A nice example of the regulation US Model 1851 sword belt plate issued to enlisted cavalrymen and mounted artillerymen carrying sabers. The overall pattern was introduced in 1851 for sword belts in general. This is the version introduced in December 1863 using a slightly taller plate with a one-piece nickel silver applied wreath that ends below the eagle’s wing tips on either side, and has the rays of the sun entirely circling the central motif.

This is non-excavated, has a nice, medium, patina with a few brown age spots, and no bends or breaks, with the wreath complete and in place. The reverse has a bench number, 865, stamped near one edge that was used to match it to its keeper or hasp, since the two elements had to have some final filing and hand fitting and needed to be kept together for mounting on the saber belt.

This is basic plate in any Civil War accoutrement plate collection, and a recognized version of the M1851. It would also fit well in a cavalry display. If you had an ancestor in a Civil War Union cavalry regiment 1864-65, he was likely wearing one of these. [SR] [ph:L]

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