does anybody know what it is?

[GRAY GHOST]

hey all, i got this copper piece in a boxful of indian cents at the recent civil war relics show. i've been doing some cleaning tests on these recovered cents. the piece is right at 5/8 ths of an inch round, and has a straight thick shank that mushrooms out at the bottom. it's covered in a nice thick patina, so i know it's been in the ground for a long time. it seems to be copper.
it does resemble a blue jeans stud. if so, it's a very old one! no lettering at all. i hope ya'll can help me with it. the guy i bought it off of said he found it near some old 1880's indian cents in the box i had bought from him. thanks in advance for your help. any ideas? hh,

 

[Anonymous]

n/t

 

[GRAY GHOST]

n/t

 

[echostar61]

Horse tack is what I was thinking too , when you first showed it to me . Really Cool Find Ghost
I will be looking for your pic of the back

Terri

 

[GRAY GHOST]

hello all, i did try to get a good scan of the back. i'll have a new camera at xmas, can't wait. the stud shank is about 1/8th inch wide and about a 1/4 inch long, and terminates in a mushroom shaped bottom. overall, the whole piece looks a lot like a mushroom when you look at it on the side - except for the straight shank.
i do believe ya'll are right about the piece being horse tack... but how old do you think it is? it reminds me a lot of a belt stud. i appreciate your help, and thanks. hh,

 

[Anonymous]

It could be from a number of uses, but might be the length adjuster for a sword belt suspension belt or rifle sling. Very possible it dates to the mid 1800s.
David@Dixie