SwiftSword Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Found today in an old pasture in eastern Massachusetts. It looks oddly familiar, but I can't place it at all. I appreciate any help! Front: Back: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase Goldman Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Not so sure that is a buckle. Almost looks like a wall mounted bottle opener or wall mounted thingamajig based on the countersunk screw hole and rusted screw hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwiftSword Posted April 10, 2022 Author Share Posted April 10, 2022 I had a similar thought. However, the pin is not a screw. It's a peg with thickened ends. I used to have a belt with a peg like that. The back is also curved. It would be very awkward to fix it to anything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mn90403 Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Swift, The pin is rusty. What do you think the other metal is? Mitchel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwiftSword Posted April 10, 2022 Author Share Posted April 10, 2022 The pin is steel or iron. The item itself is brass, as evidenced by a small spot where I kissed it with my shovel. Taking the whole shape and the wear pattern into account, this would fit a circular leather collar well. What did the collars look like that cow bells hung from? Better view of the peg/pin Side view, showing curved back: Underside of broad edge shows wear: Not really the right shape or wear pattern for a bottle opener: 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwiftSword Posted April 10, 2022 Author Share Posted April 10, 2022 Then again... why is the hole for the pin countersunk? And why would the pin move at all, or be made from a different material? I'm open to suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valens Legacy Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Looks to be 1/2 of a leather strap holder, the other side would have the hook at the end of the leather. Hope this helps as it is a nice find. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F350Platinum Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 My guess is brass trunk or box handle. Nice find, one of those things that doesn't fit in a display case 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwiftSword Posted April 10, 2022 Author Share Posted April 10, 2022 5 hours ago, Valens Legacy said: Looks to be 1/2 of a leather strap holder, the other side would have the hook at the end of the leather. Hope this helps as it is a nice find. Valens, I think you might be right! It would explain the countersunk hole, and the flared shape of the "channel" to guide the hook. I also now realize that the "bridge" is thicker than other parts of the rim, which would also make sense. Strange only that something this massive would be secured by a single pin. Where would this have been used? Is it horse tack? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPT_GhostLight Posted April 10, 2022 Share Posted April 10, 2022 Great find and quite a mystery. As Chase pointed out the countersunk hole and the long screw, I doubt it would be a buckle. The 6 stamped on it could indicate a size. I thought it might be a receiver hitch of some sort but I don't see any wear from being in contact with other metal parts. So now I think that maybe it was designed for thick leather straps, perhaps to tie down cargo on a wagon, carriage, or stagecoach. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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