Mystery solved

[Digger_O'Dell]

I've been wondering about some pieces I've found and thought that they may have been harness buckles, but couldn't figure out how they could work that way. Well, doing some research on this and discovered that they are actually harness buckle SHIELDS! They were used to cover the buckles to prevent them from opening, but more so to prevent them getting snagged, or to keep the horse's hair from their mane or tail from getting caught up in the mechanism.

56399

56400

Here's a link to a page showing their use:

https://books.google.com/books?id=VCVDAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=horse+harness+buckle+shield+use&source=bl&ots=AG3nnpTWOJ&sig=PcycxxJ08EIuLE93om2GGST53ys&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwieitOXv4LQAhWIKCYKHZjTCI4Q6AEIUTAN#v=on epage&q&f=true

[OxShoeDrew]

I have a box full of D buckles and I know there are some of those in there. I'm going to fish them out. Thanks for the info!

[Digger_O'Dell]

I found that civil war era buckle shields were styled different with a hinges square wire loop on one side, and often were more decorative. Most examples I saw had a heart in the middle.

[aloldstuff]

I've got one with the heart on it. Thanks for your research

[MangoAve]

Nice find, Chris. I would have never thought to search to figure out about those. I just find a few here and there and tag them as buckles. I sure find a lot more D buckles than I do these covers.