REPRODUCTION CIVIL WAR BUCKLES & PLATES
By Gary Williams
CONFEDERATE STATE PLATES - MARYLAND           

This is the beginning of your education in MARYLAND STATE PLATES. To accommodate slow Internet connections and to speed up the loading of these pages, only 10 buckles will be displayed per page. Please click on the "Page" link to change pages. The plates listed with "Plate Numbers" are the actual Plate Numbers listed in "Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates" by Steve Mullinax. Use the photos of the original plates listed in the book to compare the differences in the repros listed here.

Photo # CSMD1 

Plate 299 (1855-1865 Maryland Two Piece Belt Plate.) 55 x 84/wreath ht. 54mm. Marked GW/HBF. Is in the Virginia Historical Society collection. The original of this Maryland had a die stamped center disc where my reproduction is solid cast brass. This reproduction Maryland two piece should not be a problem. Two mm's smaller than the original. The belt loops are for an artillery belt.

Photo # CSMD2

Plate 305 (1860-1865 Maryland Sword Belt Plate.) 50 x 87mm. Marked GW. Original is in the Virginia Historical Society collection. The original Maryland sword belt plate was pressed in a metal die and lacks the sand texture my reproduction has and also the hook on the original is applied where my hook is cast solid to the belt plate. The back of the original is smooth and the detail does not have sand texture. The original does not have file marks all around the edge except in front of the hook edge. You will find very little file marks on these state sword belt plates. I use the applied hook that I make for all the photo's because if these plates are faked that is the type used. You should have no problem with my cast hooks. Look for a silver color around the hook. The original applied hook is aged yellow and looks to be cast because the hook and buckle match in color. My reproduction applied hook will look a silver color around the hook. Also remember the size difference. These original sword belt plates are always the same in size. I tried to show the no.'s on the keeper but it is hard to see. 961. There is no bench no. on the plate. On the back edge of most of these sword belt plates you will see hammered marks. That is the marks from being struck in the metal die.

Photo # CSMD3 

Plate 300 (1855-1865 Maryland Two Piece Belt Plate.) 48 x 87/wreath ht. 53mm. Marked GW. Original is in the John Bracken collection. You should not have a problem with this belt plate. The original had a die stamped center disc applied to the tongue bar and my reproduction is cast solid brass. Also 2 mm's smaller.

Photo # CSMD4 

Plate 299 (1855-1865 Maryland Two Piece Belt Plate.) 54 x 83/wreath ht. 53mm. Marked GW. Original is in the Virginia Historical Society collection. I cast less than 10 of this Maryland with the sand cast applied center disc. This plate should not be a problem because I rubbed out most of the detail in the back and cast it thicker. The original had a thin sharp detail center disc.

Photo # CSMD5 

Plate 584 (1860 Oval Maryland Box Plate.) Marked GW. Reproduction is in the Charles Burnette collection. I cast 50 of these box plates and belt plates with knobs back in 1982. All the information on these plates are listed in a different section. The original had E.Gaylord where my reproduction does not. A very close reproduction. My solid brass buckles had the three hook style backing.