CampSite Artifacts  ·

Here is a Fine Displaying Excavated U.S. M1851 Eagle Sword Belt Plate ! It is in Very Good Excavated condition, displaying a nice greenish brown patina, front and back. The wreath around the eagle has deteriorated as is often the case on these, but the small tongue is still nicely intact on the reverse. The plate is also bench marked on the reverse, with the number 872, the 8 is double stamped, and there is a round cast recess in the middle of the reverse. It is the pattern with sun rays all the way around the inner edges of the border, and similar to Plates 662, 664, and 665, in the book, American Military Belt Plates, by O’Donnell & Campbell. In the book, the authors says orders for this pattern started in December of 1863, but I have one that was recovered in a December, 1862, site. A Fine Dug U.S. Eagle Sword Belt Plate ! Recovery location unknown.

        $250 plus shipping

Here's a Fine Nondug U.S. Regulation 1851, Sword Belt Plate ! It is the enlisted pattern with sun rays around the edges and in to the bottom corners. Front and back it wears a wonderful dark brown patina and shows its tongue still nicely intact on the reverse. It also has a bench number of “826” and retains its original body curve. There is a small portion of the German Silver wreath missing at the very bottom of the plate. Though some of the books call this an 1864-1865 pattern, I have a dug example that was recovered at a December, 1862, site here in NW Arkansas. A Fine Displaying Regulation 1851, Sword Belt Plate !

        $250 plus shipping

Here is a Decent Displaying, Maker Marked, U.S. Puppy Paw Waist Belt Plate ! The front shows edge damage on the -S side, and a couple more minor freeze cracks, but wears a fairly smooth, nice brown patina. The reverse shows all three attachment hooks present and most of the lead solder fill. There are hints of remaining silver on top of the puppy paw studs, and still mostly legible, stamped in the lead solder fill is the maker’s mark of, “ W. H. Smith – Brooklyn.” Recovery location unknown. A real nice example of a Smith marked plate can run $350 or more, but this one is priced much nicer. A Decent Displaying, Maker Marked, U.S. Puppy Paw Waist Belt Plate !

        $140 plus shipping   

Here is Fine Displaying Dug U.S. Eagle Breast Plate or Shoulder Plate ! The front has a wonderful mostly slick green/brown patina that very nicely highlights the eagle device. There is some minor ground action around the very outer edges, but no damage or rust thru. The reverse shows the iron loops rusted away, but still retains 95% or more of the lead solder fill. There is some old paper or cardboard stuck to the solder, where it may have been mounted in a display, but this might be carefully removed if desired. A Very Nice Display Dug U.S. Eagle Breast Plate !

         $125  plus shipping 

Here is a Beautiful Dug U.S. Eagle Breast Plate ! The face shows no major damage, or rust thru, and still retains a lot of crusted dirt from the recovery site, giving it a wonderful just dug look. The details of the eagle stand out very well against that background. The reverse shows the iron loops rusted away, but retains the majority of its lead solder fill. That lead solder fill also shows multiple carve marks, where a soldier has been carving horizontal and vertical lines, though I can’t really see a design, it may have meant something to him, or could have just been idle doodling. Either way it is neat. A Fine Displaying U.S. Eagle Breast Plate with that “Just Dug” look and some Personalized Carving on the Back !

         $120  plus shipping

Here is an Excellent Non-Dug Civil War Period Eagle Breast Plate ! It wears a wonderful old brown patina with areas of green verdigris, and shows no damage to the front. The reverse shows the full lead solder fill turned to a dark gray, and both iron attachment loops still present. This would be perfect for a cartridge box sling needing a plate, or make a fine addition to anyone’s Civil War Plate collection. A Fine Non-Dug Civil War U.S. Eagle Breast Plate ! [ D.K. ]

        $175 plus shipping

Here is a Nice US Model 1808 Shoulder Belt Plate used in the War of 1812 ! The front shows a nice smooth brown patina, with one little nick out of the edge, and a small break where one of the studs on the reverse has been pushed almost thru the plate. The reverse shows both of the peened belt studs still present though a little rough, but the tongue has been broken off. The old tag in the riker with the plate explains that this plate was recovered in one of Andrew Jackson’s Campsites near Mobile, Alabama. A Decent Example of a very early U.S. Plate with some Real History ! [ L.L. ]

        $ 300   NOW JUST   $250 plus shipping

Here is a Very Pretty Green Dug U.S. Eagle Breast Plate ! It wears that light green patina you used to sometimes see on dug plates 40 years ago. That patina is highlighted by some of the dirt still on the plate, and there are a couple of small rust thru areas. The reverse shows mostly full lead solder fill though the iron loops have rusted away. Reverse does however, have a location marked on it in pink or purple ink that says, “Fort Harrison.” A Very Pretty Dug Eagle Breast Plate from a known location ! [ K.I.]

                             SOLD