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

Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Massachusetts-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Massachusetts sword plate. Research Center: Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Details click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION.html

P3316 ### P3316 ### (F1316) ### Masssachusetts sord plate Research Center: Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3316 F1316 Picture only submitted.

P2864 ### Hanover Brass repro: Massachusetts 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 # USMA1 Plate 700 (1862-1890 Massachusetts Sword Belt Plate.) 56 x 89mm. Marked GW under the hook. I used the applied hook that I apply to my reproductions because this would be the belt plate faked. I only apply the hook at the customers request. The original of this Massachusetts should be clean of sand texture and have a very smooth back and no texture in the sharp detail. The original was struck in a metal die. There also should be only heavy file marks in front of the hook edge. These plates came out of the die clean and did not need the filing like my reproduction. There is a casting flaw in the bottom inside edge by the belt bar. Size is smaller on the reproduction. Research Center: Plate4599-Massachusetts-000-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Photo # USMA1 civilwarfakes com

P2940 ### P2940 ### Massachusetts sword waist plate Hanover Research Center: Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Hanover Brass

P3113 ### F1113 Massachusetts sword plateRATHER SCARCE MASS.MILITIA STATE SEAL PLATE FROM THE 1850'S THAT WAS ALSO USED DURING THE WAR. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL NON- DUG PLATE WITH A FULL STANDING INDIAN WITH BOW ON THE FRONT WITH WREATH AND MOTTO. BACK HAS NARROW TONGUE. JUST HAD THIS BLESSED BY SOME OF THE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD. GREAT PIECE!Source: ebay auction by jhmorgan 6/16/06 SCARCE CIVIL WAR MASSACHUSETTS BELT BUCKLE / PLATE Item number: 6637136695Editor note: This is a reputable seller but I respectfully disagree with his assessment of this buckle. I had occasion to examine this piece, it measures 55.2mm which is smaller than the originals. The pictures do not entirely settle the question, but I believe the detail on this plate may be a good bit less crisp than the original. Research Center: Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3113 F1113 Picture only submitted. Do not publish. .

P3260 ### F1260 Massachusetts sword belt plateCivil War MASSACHUSETTS Officer's Sword Belt and Plate This is a nice high quality non-excavated sword belt plate worn by an officer of a Massachusetts Militia Officer during the Civil War. The plate is benchmarked on the back 424. The belt is a marriage and for affect as the keeper is off slightly but they fit together. This plate is listed in Odonell's reference work on belt plates page #420. Condition is excellent on this plate. There is no reserve and low start for this rig. Thanks for your interest and bidSource: a webpageEditor Note: I examined this plate. Detail looks good and hook looks good, however this buckle was considerably smaller than other examples analyzed. I did measure it and noted the discrepancy at the time but can't put my hands on my notes of the examination so presume I will not find it at this point., and therefore cannot verify the measurements. I also note that the bench mark number has very much bled through to the front, so this buckle is also much thinner than the original. I do not know what the source of manufacture is but am doubtful of this buckle. Research Center: Plate4599-Massachusetts-700-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3260 F1260 Picture only submitted. Do not publish. .

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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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.