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

Plate4499-Maryland-305-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Maryland-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Maryland sword plate. Research Center: Plate4499-Maryland-305-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Details click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate4499-Maryland-305-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION.html

P3199 ### F1199 Maryland sword belt plate Send me your best offer. Hello folks and thanks for looking at my auction. Here is a Civil War Maryland sword belt plate. Cast brass, then impressed into a metal die for fine detail. Tongue brazed on. Shortly before the war, some of Baltimore's uniformed companies purchased from Emerson Gaylord a quantity of these sword belt plates. Many of these plates went South with the Maryland Volunteers and are occasionally excavated in Confederate camp sites.This fine example was purchased at the 2004 Nashville Civil War show by myself. I purchased many fine plates that year. The plate is excavated but I don't know the exact location or date of excavation. I am sad to say that I must sell off many of my prized relics as I have been recently diagnosed with diabetes and must pay hospital bills.The belt plate is brass showing a very nice patina. The very diserable chocolate patina is seen on much of the belt plate. There is minimal pitting and loss of brass. This style belt plate is shown in the two bibles of Civil War era belt plates; Kerksis and Mullinax. The measurements of the belt plate are correct, approximately 87mm wide by 51mm tall. Mullinax Plate 305, page 168 in the Expanded Edition.The belt plate is 100% guaranteed to be authentic from the Civil War era. The winner has a 10 day inspection period for return minus shipping and insurance costs. I have set a very reasonable buy it now price. Send me an offer if you like. Please bid with confidence, this belt plate is right as rain!I will accept certified funds for payment. Money order or cashier check. I will also accept a personal check but must have a short waiting period for the check to clear the account. I am sorry but I do not accept Paypal. Shipping and handling cost is $8 to the USA. Insurance is required and will be calculated at the close of the auction. International bidders are encouraged to bid. I will answer any quesions you may have, just email me. Thanks for your attention and good luck. Source ebay auction by myoldrelics ( private ) 10/18/06:  Civil War Maryland Brass Sword Belt Plate Ca 1860-1865 100% Authentic Low Reserve Dug Plate Rare State Seal Item number: 130036204344 Editor note: This seller sells on ebay auction under Private Auction . It is highly doubtful this piece can be shown to be authentic. Research Center: Plate4499-Maryland-305-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3199 F1199 Picture only submitted.

P2860 ### Hanover Brass repro: Maryland Sword Belt 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 # 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. Research Center: Plate4499-Maryland-000-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Photo # CSMD2 civilwarfakes com

P3001 ### Maryland sword belt plate, made by Hanover Brass F1001 Maryland sword belt plate, made by Hanover Brass This reproduction Maryland sword belt plate is cast from the original in the Virginia Historical Society. A very rare plate. Beautiful detail and very close to the original. There are two different makers of the original Maryland sword belt plate. The only way you can see the difference is the style hook on the back. Marked GW, HBF. Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 3/12/06 Maryland Sword Belt Buckle Plate copy from original buckle in the VA .Historical Society Item number: 6611623893 Editor note: jaglady00 is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions.  Research Center: Plate4499-Maryland-305-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3001 F1001 Picture only submitted.

P3441 ### F1441 Maryland sword belt plate, made by Hanover BrassPlate measures 49.6mm X 84.7mmEditor note: Plate was obtained directly from Hanover Brass as a sample of his production. Note that any maker marks on this buckle are weak, apparently so that they can be easily removed or obscured.  Research Center: Plate4499-Maryland-305-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3441 F1441

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.

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