Another Belt Plate Buckle

[highsierra]

I found another US Army belt plate on Friday. This time it's a 1860 sword belt plate buckle. Metal detected from the back yard of an 1860s house, here in town. Not in too bad a condition from being in the dirt for over a century. There was also a mushroomed .45-70 bullet that still weighs 392 grains. It must've been a 405 gr bullet when fired.

I soaked the buckle in hot hydrogen peroxide for an hour and rinsed it under cool water. That's all I do to vintage items; you certainly don't want to polish them. Leave the patina as-is.

[DesertWalker]

Awesome, Mike! Let me know when you decide to sell it. :0

[Maumee Bay]

Nice find congrats that is a sweet buckle
Paul

[paleo_joe]

Wow, that's cool. I like how casually you said you found "another" US Army belt plate. If I found one it would be the find of a lifetime. Awesome!!

[Shannon Graham]

Where the two found in close proximity? Great discovery.

Shannon

[highsierra]

Originally Posted by Shannon Graham

Where the two found in close proximity? Great discovery.

Shannon

No, they were 10 block apart. the other plate, found last year, was different and earlier. It was a Model of 1850 and had an applied silver wreath, which had disintegrated.

[SmokyHill]

Very nice sword belt plate with an integrally cast wreath.

The ones we have found on Plains military sites (Plains Indian Wars era) had applied wreaths and unfortunately the wreaths were missing.

The picture is of a mushroomed 45-70 (R) and a 50-70 (L).

[silver lake]

Great find and it turned out nice after cleaning.

[irishman254]

That is really cool, I have a metal detector have not got to use it yet.

[homestyle]

I thought I should share this item my Grandmother gave to me several years ago. My Great Grandfather found this hidden in a wall of an old homestead he tore down on his farm in Missouri.

Enjoy!