old (I think?) US brass plated (?) belt buckle...is it real?

I don't have the slightest clue HOW old, there's at least one more very similar belt buckle already shown here that's posting seems to strongly suggest its pattern (anyway) is kinda 'civil war' era -- although also suggesting that it is an often copied/reproduced/etc design. I tend to doubt it's actually *that* old, but it does seem to maybe date at least back to 1917, according to hand-scratched lettering on its backside which reads "LOUIS A. BOWMAN SECY // JULY 4 1917 // NB" unless that inscription in fact refers to or commemorates something/someone else that otherwise just happened in 1917. I simply don't know, though it is seemingly a rather heavy and well made item.

If anyone can tell me anything more about it I'd be more than happy for the info -- militariana is likewise one of the things I truly don't generally know much about. Marking this as 'unsolved mystery' for the meantime, in hopes that someone else will indeed offer any further clues for me. :-) :-) :-)

[OH, and PS... also would be curious what exact sort of "belt" this would have been attached to and how, just in case it turns out to be something not 'antique' enough that I wouldn't be scared to actually wear it around my own jeans every so often just for fun...??]