EXTREMELY RARE & FINE LEECH & RIGDON RECTANGULAR TWO-PIECE BELT PLATE ON ORIGINAL CONFEDERATE SWORD BELT.

02-17243

83mm length, 52mm keepers, wreath 58mm x 38mm.

This is among the rarest and most desirable of all Confederate belt buckles, it is also one of the most highly faked. This buckle has impeccable surface and collection history back over 50 years. Three known original survivors were made with patent leather belts and those belts are seen in the several photos known of officer’s wearing them with Leech & Rigdon cavalry officer swords or staff swords with “floating CS”. This unique specimen has original unaltered brown “bridle” leather seen on a vast majority of original enlisted Confederate belts. The original collector in the 1970s thought the belt was Confederate made replacement. I am not sure that it wasn’t just manufactured “as-is”, but regardless it is fine “attic condition” and would make great addition to the finest buckle collection.

PROVENANCE: Cullen Smith Estate collection.