McElroy and Hunt were the only Confederate firm to mark their belt buckles and this some of the better markings we have seen. These were sand cast, and between occasional file or  finish work, weakening of detail in the sand mold, and natural corrosion in excavated examples, there is often little of the lettering left on the back. If there was a Confederate counterpart to the common US oval buckle, this style was it: simple, lightweight, strong, completely practical, easily fabricated, and produced by makers throughout the south. William John McElroy of Macon, GA, is well known for his Confederate swords, knives, pikes, spurs and other military gear. In 1860 partnered in 1860 with John R. Hunt, a moulder from North Carolina with experience working for the South Western Railroad and their buckles are nicely finished, cast in one plane with beveled edges and the flat reverse marked “MCELROY & HUNT” on one side bar and “MACON, GA.” on the other (toothed) edge, read with the points up.

Keim notes these were widely distributed, with examples found in Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This one comes from the Dick Hammond collection and was found at Spotsylvania. The find location and collection inventory number are noted on small labels we have left in place. The condition of the plate is very good, with nice greenish brown tones, nice bevels, and just a few small spots of corrosion on the face. The reverse shows a bit more brown with the typical slightly rough finish from sand casting, with the “L” in McElroy and the “ON” of Macon a bit soft, but marking unambiguous.

This is a very strong example of a widely used Confederate belt plate from a respected collection.  [sr][ph:L]

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