Posted 13 years ago
Furee65
(31 items)
These were found at the same sale as all the old Gunsmoke movie props from Hollywood. I dont know if they are from the set of movies or actual buckles from the war era? They are old but Civil War era old? i dont know.
Well, the one with the eagle is either a US Model 1851 style sword belt plate or a copy of it – and I’m not comfortable saying which. On one hand, these belt plates are widely copied, often cast from an original. On the other hand, Gunsmoke aired 1955 to 1975, and these belt plates continued to be worn as late as the Spanish American War, so finding originals as movie props back then is plausible. I see that John Wayne wore an original 1855 eagle belt plate in Rooster Cogburn in 1975 (and we all know the internet never lies) http://hanoverbrass.com/MoreBucklesP4.htm (scroll halfway down the page to see the Duke’s belly).
So, the buckle should be cast brass with an applied nickel-silver wreath. The silver wreath should not be part of the casting then silvered, but added as a separate piece on top. What does the back of the buckle look like? Any markings? Here’s a link with some fakes to help you decide: http://www.relicman.com/fakes/zfakefed603to666eaglesword.htm
Photos of the back of the Eagle plate will help to determine if it is a repro.
scott