December 14-17, 2021 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2021
Regulation 1839 Pattern enlisted infantry cartridge box plate with bayonet strike on the top right side of the letter U. The plate is die struck with a rolled brass face and retains both of the iron wire loops. The buckle is marked "Dumfries / August 6 / 1960" on a piece of tape on the reverse. Both of the iron wire loops remain mostly straight. The bayonet is bent inwards at the area of the bayonet strike. It appears that there are two other smaller bayonet strikes, one is at the center of the S, and the other is towards the bottom of the S. Although this belt plate would be more desirable if the bayonet strike was acquired in combat, due to the other smaller strikes, it appears that this belt received its "battle damage" from soldiers who were performing bayonet practice in camp. This is still a very nice ground dug belt plate that sheds light into the closer aspects of the war, including the driving force of a bayonet and what soldiers would face in hand to hand combat. CONDITON: The plate exhibits blemishes that are typical of ground dug belt plates and exhibits a nice patina. The bottom edge is slightly serrated. This example has been decently preserved for spending years in the ground. Overall good. JLD
Item Dimensions: 3" x 3"