This is the M1839 oval U.S. belt plate made for the narrow 1.5 inch U.S infantry waist belts of the Mexican War period. Like the Civil War versions, these are made of rolled stamped brass with a lead solder filled back securing the fastening hooks, in this case a single brass arrowhead stud to secure it on one end of the belt and a narrow hook to fasten and adjust the other end. These were first made with iron wire hooks that were found to break too easily and the brass hooks were introduced in 1844. By the time of the Mexican War the belt served not only to secure the shoulder belt of the cartridge box, but to carry the bayonet scabbard as well, with the majority of troops still carrying flintlock arms and no need of cap pouches.

This is a very good, non-excavated example with a medium aged patina showing some thin brown age stains and just a few shallow dings or scratches from use and one shallow push to the edge at right. The borders and letters are well defined. The brass hook and stud assembly is intact and in place in the thin lead solder fill on the reverse, which has a level surface with some light scratches and even gray color with some small brown stains.

This would fit nicely in a US military belt plate collection or a display focused on the Mexican War, though these plates also made their way into the Civil War on the equipment of early war volunteer forces from the various states and are both shown in period photographs and excavated from wartime camps and battlefields. See O’Donnell and Campbell, American Military Belt Plates for an in-depth discussion of the development and use of the oval US belt plate.  [sr][ph:L]

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