Salvaged buckles.

[Zephaniah W Nash]

I salvaged a couple of buckles from an almost-completely rotted-away saddle baldric. They were tarnished to such a degree it was really hard to tell exactly what shape they were in, so I cleaned 'em up with some lemon juice and steel wool, and discovered:

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the one on the left appears to be copper, or at least a particularly heavy copper mix of brass. The color values in the pic aren't perfect, the actual buckle is an even richer copper-color than it shows here.

So, if I'm going to use it for anything, I'll have to possibly find some other copper or coppoer-toned hardware (which, after a quick Google, doesn't seem that likely, to my chagrin), or use it without other hardware.

[shadoes]

those are slick. where abouts did you find them?

[Zephaniah W Nash]

Just amongst odds and ends of tack kept in a storage shed of my father's.

It lost a good chunk of roof and wall in a relatively recent storm, and we moved everything out -- just now getting it cobbled back together and able to move everything back into it out of truck campers, trunks, the back porch, etc.

These happened to by laying about. We had actually assumed they probably came from the same girth -- from which the center had rotted completely away. If that was the case, whoever made it was just matching together odd buckles, because they are definitely different, though cast the same.

[MorganTyre]

Is that one on the left a bronze? I would think copper would be far too soft for it's intended purpose. Depending on the alloy, some freshly cleaned bronzes can look very coppery.

[Zephaniah W Nash]

Very good point, it may very well be bronze. No metallurgist, me...

Apart from the color, I was largely basing my assumption on the odor, as well. As it was cleaned, it had a strong coppery smell to it...

[BILLY BONES]

I've noticed through the years (I used to work at a American Civil War relic shop) that the brass used during that period often had a high copper content, due to shortages I suppose. In fact, many times, the authenticity of a piece often hinged on that copper content.

[Story]

I suspect it's made of red brass - brass with enough copper to give it a reddish tint; used for plumbing pipe and other brass hardware and in cheap jewelry

[Zephaniah W Nash]

Thanks for that info -- I'm sure you're right, and it's brass with a high copper content. I had managed to forget the existence of "red brass," even though I've come across it more than once.

I suspect it may become part of a pistol belt...

[HarborMaster]

Bronze can be differant in its mix., but for the most part it would be 85% copper 5% tin 5% lead and 5% whatever? Bronze is very differant from brass. Brass is 60% copper and 40% Zinc.

I have cannons made of both. I can tell you this.,the U.S. Government doesnt have brass cannons . It has steel ., Iron ., and Bronze., Bronze being the prefered gun due to corrosion resistance and strength., yes strength.,, 2 cannons of equal size and bore ., the Bronze will be substantially heavier. Also I am unaware of a Bronze barreld pistol or rifle however ., and there are several in brass. I have 2 pistols and 1 brass blunderbuss with brass barrels.

I just purchased a Bronze bust of "Nelson" It will be interesting to see what the properties are., its an english peice from the mid 19th century . Metals today are alot differant., they are better.

The buckles could be any of a variety of mixes.

I suspect it may become part of a pistol belt...

They are good looking buckles no doubt and will make fine accruements to your kit.

[Morgan Dreadlocke]

A small bribe at ye local bumber repair shoppe might fetch thee two plated of equal colour.