 (Confederate Adjutant General button) |
The Civil War Relicman, |
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Winchester, Virginia USA (changed hands 70 times in the Civil War!) |
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I am a collector buying and selling authentic Civil War Relics |
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This page updated November 12, 2006 |
Disclaimer: by clicking onto this page you are expressly accepting the terms of the disclaimer explained fully on the fakes main page.
Fakes, reproductions,
replicas, Federal plate 618
Sword belt plate, Regulation 1851
Original was cast brass, integral eagle motif and tongue. Nickel silver wreath applied in three sections
F1219
Officers Sword Belt,
manufactured by Hanover Brass
Plate measures 49.8mm to 50.3mm (not square) X 82.6mm
Plate was submitted by Gary Williams, Hanover Brass with the following
comment:
"Some were made with a very poor grade of silver wreath that usually did
not last. Dug examples wreath is gone. A few were made with stamped
nickel silver and they usually last and are seen on most of these buckles.
Cut line applies to this buckle also. The main thing to look for is the
wreath tip above the wings. These tips are not reproduced and can be used
as a reference. Look at the original, then my buckle, also the hook is
different. Very close and needs a lot of study."
Editor note: Hanover Brass does not cast the wreaths, they use a stock wreath from another supplier and the wreath is one style fits all. So they use a whole wreath below the wing, and cut the tips off another and apply above the wing. The original employed a custom wreath different from this, the wreath was actually cut below the wing and will show a straight edge, as noted in the book, but which is different from this wreath. The buckle also is slightly smaller than the original. The wreath is not going to be present on most dug examples, so you have to go by other clues beyond the wreath to authenticate. A good many dug and authentic examples are showing up with repro wreaths. So you have fakes in which the wreath has been removed, and authentic pieces which have had the wreath added. GW is right, this one is tough to work with but it is a common plate and if you look at all the details, a proper judgment can be reached.
F1070 Officers Sword Belt,
manufactured by Hanover Brass
"This 1851 eagle buckle was cast from an original from his collection by
Gary Williams, Hanover Brass. This is as close to the original as you will get.
It is marked with GW. A beautiful belt plate to wear or display. Solid yellow
brass with applied nickle silver wreath. If you want a belt buckle that looks
like the real thing, this is it. This Eagle buckle is marked and sold as a
reproduction even though it definitely looks original. BEAUTIFUL Work of Art.
original measurment 51 x 87mm. my reproduction is 2mm smaller."
Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 3/12/06 "1851 Civil War Eagle Officers Sword Belt Buckle Plate Applied 3-Piece Nickel Silver Wreath Item number: 6611625538"
Editor note: "jaglady00" is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions.
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