Iron Buckles & Pouch Hardware

Iron buckles of 1/8" square stock were made in many sizes and used by the British and Americans on their cartridge boxes and pouches, waistbelts, kettle bags, harness, and other equipment. Photos of several originals can be found in Collector's Encyclopedia pg. 54 #18 and it seems that nearly every Revolutionary War historic site museum will have one or two on display as these buckles are found everywhere.

I stock five common sizes that have the appearance of the original forged iron buckles. These reproductions are not made of real iron, but of mild steel (Extra Small and Medium) or zinc with black jappaning (Small, Large, and Extra Large).

The buckles are available in bulk at a discount price. A bag of 25 buckles is $75

Some of the original medium and large size buckles have been found with tin plating. Tin plated buckles are available for $5 each.

Extra Small Buckle (not pictured) is used on harness and other applications. This buckle is for a  3/4" wide strap and is not black jappaned. Inside dimensions 3/4" x 3/4". $4.00 each.

Small Buckle is used on British 18-round cartridge boxes converted to shoulder belt use. See Collector's Encyclopedia pg. 69 #21. This buckle is for a 1" wide strap. Inside dimensions 1/2" x 1". $4.00 each.

Medium Buckle is used on British cartridge pouches and Continental Army cartridge boxes. See Collector's Encyclopedia pg. 67 #12, pg. 76 #39, pg. 78 #45, pg. 79 #48. I have examined several cartridge pouches that have used the small and large buckles, but the majority of pouches I have seen used the medium size. This buckle is for a 1" wide strap. Inside dimensions 3/4" x 1". $4.00 each. (Tin plated $5 each)

Large Buckle is used on narrow British waistbelts with the 18-round cartridge (belly) boxes. See Don Troiani's Soldiers in America pg. 4 and another on display at Old Fort Niagara. This buckle is for a 1" wide strap. Inside dimensions 1" x 1". $4.00 each. (Tin plated $5 each)

Extra Large Buckle (not pictured) used on British knapsacks. This buckle is for a 1 1/4" " wide strap. Inside dimensions 1 1/4" x 1 1/4". $4.00 each.

Turnable Stud & Catch - see Collector's Encyclopedia pg. 67 #12. Used on Continental Army New Construction cartridge boxes and several excavated in Morristown. The male and female parts are of iron. The set comes with four cut-down steel nails (not copper as photographed) to use as rivets. The female part was not always used, but when it was it was riveted to the leather strap sewn under the cartridge box flap. Unlike the brass hook and catch which was used by both British and Americans, this iron turnable stud has only been found on American cartridge boxes and their encampments. $10.00 set

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