Rev war button, early shoe buckle,

[RIdirtdigger]

Been lazy once again on this forum. But, I'm back now. Got out this weekend with my buddy Jarrod to hit a few sites I knew where going to be quite old. First site looked more like a pit than a cellar hole, Barely any rocks in it but the iron around the lip confirmed to us that it was a homesite. Not many targets at all there but scored a cuff link right of the bat. Not far away from the cuff link I dug my first ever rev war button. This button is a British Royal Provincial Button worn by loyalist troops! Very very happy with that find. I decided to swing the dirtbike path that led away from the site and got a nice solid midtone and popped out my oldest shoe buckle to date. This had an anchor chape but it broke off right away and I was unable to find the top piece of it. Luckily I got a photo of it before it broke. We hit two more sites after that spot but I skunked out for the rest of the day. Jarrod managed anpewter button and a nice colonial thimble. Not a ton of finds but very happy with what I got. It's good to be back! Happy hunting!

[calabash digger]

all I can say is wow and well done! man thats awesome.

[MangoAve]

Nice finds, Jim. Shoe buckle is early to mid 1700s, right?

[Digger_O'Dell]

Agreed, some really nice finds, congrats!

[Lodge Scent]

Awesome! Great button. :congrats:

[Bucknut]

Awesome history there! I think I like the buckle the best!

[RIdirtdigger]

Nice finds, Jim. Shoe buckle is early to mid 1700s, right?
I think it's much older than that. This thing is extremely small and looks more like late 17th century than 18th century. I guess I should post a photo to better show the size.

[aloldstuff]

Great finds, the button is fantastic.

[MangoAve]

I think it's much older than that. This thing is extremely small and looks more like late 17th century than 18th century. I guess I should post a photo to better show the size.

It could be. Just the fact the RW button I figured I guess it more closer to that time frame. It does have a slight ornate look kinda like the 1600's buckle ol' Dave got and didn't know at first the age of it.

[The Rebel]

DUDE! Killer Button & Buckle! Where there's 1 there's a good chance for more, low & slow buddy.

[del]

Congrats on the RP button Jim :clapping:I like the small buckle too !


I think it's much older than that. This thing is extremely small and looks more like late 17th century than 18th century. I guess I should post a photo to better show the size.

Yes better pictures of the buckle would help Jim .

[Donnie B]

Wow! That is an awesome button! Congrats!

[RIdirtdigger]

Here's a couple of photos of the buckle. Large cent is for size comparison

[del]

Here's a couple of photos of the buckle. Large cent is for size comparison

Hmm , it will be difficult to tell if it was a shoe buckle or a knee buckle Jim , can you tell what kind of iron piece opposite the anchor type chape is ?

[RIdirtdigger]

It looks like the spike you can see in number 19 and many of the preceding buckles

[del]

It looks like the spike you can see in number 19 and many of the preceding buckles

The anchor chape on yours seems to be shorter and stays just inside the frame parameter by judging from that first picture before it broke off .

[RIdirtdigger]

Yes I couldn't find an exact match on that website. But the frame is in a similar style and the iron stud is similar, just the anchor shape isn't as long.

[del]

Read up on the knee buckles just up above figure no.713 on this link http://www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Whitehead.pdf its about 3/4 of the way down the page but is shows some earlier types of knee buckles . figure no. 713 is a bit more ornate but has the similar wide flat frame type and the cross pin going through the width of the frame and not the length and slight curve .

[RIdirtdigger]

Read up on the knee buckles just up above figure no.713 on this link http://www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Whitehead.pdf its about 3/4 of the way down the page but is shows some earlier types of knee buckles . figure no. 713 is a bit more ornate but has the similar wide flat frame type and the cross pin going through the width of the frame and not the length and slight curve .
I agree that number 713 looks the most similar but it said above that most knee buckles have the double tongue, my buckle only has a single spike as a tongue not the usual two "prongs" that all of my other knee buckles have.

[del]

I agree that number 713 looks the most similar but it said above that most knee buckles have the double tongue, my buckle only has a single spike as a tongue not the usual two "prongs" that all of my other knee buckles have.

then it has to be either a very early knee buckle or an early shoe buckle as both had the anchor chape , I wish I could pin down an exact time period these knee buckles of "hybrid" type shoe buckles began and ended . Regardless its a fine early piece to be cherished .

[MangoAve]

I have your same pic saved on my phone, Jim. And Dan, you got a nice resource there with that PDF link. It does look like a hybrid which might make it closer to the switch over to the Georgian style. You didn't think this almost looked like a hybrid between 621 and 661? Cuz the curvature of the frame...

[del]

I have your same pic saved on my phone, Jim. And Dan, you got a nice resource there with that PDF link. It does look like a hybrid which might make it closer to the switch over to the Georgian style. You didn't think this almost looked like a hybrid between 621 and 661? Cuz the curvature of the frame...

Jim that's the million dollar question and shoe and knee buckle construction design was rapidly evolving from about 1680 to 1720 and many different configurations were being made in England , France and Dutch countries and then of course the lag of time before they made their way here to the American colonies and manufacturers here.

[MangoAve]

Jim that's the million dollar question and shoe and knee buckle construction design was rapidly evolving from about 1680 to 1720 and many different configurations were being made in England , France and Dutch countries and then of course the lag of time before they made their way here to the American colonies and manufacturers here.

That goes along with the Dandy fad. I read that it was almost a decade later when it reached the US. I had no idea the details on buckles like this. Bet you feel like Howard now with that tidbit of knowledge.

[Iron Patch]

Great button. A much tougher find in the U.S. than Canada and I would certainly hunt that spot hard. Buckle fits the time frame.