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

Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Virginia-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Virginia two part plate, sword down patterns. JS Smith Mullinax illustrations 427 or 428. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Details click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION.html

P3218 ### F1218 Virginia two piece buckle, manufactured by Hanover BrassTongue keeper 49.3mmWreath keeper 49.7mmWreath height 52.9mmEditor note: Buckle was obtained direct from Hanover Brass in late 1990's to wear! I do not find any Hanover Brass marks or logos anywhere on this buckle. Also note that it was made in three pieces, the motif is cast separately from the tongue and brazed to the tongue bar. The motif appears to be a copy of either Plate 424 or 427, the tongue bar and keeper are from Plate 424, and the wreath is a stock oak leaf wreath that is used on a number of other buckles. The collector should be cautioned, is that these buckles can be easily mixed and matched.Gary Williams explanation, (civilwarfakes.com Photo # CSVA17) Plate 427 (1860-1861 Virginia Two Piece Belt Plate.) 51 x 88/wreath ht. 54mm. Marked GW inside the original maker James S. Smith & Sons, New York. The original of this reproduction had a die stamped center piece applied to the tongue bar. It was a detailed thin stamped seal. My reproduction is a cast center and thicker than the original and should not be a problem because as I destroyed the back detail in the center piece. Editor note. This is much more elaborate than a re-enactor needs, and I should note that these plates are not marked as repro in any way. Technically the plain bar is not correct, but original variants could have been made with a plain bar. The reason the back of the motif is blank is because this area was obscured when attached to the tongue bar. Once reattached this will be invisible again, so you really cannot go by that. Once aged, this buckle will be hard to detect. So is this made for collectors to have and enjoy or was it made for the fakers to sell to collectors? Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3218 F1218 Picture only submitted.

P2913 ### Hanover Brass repro: Virginia Two Piece 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 # CSVA8 Plate 427 (1860-1861 Virginia Two Piece Belt Plate.) 50 x 88/wreath ht.54mm. Marked GW and the original maker James S. Smith & Sons has been taken out of the master pattern. From Mac Mason's collection. This was the first Virginia that I copied and helped me get my business going. Mac Mason was a very big help with all his originals. This belt plate had a die stamped center disc and applied to the tongue bar. My reproduction is solid cast brass. I see the wreath faked often. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Photo # CSVA8 civilwarfakes com

P2953 ### P2953 ### Virginia two-part oak leaf Hanover Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Hanover Brass

P2972 ### P2972 ### Virginia two-part on belt Downey Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Downey Richard

P3118 ### F1118 Virginia two piece buckle WOW, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK............... WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR AUCTION IS A SUPER SUPREME NICE AUTHENTIC DUG CONFEDERATE CIVIL WAR VA 2 pc BUCKLE. NICE DUG PATINA, ONE SIDE ON WREATH END HAS SOME SLIGHT BEND IN THE LOOP FROM BEING BURIED, SLIGHT INDENTIOPNS IN THE WREATH WERE THE TONGUE HAS BEEN SEATED FOR SO LONG. NICE RARE EXAMPLE HERE. THIS IS ONLY PART OF A LIFE LONG DUG COLLECTION OF CIVIL WAR RELICS I WILL BE OFFERING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS FOR SELL. PLEASE EMAIL WITHANY AND ALL QUESTIONS, SATISFATION GUARANTEED, 3 DAY INSPECTION PERIOD. US SHIPPING WILL BE $10.00source ebay auction 6/27/06 by vintage_comics_and_collectibles: AUTHENTIC DUG CONFEDERATE CIVIL WAR VA 2 pc BUCKLE Item number: 2500022Editor note: This seller sells on ebay auction under Private Auction . It is highly doubtful this piece can be shown to be authentic.Plate 422 Virginia seal sword down, motto above the seal only, oak leaf wreath, fancy keeper with twisted rope lookOriginal has die struck disc. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3118 F1118 Picture only submitted.

P3176 ### F1176 Virginia two piece buckle, swords down oak leaf wreath  YOU ARE BIDDING ON A NICE VINTAGE VIRGINIA'S OFFICER TWO PIECE BUCKLE , BRONZE OR SOLID BRASS MADEHIGH : 2 INCHESLENGTH : 3,4 INCHESMY FATHER BOUGHT IT IN 1976 BY ANTIQUE DEALER IN MIAMI TOGETHER WITH THE OVAL CS BUCKLE IN AUCTION ( HE ALSO BROUGHT BACK SOME US CIVIL WAR INSIGNIAS AND A NICE 1851 2 PIECE BELT BUCKLE THAT APPEARS TO BE 100 % GOOD , AS IT REACHED USD 200.00 IN AN AUCTION HERE IN FRANCE 15 YEARS AGO..) ITS SHOWS SOME WEAR AND PATINA THERE ARE AN INSCRIPTION ENGRAVED ON BACK THAT I CANNOT ENTIRELY READ JESS..RS W.....TORY ( ??? ) NEVERTHELESS , I CANNOT SAY IF THIS IS AN OLD MOVIE REPRO OR A GOOD ONE , AS I KNOW THAT CONFEDERATE ITEMS ARE A QUITE RARE THING .Source: ebay auction by gory13 7/21/06, VIRGINIA'S TWO PIECE CIRCULAR VINTAGE BUCKLE Item number: 130007422486Editor note: This could be an old Hollywood piece as the seller suggests. The mark on the back is hard to read, but is a maker mark originally intended to distinguish this piece from the originals. The piece is poor quality, note that part of the wreath well failed to fill during casting, and the detail of the motif is poor. It is highly unlikely that this piece can be shown to be authentic.Virginia two part Frankenstein plate  Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3176 F1176 Picture only submitted.

P3221 ### F1221 Virginia two piece buckle, swords down oak leaf wreathTongue keeper 48.8mmWreath keeper 48.9mmWreath height 52.4mmEditor note: Buckle was obtained in late 1990's to wear, I regularly wear this on my winter coat! This example is well marked CW101 , which I understand is a casting by Gary Hall, Brass Treasures Williamsburg Va. He cast buckles from 1989 to present. He puts CW for civil war. Wear around the edges is from my wearing it, now for several years. This is a copy of the JS Smith design, with floral wreath and oak leaf wreath.  Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3221 F1221 Picture only submitted.

P3269 ### P3269 ### (F1269) ### Virginia two-part buckle Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3269 F1269 Picture only submitted.

P3299 ### P3299 ### (F1299) ### Virginia two-part sword down oak leaf Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3299 F1298 Picture only submitted.

P3355 ### P3355 ### (F1355) ### Virginia two-part sword down Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3355 F1355 Picture only submitted.

P3508 ### F1508 Virginia two-part buckle Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-427-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3508 F1508 Picture only submitted.

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.