Confederate Adjutant General button	The Civil War Relicman, Harry Ridgeway
	Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics
	This page updated   March 01, 2008

The Ridgeway Civil War Reference Archive
Federal sword buckles (Regulation 1851)

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years.  This archive record is for educational purposes only.  Some of the relics listed may be on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester Virginia, some are no longer owned by the author.  None of the items listed in this section are for sale, please refer to the separate sales catalog for items that are currently offered.

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.

P0294    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, motif and wreath were soldered, tongue is soldered. This smaller size was used early and very few even made it to  the Civil War.  By the time this one was lost in 1864, the motif had probably worn off quite a while back.   Keeper is correct type and fit, but was not found with the plate.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway, Cedar Creek trenches  
Plate measures 49.8mm X 81mm (flat)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, plates 605 to 608 

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1289    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed tongue,  marked: "US / Allegheny / Arsenal".  The silver wreath was applied in three parts, above and below the wing, rays appear above the wreath.  
Attractive battlefield dug example, wreath missing, tongue intact, crisp mark.   Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle.  
Recovered: by Lewis Frazier, Culpeper, VA.  
Plate measures (51.3 to 51.5mm) (45.8mm inside) X 86.3 (partial curve)
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 614

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1119    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, probably manufactured by Allegheny Arsenal, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed long tongue. Wreath was applied in three parts, above and below the tips of the wings, no rays above the wreath in this pattern.  
Clean battlefield dug example, applied wreath worn off, tongue intact, minor bends. Keeper is missing.  
Found by Robert Coli, Culpeper Va  
Plate measures 51.9mm (44mm inside) X 86.5mm (flattened)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 615

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1590     Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, motif is integral, silver wreath applied, tongue is integral then bent into place. The ends of the wing tips were cast upward, then bent over the wreath giving the impression that the wreath flows underneath of the wings. 
Nondug plate, tongue and wreath intact, top grade. 
Plate measures (51.1 to 51.6mm) (44.7mm inside) X (84.9 to 85.4mm). 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 616

P0884    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, long brazed  tongue.  The wreath was applied in three parts, above and below the    tips of the wings. 
Attractive battlefield dug example with applied wreath worn off, tongue intact, bench number "130".   Keeper is not original to the plate but is the correct style and fit.  
Found by Tim Pierson, Union County Kentucky  
Plate measures 51.7mm (45mm inside) X 85mm  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 617

P0213    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, integral    tongue was bent.  The wreath was applied in three parts, above and below  the tips of the wings.  Eagle is surrounded by rays.  
Unusually clean battlefield dug example with applied wreath worn off, tongue intact, original curve.   Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures (50.5mm to 50.8mm) (45.3mm inside) X 84mm (with curve)
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 618

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P0289    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif and wreath, brazed tongue.  Produced late  in the war, the wreath was integrally cast as a cost savings measure, occasionally this plate is found partially silvered or gilded.  
Unusually clean battlefield dug example, tongue intact, original curve.   Keeper is a reasonable fit for display only and  was not found with buckle.
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures (51.8 to 52.0mm) (45.0 inside) X 83.3mm  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 619

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1593     Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed tongue. Normally this pattern is manufactured with an integral wreath, but this one has a three part silvered wreath. 
Nondug plate, tongue intact, wreath intact with a small piece missing. 
Plate measures 53.4mm (47mm inside) X 82.5mm 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 619 variant

P1507      Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851 

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif and wreath, integral tongue. Produced late in the war, the wreath was integrally cast as a cost savings measure, Clean battlefield dug example, tongue intact, original curve. Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle. 
Recovered: Cashtown PA (Gettysburg campaign) 
Plate measures 49.5 mm (44.7mm inside) X 79.5mm (with curve) 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 620 

P0215    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, integral tongue    bent into place.  The silver wreath was applied in three parts above and  below the tips of the wings, shield has stars and stripes.  
Unusually clean battlefield dug example with applied wreath worn off, tongue intact, original curve.  Buckle may have slipped in casting as there are double images on much of it. Inspectors bench number is "158"   Keeper is for display only, is not the correct fit.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures (50.5mm to 50.8mm) (45.1mm inside) X 84.5mm (with curve)
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 621 variant (tongue difference)

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1594     Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, silver wreath applied in three parts, integral tongue bent into place, well executed design. Attractive dug plate, hook intact, wreath missing, original curve. 
Recovered: Shenandoah Valley Va 
Plate measures 53.1mm (46.3mm inside) X 86mm (with curve) 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 622

P0744    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, long brazed  tongue.  Silver wreath was applied in three parts, above and below the  wing tips.  Pattern is noted for somewhat "stiff" eagle.    
Unusually clean battlefield dug example with partial wreath, tongue intact, original curve.  Keeper is correct type but from another buckle.  
Recovered: Shenandoah Valley, Va  
Plate measures: (52.2mm to 52.5mm) (47.8mm inside) X 82mm  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 623

P0223    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed long tongue.  Design is noted for crude casting, and with rays above the    banner only.  Wreath applied in three parts, sloppy application is often overlaying the stars and rays!  Vent sprue on the back.  
Clean battlefield dug example, applied wreath missing as usual, tongue intact, original curve. Keeper is correct type but from another buckle.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures (54.4 to 54.8mm) (47.5mm inside) X 83mm (with curve)
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 624

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1216    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed long tongue.  Design is noted for crude casting, and with rays above the    banner only.  Wreath applied in three parts, sloppy application is often    overlaying the stars and rays!  Vent sprue on the back.  
Clean battlefield dug example, applied wreath is partial, tongue intact, original curve.   Keeper recovered with this buckle.    
Found by Emile Mancuso, Port Hudson La  
Plate measures (52.7 to 53.6mm) (47.8mm inside) X 84mm (with curve  and bends)  Note this example was heavily milled, outside rim is small but inside measurements match other examples!  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 624

P0996    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed long tongue.  Design is noted for crude casting, and is surrounded with rays.  
Clean battlefield dug example, applied wreath missing as usual, tongue intact, some bends. Keeper is correct type but from another buckle.  
Found by John Garzy, Harpers Ferry, Va  
Plate measures (54.5 to 54.9mm) (49.1 ro 49.5mm inside) x 84mm (flattened)
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 624 variant (with rays)

P0224    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed tongue.  Pattern is somewhat crude, noted for large size, and may be late war    manufacture.  
Clean battlefield dug example, applied wreath worn off, tongue intact, original curve.   Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures (54.9 to 55.2mm)  (48mm inside) X 83.0mm (with curve)
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 625

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P0225    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed tongue.  Pattern is somewhat crude, noted for large size, and may be late war  manufacture.  
Example was in a fire, probably an attempt to melt the wreath, instead it gobbed up and burned a hole in the buckle.   Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures (55.2mm)  (48.6mm inside) X 83.0mm (with curve)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 625

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1589     Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, brazed tongue. Pattern is somewhat crude, noted for large size, and may be late war manufacture. 
Nondug plate, tongue and wreath intact, top grade. 
Plate measures 54.9mm (48.1mm inside) X 82.5mm 
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 625

P1047    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif and wreath, applied thin tongue.   This well executed officer plate was probably private purchase or    non regulation.    
Clean battlefield dug example, tongue missing, flattened  inspector's benchmark "201". Keeper missing  
Recovered:  Shenandoah Valley Va  
Plate measures 52.4mm (47mm  inside) X 87mm flattened.  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 627

P1069        Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif and wreath, applied thin tongue.     Apparently this contractor first produced a lead filled version (which was  unsatisfactory) and then made cast copies using the lead filled examples as  a master.  The result was a very sloppy back of the buckle.    
Clean battlefield dug , tongue is missing, original curve.   Keeper is missing 
Recovered:  Richmond, Va  
Plate measures 49.5mm (44mm inside) X 81.5mm (with curve)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 630

P0211    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, applied silver wreath, integral    tongue bent into place.  Silver wreath was applied in three parts, above and  below the wing tips.  Shield shows stars and stripes.  
Battlefield dug pate shows ground action but is clean, wreath missing, tongue missing,  original curve.   Keeper is for display only, was not found with the buckle.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures 52.5mm (46mm inside) 87mm (with curve)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 635

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P1622     Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
The sword plate was intended for higher officers who carried a sword.  This pattern was probably European manufacture, non-contract, available for private purchase, many officers were required to buy their own accoutrements.  
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif and wreath, small thin tongue is brazed and bent, the wreath was integrally cast motif is highly detailed, likely the work of a skilled European craftsman.  Back is solid, does not reflect the frontal pattern.  
Non dug example, tongue intact.  
Plate measures 51.4mm (46.0mm inside)  x 80.3mm  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 637 variant

P0307    "Nonregulation" eagle sword belt plate, Regulation 1851

This plate is very unusual because it is constructed of thin stamped  sheet iron and it is a "left" hand buckle when almost all of the "Regulation 1851" sword plates are "right" hand.  
This battlefield dug plate was excavated by early collector, Mac Mason, from Bermuda Hundred and bears his famous "artwork"  
This is the actual plate photographed in the following:  
Ref:  Kerksis, fig. 230,  rarity 8,   
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, plate 643 

P0221    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851
 
Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif and wreath, brazed tongue.  Well made  plate was sold commercially through Schuyler, Hartley & Graham and was  prominently advertised in their catalog.  Tongue is narrow.  
Clean battlefield dug example, tongue missing, somewhat flattened, inspectors bench number is "098"   Keeper missing
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures 50.5mm (45.8mm inside) X 85mm  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 644

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P0212    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, eagle with rays, late war plate is noted for sharp detail,  large size, motif is integral, silver wreath is applied, tongue is integral and  bent into place.  The applied wreath used on this pattern will show a    straight edge next to the wing tips.  
Unusually clean battlefield dug example, wreath is missing, tongue intact, original curve. Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle.  
Found by Harry Ridgeway,  Frederick County, VA  
Plate measures 54.9mm (49.2mm inside) X 87mm (with curve)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 661

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P0231    Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, eagle with rays, late war plate is noted for sharp detail,  large size, motif is integral, silver wreath is applied, tongue is integral and  bent into place.  The applied wreath used on this pattern will show a    straight edge next to the wing tips.  
Unusually clean battlefield dug example, wreath is missing, tongue intact, original curve. Bench mark "435"   Keeper is correct style but was not found with buckle.  
Found by Steve Baker,  Shenandoah Valley, VA  
Plate measures 55.9mm (50.3mm inside) X 86mm (with curve)  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 663

Item is on display at the Old Court House Civil War Museum, Winchester, VA.

P0743      Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, eagle with rays, late war plate is noted for sharp detail,  large size, motif is integral, silver wreath is applied, tongue is integral and  bent into place.  A small drill hole was often placed on the back behind the  thickest part of the plate to allow for even shrinking when cooling, the detail in shield may otherwise be distorted.  The applied wreath used on  this pattern will show a straight edge next to the wing tips.  
Unusually clean battlefield dug example with partial wreath, tongue intact,  original curve, benchmark "108"     Keeper is correct type but from another buckle.  
Recovered: Shenandoah Valley, Va  
Plate measures 55.3mm, (50.5mm, inside rim) X 88mm approx with curve
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, Plate 664             

P1603     Eagle sword waist plate, US Regulation 1851

Cast eagle sword plate, integral motif, cast in wreath which is silvered, rest of plate is gilded, brazed wide tongue. Pattern is not known.  
Nondug plate, tongue and wreath intact, top grade. Benchmark 532  
Plate not measured  
Ref: O'Donnell & Campbell, not listed

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The Ridgeway Civil War Archive

This is a sampling of relics collected by Harry Ridgeway over the years. 

All items listed are believed to be authentic to the Civil War or as otherwise described.