Need help to ID possible Civil War artifact

[tarheeldiggin]

Found a US Dragoon military button yesterday as well as an old bullet (pics attached). Need help to find out what the brass piece is. At first it looked like a drawer pull, but now I'm thinking it might be from that Civil War era. It still has some gold gilding on it. Could this have come off of a saddle bag? Is it military? Could it be a sword keeper? All of these items were found within 50 yards of each other.

It's exactly 4" wide. The quarter is in the picture for sizing purposes. Any help from you Civ experts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Aarong81]

I don't see anything about the handle suggesting that it is not a drawer pull handle. The only clue about the item that stands out to me is that they were trying to conserve metal/cost when they made it and it is made lightweight in the middle of the back. I'm not sure if they would be concerned about saving brass around that time, most old brass is made heavy. Here are a few that look similar.
The dragoon button is a very nice find. Most of the CW buttons I have found were general service. Some CW Dragoon buttons listed here.
http://robinsonsantiques.com/drawer-pulls/drawer-pull-cast-32.jpg

 

[tarheeldiggin]

Thanks Aaron -
I agree with your assessment. Thanks for the picks of other ornate drawer pulls - seems to fall right in line with that group. Research has shown me there used to be a home in those woods. I found this on a map from 1907. Maybe the drawer pull I found was made during WWI, and thus the hollow back... hard to tell. I was real happy with the Dragoon button. Believe it or not, that button was no more than 2" underground. I think it's in fairly decent shape. Thanks for the Dragoon button link, too. I just love learning about the history of my finds - guess that's why this hobby is hard to beat!

 

[1859large]

Actually many things made years ago where made light, especially 19th century candle stick holders, they where very lightly cast and can be separated from modern copies by weight alone.

Your pull may have been attached to a light small drawer so it did not need to be made heavy.

HH

1859

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Nice Dragoon button. Is there a backmark on it? I might be able to give you the year range that it was made.

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[tarheeldiggin]

Unfortunately, the backside didn't clean up real good. I can't make out any text at all. I'm thinking an electrolysis bath may do more harm than good, but I might work on it a little more this winter. I'll zap you a picture if I can get it cleaned up. Thanks!

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Howdy Tarheeldiggin--

It looks like your button is listed in Albert's as DR 4. If you are able to read any of the backmark this may be of help to you:

Canefield Bro. & Co Baltimore (1840-1860's)
Horstmann & Allien NY (1852-1877)
W. H. Horstmann & Sons Phi (1843-1863)
Hyde & Goodrich N O ( Produced by Scovill ca. 1860)
W. G. Mintzer Phil (1854-1880)
Schuyler. H. & G. N.Y. (1854-1880)
Scovill Mg Co Waterbury (1850-1865)
Steel & Johnson (1875-1920)

Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel