER REV WAR British 31st ROF Grenadiers Cartridge Box Plate!

hogge

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REV WAR British 31st Grenadiers Cartridge Box Plate....UPDATE

Always dreamt I would find one of these. After about an hour, at the first virgin hole in over a year, me and my brother in law had some luck. Hits were everywhere. A toasted Draped Bust LC, a 1848 LC, buttons and .....THE PRIZE! I knew right away what I had, just couldn't believe my eyes. As I flipped out and screamed to Rich to get over to me, he said....."Ya got silver?" Nope....."Ya got Gold?" Nope......BETTER!!! Then I noticed the 31. There were a lot of prisoners from the 31st taken at Saratoga. Looked for about 15mins for the "GR" with the pin pointer but couldn't locate any of it. FINALLY!!!! After 2 years I have something decent to post! Definitely going back. What a day. Enjoy Hogge Update: I guess it's ok to blat it out now............Made W&E Treasures Magazine Best Finds of 2015. Second time for me. Made it back in 2009, with my Rev War Royal Artillery Belt tip from 2008. They told me last week. Did anyone else find out they made it?? Hogge
 

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Upvote 64
HODGGE WHAT A HELLUVA FIND . MAN THAT THING IS SWEET AND FROM THE REV WAR IS PRICELESS .... BBBB BANNER FIND ..
 

The question that occurs to me right away is - given the rarity of this Revolutionary War British cartridge box plate , and that it
doesn't seem to be listed in the book/s - how did you have any idea what you had found ??

He may have seen one similar, in person or in reference. Hogge has spent many, many years studying the movements of troops throughout Western Mass, Eastern NY, Southrn VT and Northern CT, especially the captured troops which moved through the area after the Battle of Saratoga. When I find something I think might be Revolutionary War but I'm not sure, he is one of the people I rely on ID my finds. I can't guarantee that he is right 100% of the time (although he might :laughing7:), I certainly hold his opinion in very high regard.
 

The question that occurs to me right away is - given the rarity of this Revolutionary War British cartridge box plate , and that it
doesn't seem to be listed in the book/s - how did you have any idea what you had found ??
This reply will be of no disrespect to you Argentinium, but this is how I knew.............In Don Troianis book, Buckles Buttons and Badges of The American Revolution, (which I own and coincidentally have a relic pictured in there I found), I see MANY examples of British box plates. I've referenced it, and studied it hundreds of times. After I had found the belt tip in 2008, I decided to really study up on Rev War stuff so that if I found something I could ID it. So IMMEDIATELY I knew what I had found. As regards to the rarity of this plate I can only tell you, and will reference to, IP's posting of possibly being the only 31st ROF Grenadiers box plate known. British Regiments,(or Battalions), consisted of 10 companies, with 38 men in each. 8 were line infantry with 1 light infantry and 1 grenadier company. The grenadier company was "The" Elite troops of that Regiment. They were the largest and strongest men of the regiment. They were most commonly used as assault troops. They also carried sabers as their sidearm, so to speak, whereas the light infantry troops carried axes, and line infantry bayonets. I knew it was a box plate, from the 31st,(obviously), but didn't know about the grenadier connection until I researched in the book. So.....as regards to it's rarity.....I have 1 of the box plates, from only 38 men, out of 380, in the British 31st ROF. I believe, most of the "line and light infantry" box plates had a crown on top. ONLY the ELITE Grenadiers of the Regiment had the "Flame" on top. So as IP stated, and I also now believe, it's probably the ONLY, 31st ROF Grenadiers box plate known. That's why you cannot reference a pic or auction estimate of one. There is an example of a 21st and a 60th in Troianis book though. Research and knowledge, along with several VERY knowledgeable people on T-Net, will show you "The Promised Land"! I hope that answers your question. Hogge
 

This reply will be of no disrespect to you Argentinium, but this is how I knew.............In Don Troianis book, Buckles Buttons and Badges of The American Revolution, (which I own and coincidentally have a relic pictured in there I found), I see MANY examples of British box plates. I've referenced it, and studied it hundreds of times. After I had found the belt tip in 2008, I decided to really study up on Rev War stuff so that if I found something I could ID it. So IMMEDIATELY I knew what I had found. As regards to the rarity of this plate I can only tell you, and will reference to, IP's posting of possibly being the only 31st ROF Grenadiers box plate known. British Regiments,(or Battalions), consisted of 10 companies, with 38 men in each. 8 were line infantry with 1 light infantry and 1 grenadier company. The grenadier company was "The" Elite troops of that Regiment. They were the largest and strongest men of the regiment. They were most commonly used as assault troops. They also carried sabers as their sidearm, so to speak, whereas the light infantry troops carried axes, and line infantry bayonets. I knew it was a box plate, from the 31st,(obviously), but didn't know about the grenadier connection until I researched in the book. So.....as regards to it's rarity.....I have 1 of the box plates, from only 38 men, out of 380, in the British 31st ROF. I believe, most of the "line and light infantry" box plates had a crown on top. ONLY the ELITE Grenadiers of the Regiment had the "Flame" on top. So as IP stated, and I also now believe, it's probably the ONLY, 31st ROF Grenadiers box plate known. That's why you cannot reference a pic or auction estimate of one. There is an example of a 21st and a 60th in Troianis book though. Research and knowledge, along with several VERY knowledgeable people on T-Net, will show you "The Promised Land"! I hope that answers your question. Hogge

Again, that's why I ask him :headbang:
 

Oxbow!!! Where ya been? Too bad about those fields being out of bounds now.
 

Congratulations ! I'm voting
 

Oxbow!!! Where ya been? Too bad about those fields being out of bounds now.

I moved up to Vermont. I'm in Newfane now. I haven't gotten out as much I as used to, but I've found a few good sites up here. If you saw the pre-Rev War bayonet up on the banner last spring(under username KindleFarmers), that was found at my school by one of my coworkers and her students.
 

Unbelievable find. I like everyone else am learning on this item. It that style the one they called the "Flaming grenade" ?
 

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Yes , If I had to put it all in a word I guess I would choose research ! This must be a Banner find .
(I certainly don't feel disrespected in any way by a very well educated response like that )
 

Unbelievable find. I like everyone else am learning on this item. It that style the one they called the "Flaming grenade" used by Grenadiers ?
Yes TN. Only 10% of a Regiment were grenadiers. Wish I could have found the "GR" lettering. Spent quite some time looking for them. Maybe a little more time will be spent when we visit the site next. Would like a complete example.
 

That is a tremendous find! The British occupied Newport, RI for three years during the Rev. War, and I've only managed to find a single pewter button (38th Regiment) over years of hunting. Finding any type of regimental Rev. War plate appears very near to impossible, but you've done it! :notworthy: This is a great make up post for your two years hiatus from posting. After this find, you could take off the next 20 years! Banner vote is in, and I hope some of the discussion in this thread gives your significant find the recognition it deserves. By the way, the book "History Written with the Pick and Shovel" provides a wealth of information on the recovery of Rev. War artifacts in the early 20th century. Will you go back to search for the missing parts of the badge. I would sift the exact area where it was recovered. Such a find would be worth the effort.
 

Great Find Hogge.
Heck when you say first find in two years worth posting.....Your not kidding...awesome !

As for the votes, I see IPS's point you'll not get the votes simply because most people just don't know about it, and it's not "as pretty" as a gold coin.

Nice finds, and good luck out there on that site. As long as you're geting one non-ferrous every fifteen minutes or so you still have a big chance.

Voting now.
 

That's an incredible find! Looking at the pictures and reading these posts really gets the blood pumping! I'm a revolutionary war buff myself and can only dream of a recovery like that :notworthy:
 

Well, I've taken the instruction and educated myself on this find. I'm beginning to appreciate the true rarity of this relic, the very special place in history it has, and the research and persistence that led to its discovery.

Happy to be learning, thank you for sharing this with us. And Banner.
 

These are the type of finds I never see turn up in the UK. Defending the Empire meant most of it was lost over seas. Great find, & near impossible to repeat.

I'll trade you LOL
 

I moved up to Vermont. I'm in Newfane now. I haven't gotten out as much I as used to, but I've found a few good sites up here. If you saw the pre-Rev War bayonet up on the banner last spring(under username KindleFarmers), that was found at my school by one of my coworkers and her students.

What's the back story on the fields being out of bounds? It just seems like the more popular this hobby gets, the harder it is to find a place to detect. I think many landowners and homeowners are afraid of giving one person permission because they will be besieged with others looking to hunt there. Just wondering what happened in your case oxbow.
 

Totally awesome :notworthy:
 

Does anyone know where, or when, the last one of these plates was posted?? On this site or any other? Just any Rev War Box Plate will do. Searched, but not extensively. Can't locate any. Not looking for a belt plate. A cartridge box plate. Hogge
 

Glad to see the plate made it up top!
 

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