Ridgeway Civil War Research Center A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
	Civil War Plates and Buckles
	by Harry Ridgeway

Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Federal Sword Waist plate, FAKE, FANTASY, or REPRODUCTION ODonnell illustration 663 or 664. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Details click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION.html

P1322 ### Federal Sword Waist Plate, eagle with wreath The Federal sword plate was authorized in 1851, initially intended for commissioned officers carrying a sword. By 1864 use by enlisted cavalry was extensive. Manufacture, 1860's, maker not determined. Eagle faces right. Shield bears bars only. Pattern shows 13 stars, eight above the banner, three left of eagle, two right of eagle. Rays surround the eagle. Plate is cast. Nickel silver wreath is one part and applied below the wings. Tongue is integral and bent. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Reference: O'Donnell & Campbell, illustration 663 or 664.

P2174 ### P2174 ### Fed sword plate Pritchard Fed sword plate pictures provided. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Pritchard fakes file shared

P2787 ### Hanover Brass repro: Federal sword plate. This is an example of Hanover Brass commercial grade reproduction, the plate has been produced in quantity, sold to the living history market, and is generally readily available. The product has also been used as feedstock for fakes, with chemical aging and other alterations. Gary Williams has provided the following pictures and explanation: Photo # ESBP24 Plate 663 1864-1865 NCO Eagle Sword Belt Plate 55 x 86mm Applied nickle silver wreath. GW stamped under the hook. This is one of the most faked of the Eagle buckles. The silver wreath is very close to the original wreath. The difference is my wreath stands a little higher from the face and does not have the cut line on the left top inside of the wreath. If you look close at the original wreath you can see where the wreath was cut when stamped. There is a straight line on the left inside top. You need to study an original to see this for yourself. If you can learn this cut-line you will never buy a bad NCO. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Photo # ESBP24 civilwarfakes com

P2788 ### Hanover Brass repro: Federal sword plate. This is an example of Hanover Brass commercial grade reproduction, the plate has been produced in quantity, sold to the living history market, and is generally readily available. The product has also been used as feedstock for fakes, with chemical aging and other alterations. Gary Williams has provided the following pictures and explanation: Photo # ESBP25 Plate 664 1864-1865 NCO Eagle Sword Belt Plate 55 x 86mm. GW stamped under the hook. Applied nickle silver wreath. Information from plate 663 also applies to this belt plate. The small hole in the back of the plate was in the original master pattern and allowed for shrinkage. When the metal cools at the thicker part of the buckle it will sometimes crack or shrink. The small hole prevented this. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Photo # ESBP25 civilwarfakes com

P3068 ### P3068 (F1068) Federal Sword Waist Plate P3068 (F1068) Federal Sword Waist Plate F1068 Waist sword belt plateUS Officer Brass Belt Buckle #128 from 1972 I was told. It measures 2'X 3 1/4 and has some wear with tarish. It looks like the same belt buckle from the civil war with eagle and stars. If you have questions or need more photos email.Source: ebay auction by 6j7 5/11/06 US OFFICER BRASS BELT BUCKLE # 128 1972 EAGLE Item number: 6627129400Editor Note: This item was listed in the Indian War category on ebay, I think the seller meant to say 1872 It is however a Civil War pattern. This is believed to have been made by Ray in Connecticut, in the 1970's or 1980's but that is not confirmed. It is also believed that the maker reworked the shield on the plate, so it is not a true copy of an original.  Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3068 F1068 Not owned picture only

P3074 ### P3074 (F1074) Sword belt plate manufactured by Hanover Brass P3074 (F1074) Sword belt plate manufactured by Hanover Brass F1074 Sword belt plate manufactured by Hanover BrassThis variant Eagle buckle was cast from an original by Gary Williams, Hanover Brass Foundry. This is as close to the original as you will get: the age look, the detail. It is marked with GW. A beautiful belt plate to wear or display. Solid brass cast using the original buckle as the pattern, cast in red brass. It has an applied nickle-silver wreath. Look at the depth of the artwork and the fine detail. What a beautiful Eagle!Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 3/12/06 1863 NCO Eagle Sword Belt Buckle Plate applied nickle silver wreath Item number: 6611631749Editor note: jaglady00 is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3074 F1074 Not owned picture only

P3126 ### P3126 ### (F1126) ### Sword belt plate P3126 ### (F1126) ### Sword belt plate F1126 Sword belt plateAUCTION IS FOR A AUTHENTIC DUG CIVIL WAR FEDERAL EAGLE WAIST BUCKLE. SILVER WREATH ON FRONT IS NO LONGER PRESENT, SMALL BIT OF THE LOOP ON BACK IS MISSING, OTHERWISE GREAT SHAPE. NICE DUG PATINA, UNSURE OF WHERE THIS PIECE WAS ACTUALLY DUG. PLEASE EMAIL WITHANY QUESTIONS. US SHIPPING WILL BE $6.00Source: ebay auction by vintage_comics_and_collectibles 7/6/06 AUTHENTIC DUG CIVIL WAR FEDERAL EAGLE WAIST BUCKLE Item number: 250003250836Editor note: This seller sells on ebay auction under Private Auction. It is highly doubtful this piece can be shown to be authentic. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3126 F1126 Not owned picture only

P3220 ### P3220 ### (F1220) ### Sword belt plate manufactured by Hanover Brass P3220 ### (F1220) ### Sword belt plate manufactured by Hanover Brass F1220 Sword belt plate manufactured by Hanover BrassPlate measures 54.6mm (Inside 49.6mm) X 85.6mmPlate was submitted by Gary Williams with the following comment:You should see a cut line on the outside of the left, your left looking at the buckle. Use your original pictures in the book for reference. The reproduction wreath is a very good copy but lacks the cut line, 90% of all this type wreath has the cut line. If you want to be 100% sure original then buy with the cut line in the wreath. The wreath is always flatter to the buckle. Hook on my reproduction is different. Original has a thick base and very different. My hook is the same thickness from top to bottom. Original hooks is thick at base and thin at top. Cast in both red or yellow. Aged red sometimes looks a mello yellow. Hole in back is a chill. This was the thick part of the casting. When the metal cools sometimes the shield would crack or not show detail. A hole behind the high thick point would make a perfect casting. The wreath is the best defense on this buckle, it is very close.Editor note: This is definitely helpful information, these sword plates are awfully close to right. I notice that there are marks stamped on this plate, but the marks are very light. Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3220 F1220 Not owned picture only

P3511 ### P3511 ### (F1511) ### Eagle sword buckle P3511 ### (F1511) ### Eagle sword buckle Research Center: Plate1479-Federal-Sword-663-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3511 F1511 Not owned picture only

This is the "Ridgeway Civil War Research Center", a research tool for educational purposes only, and is provided at no cost to the reader. Some of the relics listed are retained in the author's collection, most reside in other collections and are not owned by the author. None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to relicman.com sales listings for items offered for sale. This is a work in progress, I list items as I get to them, there are many patterns that are not listed yet, this list will be regularly updated as I get pictures and descriptions for more items. I will also correct mistakes, so if you see any please tell me. All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described. Any excavated relics have been recovered from private property with owners permission.This information is available for research purposes, pictures may be used by permission only.

Most information on this page is from:
Plates and Buckles of the American Military 1795 - 1874, by Sydney C. Kerksis.
Confederate Belt Buckles & Plates, by Steve E Mullinax.
American Military Belt Plates, by Michael J. O'Donnell & J.Duncan Campbell.

Ridgeway Civil War Research Center, A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War Plates and buckles Research center, plates, click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate0000-Index.html. Research center, plates and buckles, click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate0000-Index.html.

and now a word from our sponsor.....

Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway, Civil War plates and buckles, Relicman sales catalog. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/plates/Relicman-Sales-Plate0000.html. Sale listings click: http://relicman.com/plates/Relicman-Sales-Plate0000.html.