Ball Buttons

An Army uniform order issued in May 1813 called for General officers and General Staff to wear “gilt bullet buttons,” also known as ball buttons. Because similar buttons served both military and civilian purposes, backmarks, construction, and surviving uniforms help establish their age and use. This gallery presents period examples that may have been worn in military service.

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Backmark	Diameter	Description	Front	View 2	View 3
BLANK BACK	13.6 mm	Gilt
BLANK BACK	16.5 mm	Silver Plate
BLANK BACK	16.5 MM
BLANK BACK	16.6 mm	Gilt
BLANK BACK	16.7 mm	Gilt
BLANK BACK	16.9 mm	Gilt; 15 stars above eagle.
BLANK BACK	17 mm	Silver Plate
BLANK BACK	17.9 mm	Gilt
BLANK BACK	18.3 mm	Gilt
BLANK BACK	18.4 mm	Silver plate; 15 stars above eagle.
“BEST PLATED”	17.9 mm	Silver Plate
“BEST PLATED”	17.9 mm	Silver Plate
“BEST”	18 mm	Gilt
“DOUBLE PLATED”	19.5 mm	Silver Plate
EXTRA RICH	18.5 mm	rmdc · Gilt
“EXTRA RICH “	18.7 mm	Gilt
“EXTRA RICH”	19 mm	Stippled back . Raised mark.
“EXTRA STRONG GILT”	18.6 mm	Gilt .15 stars encircle the eagle.
“EXTRA STRONG GILT”	18.6 mm	Gilt
“EXTRA * SUPERFINE *”	18.5 mm	Gilt
“FINE GILT”	17.5 mm
“FINE PLATED”	17.8 mm	Silver Plate
“FINE PLATED”	18.7 mm	Silver Plate
“FOR WEST POINT / SPIES”	19.7 mm	Gilt
“GILT”	16.7 mm	Silver plate ; 15 stars above eagle
“GILT”	19.4 mm	Gilt
“J. MANN’s / STANDARD”	16.5 mm	Gilt
“J. MANN’S RICH”	18.5 mm	Gilt
“KENDRICK * & CO * “	19 mm	Silver Plate
“MADE IN ENGLAND”	18.2 mm	Silver Plate
“PLATED ***”	15.75	Silver plate
“RICH ORANGE”	18.5 mm	Gilt
“SCOVILL MF’G CO **”	18.4 mm	Gilt
“SCOVILL MFG CO”	18.4 mm	Gilt
“SET FAST ****”	15mm	Silver Plate
“SET ^ FAST ^ “	16.3 mm	Gilt
“SET FAST ****”	16.5 mm	Gilt
“SET FAST *”	16.5 mm	Gilt
SET***FAST***	17.25 mm	Silver Plate
“SET FAST***”	17.5 mm	Gilt
“SET FAST 9”	17.6 mm	Gilt
“SMITH & CO / NY “	19 mm	Silver Plate
“SPIES”S PLATED”	16.3 mm	Silver Plate
“SUPERFINE RICH QUALITY”	18 mm	Gilt
“SUPERIOR PLATED”	17 mm	Gilt
“SUPERIOR PLATED”	18.6 mm	Silver Plate
“LEWIS TOMES “	18.5 mm	Gilt
“LEWIS & TOMES”	18.6 mm	Gilt
“TREBLE * GILT*	16.5 mm
“*TREBLE * GILT”	19mm	Gilt
“TREBLE * PLATED *”	18.75 mm	Silver Plate
“TREBLE PLATED”	18.8 mm	Silver plate; 15 stars above eagle.
“W BG T / BEST PLATED”	17.25 mm	Silver Plate
“WARRENTED TREBLE GILT”	18.5 mm
“WATERBURY BUTTON CO”	18.8 mm	Gilt