A VERY EARLY ONE-PIECE WREATH RECTANGULAR EAGLE M1851 SWORD BELT PLATE & HASP

A VERY EARLY ONE-PIECE WREATH RECTANGULAR EAGLE M1851 SWORD BELT PLATE & HASP

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5

$295.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1311-53

These rectangular eagle buckles showing the Arms of the U.S, were introduced in 1851 for wear by officers and by enlisted men carrying swords: cavalrymen, artillerymen, infantry sergeants, and others. This is a government-issue style for enlisted men, using a separate German silver (i.e., nickel silver) wreath that was sweated on to the cast and die-struck plate, where commercial officer’s plates use finer die work that includes the wreath, which would then be given a silver wash.

Early versions of the enlisted pattern range from 49mm to 52mm in height and use a three-piece wreath having its tips place separately above the edges of the eagle’s wings. The height was officially changed by orders beginning in November 1861 to accommodate wider belts, with the enlisted plates increasing to 55mm, (i.e., the specified 2.2 inches.) At about the same time makers switched to a simplified and less labor-intensive one-piece wreath. This plate retains the old height (we measure it at 50mm,) but uses the simpler one-piece wreath, and we would thus date it very early in the change-over with the additional note that the plate shows only the cast and die-struck background rays of the sun over the top of the eagle, not along the sides and even bottom of the plate as began appearing in 1864.

For a similar example, though using the taller 55mm height, see O’Donnell and Campbell Plate 625, in American Military Belt Plates, which they date ca. 1862-63. We would thus date this about 1862. As with their example, it does not have bench numbers on either the plate or the hasp (used to keep hand finish parts together until mounting on a belt,) and shows some rough sand casting or at least not much finishing on the reverse.

This displays very well and is a key piece in a belt plate collection illustrating an interesting variation and showing the development and changes of the pattern during the war.    [sr] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About A VERY EARLY ONE-PIECE WREATH RECTANGULAR EAGLE M1851 SWORD BELT PLATE & HASP

should be empty