Boyle, Gamble & Macfee Belt and Plate
By Shannon Pritchard · Originally published January-February 2026 · pp. 13–16
There are no maker-marked Confederate belt buckles, but a rare few have known makers. So, how are these few identified? It all goes back to the sword. Whenever a sword was purchased— whether through a government contract for cavalry swords or by an officer’s private purchase—the sword came with a belt. The belt was essential, so collectors have identified various Leech and Rigdon buckles by their association with Leech and Rigdon swords. The College Hill two-piece sword belt buckle, the Thomas, Griswold & Company patterns, the Boyle and Gamble oval two-piece sword belt buckle, the Firman & Sons navy buckle, and the Haiman two-piece buckle have all been linked to their associated swords. Considering the many patterns of Confederate buckles, these few identified pieces represent a very small group. Thanks to this discovery, one more can be added to this small list of maker-identified buckles and plates.
In 2015, the sword and belt of Lieutenant Edward Reed Cryer were purchased from a family in Texas. The sword was a Boyle, Gamble & MacFee foot officer’s pattern with the earliest style Boyle & Gamble mounts on the leather scabbard, dating it to 1861, which fits Cryer’s history. Edward R. Cryer entered service in what would become Company D, 2nd Tennessee Infantry, at Hartsville, Tenn., on April 25, 1861, as a 2nd lieutenant. The 2nd Tennessee was heading to Virginia, and by May 14, Cryer was in Lynchburg, Va. A newly minted lieutenant, Cryer was eager to get a sword. Whether he acquired the Richmond-made sword in Lynchburg or in Richmond is unknown, but I suspect the latter. The regiment fought at Aquia Creek, Va., on June 1, 1861, and was present at the Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861. On February 9, 1862, Cryer’s regiment was transferred to the Western Theatre’s Army of Tennessee. Lieutenant Cryer was killed on April 6, 1862, during the first day’s fighting at Shiloh. Few of these rare Boyle, Gamble & MacFee CSA plates are known; this is the only one still with its numbered, matched, original keeper. Both plate and keeper are numbered 27. It is the only known example still attached to its original patent leather over cotton webbing belt.
Lieutenant Edward R. Cryer. (Find A Grave)
Virtually nothing was known about the rarity 10 plate identified as 118 in Steve Mullinax’s Confederate Belt Buckles and Plates, Expanded Edition. It was simply described as “CSA” mounted on a raised oval and all solid cast. The example shown was dug in Chesterfield, Va.
The ultra rare Boyle, Gamble & MacFee belt plate.
The solder filed down the keeper to give the buckle a little bit of room to swivel.
The fine patent leather was inlaid with a linen belt to give it strength and durability. (OldSouthAntiques.com)
This sword by Boyle, Gamble & MacFee that was sold with the belt.
About the Author Shannon Pritchard has authored numerous articles relating to the authentication, care, and conservation of Confederate antiques, including several cover articles and is the author of the definitive work on Confederate collectibles, the widely acclaimed
Collecting the Confederacy, Artifacts and Antiques from the War Between the States, and is co-author of Confederate Faces in Color.
Photographs from the Original Article
Captions and credits appear in the article text as originally printed.