Copper Rivets

[Ky Ken]

Does anyone know when copper rivets where being used in leather work and horse gear? I'm looking for a time line. Thanks  Ken

[Kermit]

Rivets have been around since the Bronze age, and I recall reading something once about the Romans using them, but I can't recall what the material or purpose was. Memory failing. Brain's too full.

[Nate McKenzie]

Civil War gear always has brass rivets.

[RMHC]

A long time ...
The Romans used a bronze type rivet on leather gear.
the head shape is the critical problem.
The old rivets had rounded heads like a wagon rivet.
Alot of the newer ones are machined flat.
Depends on how critical you want to be .
Can always make your own . set up a nice hammer jig n get poundin.

[Ky Ken]

Thanks all. Ken

[TPH]

Civil War gear always has brass rivets.

Nate, good observation but the rivets used were copper. The specifications in the US Army manuals of the period called for copper rivets to be used at all times, no mention of brass.

As far as a time frame? As others have said, hundreds of years (at least) but riveting is not considered as strong a sewing and the commonly available rivets of today, called "copper belt rivets and burrs", have probably only been available for about 150 years. Maybe Chuck has better information?

[SuperCracker]

Rivets have been around since the Bronze age, and I recall reading something once about the Romans using them, but I can't recall what the material or purpose was. Memory failing. Brain's too full.

Roman armor was held together (where applicable) with rivets of bronze or copper. However, a large portion of their gear being made by Gallic/Celt craftsmen, they were probably being used all over, for a long long time before that.

[Clark Badgett]

Civil War gear always has brass rivets.

Certainly not always. Have studied many peices both nawth and south that had no rivets. Rivets seemed to show up more as the war progressed. A time saving step that had the advantage of adding strength (questionable to some)to the area. But vertigris does show up after a while.

[dannybb55]

Rivets have been around since the Bronze age, and I recall reading something once about the Romans using them, but I can't recall what the material or purpose was. Memory failing. Brain's too full.

Roman armor was held together (where applicable) with rivets of bronze or copper. However, a large portion of their gear being made by Gallic/Celt craftsmen, they were probably being used all over, for a long long time before that.

Roman gear stayed in service for a long time. Lorca hamata and lorca segmentia were often seen in the same legions even though one type was out of production for a century or more. The enlistment of a Roman soldier was 24 years and there are many examples of two hitches being served followed by retirement. A Roman could enlist as young as 14, the age of majority. That is a fair amount of parade, patrol and campaign wear for antique gear. 
 Rivets must work pretty well.