US Waist Belt Buckle Marked "W. H. SMITH / BROOKLYN"

Item: US Waist Belt Buckle Marked "W. H. SMITH / BROOKLYN"
Construction: Stamped thin sheet brass, with raised stamped letters "US", rear with solder fill and stud type attachment hooks.
Condition: Good, excavated. Its brass front, with its recognizable raised fat letter style "US" found on Smith marked belt and box plates, has an awesome light green patina. Reddish clay soil from Brandy Station, VA still remains on both front and rear nicely highlighting the letters "US". The rim is nearly complete with a couple of nicks and minor bends. The rear has a near complete complement of solder with minimal surface pebbling. The manufacturer's stamp of "W. H. SMITH / BROOKLYN" is stamped into the rear with only the first few letters visible. Additional gentle cleaning will likely reveal more letters. All three belt attachment hooks remain in place with more soil underneath each. The body of the buckle has is somewhat flat with mild bends. While there are a couple of breaks in the rim, the buckle has no cracks, repairs or other breaks.
Recovered: Brandy Station, VA.
Approximate size: 54 x 87 mm.
Reference: Examples of similar "W. H. SMITH / BROOKLYN" marked US waist belt buckles are pictured and described in the following reference books:

  • "American Military Belt Plates" by Michael J. O'Donnell and J. Duncan Campbell, on page 302, plate 483.
  • "Civil War Artifacts" by Howard Crouch, page 188, item 1.
  • "The Hammond Civil War Collection" by Mike O'Donnell & Howard Crouch, pages 102, item 4.

See above pages in additional images.

Comments: What I appreciate the most about this belt plate is the nice green color that so many of the relics recovered from Culpeper County have. The plate appears as if it just came out of the ground and if you appreciate that "just as recovered" look then this plate is for you! Though the Smith mark is the most common of manufacturer's stamps, most plates recovered do not have a manufacturer's stamp, making those that are, a rarity and a great day for any relic hunter. This marked belt plate will be an excellent addition to any excavated Civil War plate or general relic collection.

Product Code:
PC1022
Price:
$350.00
This brand is available for:
BUCKLES , NEW ITEMS , ALL PLATES , FEDERAL RELICS , MAKER MARKED PLATES , MARKED RELICS

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