Misc. Dug Items
Misc. Non-Dug Items
Civil War Cartridge Box Plates
This page last updated August 31, 2010
EMAIL Phone: 804-873-5462
Plez Bagby
PO Box 6425
Charlottesville, VA 22906
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American Military Belt Plates
We are pleased to announce that copies of the 3rd printing of "American Military Belt Plates" by Michael J. O'Donnell and J. Duncan Campbell are now available from Virginia Civil War Relics. This 616 page book, filled with photographs and descriptions, is the most extensive Civil War Military belt plate reference book available and is a must have for the collector or general Civil War relic enthusiast. These brand new books are available for $49.50 plus postage.
To order this fine book please EMAIL or call 804-873-5462
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PC1817 US Cartridge Box Plate - Maker Marked "W H SMITH BROOKLYN" This excavated US cartridge box plate, maker marked "W. H. SMITH BROOKLYN", has an absolutely killer face. This plate was recovered on September 13, 1986 along Bark Road approach to Shiloh, TN. Plates marked by their manufacturer are much harder to recover than unmarked plates which makes them much more desirable to collectors. The US brass face has an even light chocolate brown patina and is simply flawless. The rear has nearly full solder with a few areas of stabilized flaking. Both iron attachment loops are present with one still holding a portion of the leather thong that once held it attached to the cartridge box flap. It is extremely rare to excavate a cartridge box plate with any leather attached, much less the thong. The manufacturer's stamp of "W. H. SMITH BROOKLYN" is mostly visible with portions requiring a light and loupe. The plate has no cracks, breaks, bends, or repairs. This plate is an excellent example of a marked plate, with leather, which will be a great addition to any US plate collection or general excavated relic collection. $295.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC3089 US Cartridge Box Plate - Brass Hooks This excavated large size cartridge box plate with brass loops is indeed a fairly rare find. Of the US cartridge box plates recovered, 99% will have iron attachment loops, this unusual example has the larger brass loops. Recovered with permission at Harrison's Landing in Charles City County, VA., by Gene Cooley, this example is clearly in the "dug, been there, done that" condition. Its brass face has a very pleasing green-yellow-brown patina and the rear has both large brass attachment loops still solidly affixed. Another unusual aspect of this particular plate is that both loops were cut near or at the apex of the loop. Although the reason for the alteration is unclear, the cuts do not appear to be recent as the coloring of the brass in the cut area matches the rest of the loop. In other words, no bright brass is visible in the cut area. The condition if this relic is clearly evident from the additional images but it is still a fairly solid piece. According to "American Military Belt Plates" authors O'Donnell and Campbell, the brass loops of these 1839 pattern plates, can also be found on the 1826 pattern eagle plate, as well as the flat letter style Ohio "OVM" cartridge box plate and Ohio state seal shoulder plates. An example of this rare plate can be found in the second edition of the above mentioned reference book, as plate 490 on page 305. These large brass hooked plates typically measure approximately 57 x 90 mm. This example, due to wear and tear, measures slightly smaller at approximately 56 x 89 mm. Mr. Cooley is in his late 80's and still relic hunts today. To read more about Mr. Cooley please click here. $95.00 Ordering Information or Questions? |
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PC2675 US Cartridge Box Plate This excavated US cartridge box plate is an interesting relic. The plate is complete with both of its iron attachment hooks still in place and upright, but it is missing most of its solder fill. I do not believe this is a case of the solder being melted out as there is no other indications of it being heated or in a fire. I thought that the missing solder may be a result of the use of a combination of substandard solder and moist soil that it may have rested in for decades causing the solder to rot away. This, however, would not explain why the iron hooks didn't rot away as well since these are usually the first to go in moist soil. We may never know the answer to this mystery. The brass face appears to have a brown patina still covered by a light covering of the soil in which it was recovered. The only flaw I can find (with the exception of missing solder) is a hairline crack at the rim at the end with the "S". There are no bends, repairs or other cracks. This plate will make an very nice excavated display piece in any collection. 56 x 88 mm. $135.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC2673 US Cartridge Box Plate This US cartridge box plate, with its long tall "US" letters on its brass face, has a very pleasing brown green patina. Although certainly not perfect, with rim damage, partial lead loss, and no hooks, it does have that certain war torn character. This plate is representative of what is excavated out of farm fields across Virginia. Approx. 53 x 87 mm. $55.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC2674 US Cartridge Box Plate Maker Marked "WH Smith Brooklyn" This excavated cartridge box plate is in fair condition and is complete with the exception of the two iron attachment hooks. The rear solder fill is stamped with the manufacturer's mark of "WH SMITH BROOKLYN" with only a few of the letters visible. The green-brown patina'd US stamped sheet brass front of the plate is now concaved due to years of ground action and with several freeze cracks present. The rear has nearly all of the solder fill but the iron attachment hooks are no longer present. This plate has not been repaired and will be a very nice addition to any excavated plate or general relic collection. Approx. 55 x 88 mm. $85.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC2377 US Cartridge Box Plate This US cartridge box plate is in very good condition and was recovered approximately 8-10 years ago by Virginia relic hunter Mark Stevens in Charles City County, VA between Malvern Hill and Harrison's Landing. The plate has a dirt covered chocolate brown brass front showing period wear. The rear has nearly full lead and both iron attachment hooks which are rusty and straight up. Under the "U" at the very edge of the rim, there is a little denting with a minor amount of brass is showing through but is unseen from the front and rear views. This plate is an excellent example of a recently excavated plate with that nice "dug" look to it. The brass face has no cracks or breaks and this plate will make an excellent display piece in any excavated relic collection. Approx. 55 x 87 mm. $205.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC1133 US Cartridge Box Plate This excavated US cartridge box plate is an absolute beauty. Recovered years ago from the Cold Harbor, VA area, its brass face has a slick brown patina and is basically flawless. The rear has both attachment hooks with one at a very slight angle and both solidly attached and in place. The now stable lead backing is complete with minimal old flaking. The plate has no cracks, breaks, or repairs and is a top notch quality collector's piece. Approx 53 x 86 mm. $255.00 Order Information or Questions? |
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PC1268 US Cartridge Box Plate This excavated US cartridge box is in very good condition. Its brass face has a chocolate brown patina with no cracks or breaks. The rear has 99% full lead with both complete loops that are nearly straight up. There is an upward bend in the rim to the left of the "U" but this appears to be a result of period use. This plate was recovered from the area of Brandy Station, Va. The plate has not been repaired and will make for a very nice display piece. Approx. 54 x 85 mm. $190.00 Ordering Information or Questions? |
