A virtual examination of artifacts of the American Civil War
by Harry Ridgeway
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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-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Virginia-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION Virginia sword plate, state seal Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION .    Details click: http://relicman.com/plates/Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION.html |
| P3447 ### F1447 Virginia sword plate made by Hanover Brass Height 49.8mmLength without keeper 85.1mmThe following comment was submitted by Gary Williams, maker of this plate: Should be 1 to 2 mm smaller than original as all of my reproductions. Look at an original very close, you will find no sand marks. These belt plates, Virginia, Mississippi, Alabama Maryland etc were cast in the wax style or struck in a metal die after cast. You will not see any sand texture on an original. A dot in the center of the back and slick back file marks only at the hook end. No file marks anywhere else. Very well made with hooks applied very thick at base. Soldered with yellow solder that will age make the hook look cast with the plate but, no no, it is applied. Study the original, there is a big difference in original and reproduction, sand cast vs. wax or metal mold. Editor 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. Editor note: It appears that this piece has been buffed on the back to smooth the grain from casting. The detail on the plate is also slightly less crisp than on the original, however an original with ground action can appear to lack this level of detail. The difference can be difficult to judge. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3447 F1447 Picture only submitted. |
| P2906 ### Hanover Brass repro: Virginia 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 # CSVA1 Plate 434 (1857-1861 Virginia Sword Belt Plate) 51 x 88mm. Stamped GW under the hook. Original from the Virginia Historical Society collection. This is a very close copy of the original. The difference is my reproduction has the hook cast solid and the original has applied hook and very thick at the base. The back of the original should be very smooth with a small raised dot in the center. My reproductions sometimes show this dot but you can see sand texture on the back. The original was pressed in a metal die and should not have the same sand texture as my reproduction. Also the size difference. There should not be file marks except on the hook edge. This was where the belt plate was poured and had to be finished or filed. The original is a very clean cast plate and should lack sand texture in the sharp detail. It is very easy to see all this on non-battlefield but may be harder to see on a battlefield belt plate. Check the size. All these original Virginia sword belt plates are the same size. My reproduction is one to two mm's smaller. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . Photo # CSVA1 civilwarfakes com   |
| P3005 ### F1005 Virginia sword plate made by Hanover Brass, aged with dug patina This reproduction Virginia Sword Belt plate is of the finest quality. It is cast from an original battlefield dug buckle. This is a Hanover Brass Foundry reproduction plate that I have put a little spin on this time. I know that as you examine the photos you will be amazed at how much this one looks like a dug relic. It is not original and it is marked gw in an inconspicuous place for your display. The Foundry over the years has cast and aged reproductions of this caliber for museums and well respected collectors in order that their original be kept in a safe place and the repro on display. It is not a simple, quick process but the results have proven to be effective, don't you agree? This plate is exact in every detail, including the hook which was originally brazed onto the plate rather than being cast with the plate. There is a 1mm size difference than the original. REMEMBER, reproductions are always 1mm - 2mm smaller than the originals. This is not a fake, but a quality replica. It would only become a fake if someone buys this, removes the gw mark, and resells it as an original. Like other fine reproductions, ( think of Franklin Mint for example), the value of this plate will only increase in value over time. This makes a very nice Civil War display. While dining recently, I was surrounded by what I thought to be displays of original antiques, but upon checking the prices of the items, I learned that these were indeed reproductions. The original of a dug Virginia Sword belt plate currently sells in the $4000 range. This is the first of a series of aged buckles that I will post over time, since Gary Williams ( gw ) will use some of his originals from his many years of collecting, to make selected reproductions for me. What you are getting then is a copy straight off the orginal belt plate rather than a 2nd generation copy. I am sure you will appreciate the craftsmanship. Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 2/9/06 Virginia Sword Belt Buckle Plate Reproduction aged as dug original Item number: 6603097656 Editor note: jaglady00 is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions. I do not see the marks on this plate and it certainly has been carefully aged. I also do not know how many of these are out there. This seems like a very dangerous piece.The following additional pictures were submitted by the current owner of this plate:Editor note: Plate is owned by savage station.com and is said to measure 46mm X 83mm, that is a large amount of shrinkage from the originals, which generally measure around 51mm X 88 or 89mm depending on the curve. Perhaps this is an early example of the production from Hanover Brass fakes which had significant shrinkage. Apparently they have managed to produce other examples more recently closer to the size of the originals. I have not examined this plate. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3005 F1005 Picture only submitted.    |
| P3045 ### F1045 Virginia sword plate made by Hanover Brass This reproduction Virginia Sword Belt plate is of the finest quality. It is cast from an original battlefield dug buckle. Great detail and cast in yellow brass. Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 4/15/06 Virginia Sword Belt Buckle Plate Item number: 6621081565 Editor note: jaglady00 is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3045 F1045 Picture only submitted.    |
| P3119 ### F1119 Virginia buckle WOW................................... UP FOR ACTION IS A GENUINE AUTHENTIC EXCAVATED CIVIL WAR BULLET STRUCK CONFEDERATE VA RECTANLGE WAIST BUCKLE. THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE PIECE. THIS IS PART OF A HUGE COLLECTION I RECENTLY ACQUIRED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHOM PERSONALLY DUG OVER 90% OF THE STUFF. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE WAS DUG ON PRIVATE LAND ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA. ALSO ON THE HOLE IN THE BUCKLE YOU CAN SEE REMNANTS OF LEAD WHERE THE BULLET WENT THROUGH THE BUCKLE. VERY NICE AND MEASUREMENTS ARE CORRECT FOR THE PIECE ACCORDING TO THE BOOK. 3 DAY MONEY BACK INSPECTION PERIOD WILL BE ALLOWED, YOU WILL BE PLEASED WITH THIS PIECE. PLEASE EMAIL WITH ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS, US SHIPPING WILL BE $6.00 Source: ebay auction by vintage_comics_and_collectibles 7/3/06 AUTHENTIC EXCAVATED CIVIL WAR BULLET STRUCK VA BUCKLE CONFEDERATE RECTANGLE VIRGINIA WAIST BUCKLE CHARLESTON Item number: 250004158355 Editor note: This plate was sold on ebay auction under Private Auction . This plate is highly damaged and altered, pictures small and fuzzy so there is not enough information here to accurately determine the actual origin of this plate. However, it is highly doubtful that this plate can be proven to be authentic. Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3119 F1119 Picture only submitted.    |
| P3274 ### P3274 ### (F1274) ### Virginia sword waist plate Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3274 F1274 Picture only submitted.    |
| P3335-9 ### F1335-2 Editor note: This one was the subject of considerable discussion on the NVRHA forum. Here are excerpts from that discussion:Date: Monday, 14 May 2007, at 11:49 a.m. Here is the reply I got from him on his repro sword belt plate: What makes you so sure? I have 11 copies of your so called ACW plate. All with the same marks, flaws scratches etc.. The only difference is the numbers can be changed. So just know that if yours is indeed the real one, then the tongue was removed and copies were made before you got it. Perhaps I have the real one and you have an expertly aged copy, eh? If I were to flood the market with the copies, it would make all of them worthless, yes? Here is my reply to him. He still hasn't responded....LOL Try measuring it. It should be 51 mm X 88 or 89 mm. I would bet that your repro measures around 49 mm X 86. Then this post:Date: Monday, 14 May 2007, at 2:01 p.m. In Response To: Passo_Romono's response.... (You just don't get it, do you? It doesn't matter if mine is a copy, or yours measures 51 X 89 mm. You are barking up the wrong tree. There would be no need for this correspondence if there were no copies to begin with, am I right? I once thought mine was the real one, now I am not so sure. So what makes you absolutely sure yours is real, despite the fact that it came from Howard the Great?? A first generation copy will have the same measurements if done correctly. Ciao too which I replied: Wrong. Plates will lose an average of 2 MM when reproduced. That is a known fact. If you still don't believe me, ask Gary Williams of Hanover Brass (hanoverbrass.com). He has been making repros for over 40 years. I bet if you emailed him a photo of yours, he will tell you what company made it if not him. He puts GW on the back of his plates but folks file them off to try and deceive the public. Some take his plates and artificially age them. I put up his site civilwarfakes.com with him to help folks learn the difference between his and the originals. Maybe you should join since it seems you can't tell the difference! I have been selling relics since the 70's and think I know a little about repros versus originals. My website is cwrelics.com to show you that I am not trying to hide who I am. I know many of the experts including Howard Crouch, Lewis Leigh, Gary William, Steve Mullinax, etc., etc. If you think yours is real, list it under Original Period with the correct measurements Editor note: This buckle posted by Girardi is clearly a repro derived not from the known and published Hanover Brass pattern but from this Virginia number 29! Gee I thought GW was telling us what to look for in fakes, I guess he forgot to mention this one on his civilwarfakes.com webpage! The original 29 seems to be faintly visible underneath of the new set of numbers. The scratches and flaws do match the original #29, and not his other published pattern, so here you have this new line of Hanover Brass fakes or repros (call it what you wish, you be the judge). Gary Williams makes the point emphatically that all the crooked dealers had to do to avoid the fakes was to trust GW, and simply study the details and flaws of his patterns. Well this is certainly a new pattern, it was clearly created after his previous patterns had run their course in the market place and it is certainly not explained or photographed on his fakes webpage. Is there any doubt that Gary Williams, or his colleagues at Hanover Brass created this pattern given that he clearly was the owner of the original? Can a believable explanation be given for it other than that it was intended to be used to create a new line of fakes? Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3335 F1335-2 Picture only submitted.    |
| P3501 ### P3501 ### (F1501) ### Virginia sword waist plate relic underground Research Center: Plate6399-Virginia-434-FAKE-FANTASY-REPRODUCTION . P3501 F1501 Picture only submitted.    |
| 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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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. |