Militia Belt Plate?

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

I'm pretty sure it's a militia belt plate but I wanted some opinions. It's exactly like the New York Militia belt plate but it's just blank. It was a unique find when I got it. I'll get some photos up soon.

[GarrettG1993]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Sounds like a fairly common stock militia type. I bet it has a raised rim on it. Waterbury made tons before the war. Just my two cents.


Regards,
Garrett Glover

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Actually you're right on. It does have the raised rim.

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?



Here's a picture of me with the militia buckle.

[rebpvt1864]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Awww... I know you. Any way Mike, i think the thing is good looking especially for early war. But everyone please help us to find out what state or district it comes from??? You looked good this weekend man!
See ya.

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Hi All,

The front of the plate is pretty common, I looked through my copies of Mullinax's Confederate Buckles and Plates as well as O'Donnel & Campbells American Military Belt Plates .

This style is encounterd both North and South. It is not attibuted to any ome maker as of yet, but is a common style stock militia plate.

What does the back of the plate look like? This will help in it's identification/ make

Hope this helps

Don S

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

I'm probably going to take a picture of the back side of it but basically the loop for the swivel and the tooth for adjusting the belt are attached seperately (welded if you will).

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Hi Mike,

When you mentioned "welded" do you mean soldered? Or welded?

Reason I ask is that welding is done with steel.

Soldering is done with brass copper or tin and incorporates using a different metal for the soldering materiel where the joints & pieces meet to be secured.

Not many plates were made of steel or iron.


I am looking forward to the pictures to see the reverse of the plate to properly identify it.

All the best

Don S

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Well it's definitely not steel, so it must be soldered on.

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the clarification.

It is one of those things with belt plates. All the little details matter alot when figuring out the identity & history of a plate.

How a plate is made is one of the big identifying characteristics. As to when it was made.

These types of militia plates have been made all the way into the 20th Century & the way the backs are done point to the time frame of make and use, as the die for the front of these type plates were in use for a very long time. In some cases well over 60 years.

Is the tongue on your plate a sheet brass type? Is it wide or narrow? If narrow, how wide is it?

All the best

Don S

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

It's actually a hook, I'd say an inch or maybe half of an inch wide, but it's actually all one piece.

[4thVirginiaSoldier]

Re: Militia Belt Plate?

Actually the piece that holds the swivel for the belt is all one part and the hook is attached to it as well. No seperate parts or anything like that. But I'd have to say it's about half an inch or an inch wide.