Solved - Heart shaped harness buckle shield - Possibly CW era

[turtlefoot13]

Hi All,

I found this in a field that I have found many logging relics from the 1880's-1890's. It was as deep as the other relics that I have found, although I have trouble believing this is that old. Hopefully it is. Anyway, the rectangular part on the left moves as to let this fit on a strap or something. Any guesses or ID's are greatly appreciated. I believe it is copper as it gives a consistent high tone on my Pioneer 202.

Thanks,
Doug

 

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[Iron Patch]

Re: Buckle or horse bridle decoration maybe?

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,71329.0.html

 

[turtlefoot13]

Re: Buckle or horse bridle decoration maybe?

Thank you IP! I appreciate it.

Doug

 

[turtlefoot13]

Re: Buckle or horse bridle decoration maybe?

I'm going to greencheck this one! Thanks again IP!

Doug

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Additional info: This EXACT buckle-shield is shown in the 1904 Sears-&-Roebuck mail order catalog.

 

[turtlefoot13]

Additional info: This EXACT buckle-shield is shown in the 1904 Sears-&-Roebuck mail order catalog.

That's great info! Thanks.

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Does anyone know where this buckle-shield got a connection to the Civil War? Is there any documented evidence that this buckle-shield was ever used in the CW? There seems to be a lot of different "stories" and controversy attached to this style of buckle-shield.

Doug

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Turtlefoot13 wrote:
> Is there any documented evidence that this buckle-shield was ever used in the CW?

Insofar as I'm aware, no such buckle-shield appears in any civil war era photo of cavalry horses or other horses. (By the way, total lack of civil war photo evidence is what helped to kill the notorious brass "civil war" tent-rope-adjusters -- even before the 1880 US Patent for them was found by relic-researchers like me.)

> Does anyone know where this buckle-shield got a connection to the Civil War?

People have dug these buckle-shields in areas where they also found civil war relics. To many people, that means it's a civil war relic. But if that were true, then I'd be the owner of lots of valuable Confederate beer-cans, civil war coins dated 1926, and Confederate Model-T Ford parts. ;-)

On a serious note... if these buckle-shields got found 24 inches deep in a battle-trench's wall, or similarly deep in the bottom of a civil war winter-camp hutsite, I'd believe they are civil war era relics. But insofar as I've ever heard (in 37 years of relic-digging and researching), they've all been what are called "surface finds" ...meaning, they were in the topsoil.

Here in Virginia, we've got lots-and-lots of civil war winter-camps. Especially in past 15 years, relic-hunters have been digging out the deep hutsites, because the surface-finds have been exhausted. Sure seems like somebody would have found some of these buckle-shields down deep in the bottom of a hut, if they were civil war era.

In case anybody here is unaware that the brass "tent-rope adjusters" are strictly 1880s-or-later, here's the US Patent diagram showing them ...and the 1889 Army Regulation specifying their use. Although their correct ID as 1880s-or-later is undeniably true, it's frustrating, because I myself dug one in a civil war site, right next to some Minie-balls.

 

[turtlefoot13]

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. Civil War era items are older than what I normally find and collect. I collect shotshell heads and bullet casings.

Thanks again,
Doug

 

[kccj76]

Anyone know why the heart on so many of these?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

1920? http://antiquehorse.com/bucklepage.html