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EXTREMELY RARE “MCELROY” MARKED CONFEDERATE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE “MCELROY” MARKED CONFEDERATE

FRAME BUCKLE ON ORIGINAL BELT. Confederate frame buckle belts are rare to start w/, though the buckles are common excavated in camps & battlefields. “MCELROY & HUNT / MACON GA” marked specimens are rare excavated. This is the only known original belt with McElroy buckle. Accompanying belt is 1990 letter/invoice from Bill Turner/Michael Kramer stating the belt was “expertly cleaned by Michael Kramer “. The belt was found in outbuilding & very stiff, dry cleaning fluid improved flexibility. W. J. McElroy w/ several partners was large metal founder in Macon, GA. He produced everything for camp pots & pans, nails, axes, wire, pipes, & swords which is best known. He also made many brass items from the tiniest cartridge box finials, bayonet scabbard tips, & belt plates. They were invoiced at 25 cents early in war & 40 cents in 1864. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: previously mentioned letter / invoice. CONDITION: very good overall, leather is sound, dry & warped, craquelure, no flaking, buckle has smooth light chocolate brown patina. The cast marking is difficult to read like all examples. PROVENANCE: Cullen Smith estate collection. (02-17239/JS). $8,000-12,000.