WW1 Mexican Border

[Daffy]

Have searched far and wide to identify what this is to no avail, any ideas?
Size comparison: those are 30 cal halves attached to it.

 

[Daffy]

One more pic

 

[Jo6pak]

Is it brass?

 

[Daffy]

I'd have to say yes, I don't want to polish it for obvious reasons, but there is a difference of color from the base metal to the bullets adhered to it.

 

[noelf2]

Some sort of a desk plaque, probably used to be around a piece of wood, for a man names F.R. Shawgo, or Shamgo, who later became a border cop. Tadaaaaa!!!

Except the crown is a bit odd. I'm sure you've tried it, but there doesn't appear to be an FR Shawgo/Shamgo on any google hits or in ancestry.com. Just a nobody.

 

[AirCool65]

There's a Fred R. Shawgo on Findagrave.com. He served in WWI and was a Sergeant First Class.

 

[johnwilliamson062]

What is the scale?
Looks like a fake book or bookend to me.
Maybe to hold/protect a journal?

 

[Daffy]

AirCool, Thanks!. I tried a couple of times to track some relation down, date wise I'd call that spot on. Along with some of the other things I know of it's origin that fits well. Will have to do some calls to the area and try to reunite it with it's proper family.

The idea of it being a journal holder is probably the best I've heard.

Size wise about the size of a Garand clip.

 

[tater134]

Size wise about the size of a Garand clip.

Cover for a box of matches? I've seen similar WW1 trench art made as match boxes.

 

[AirCool65]

Will have to do some calls to the area and try to reunite it with it's proper family.

From the 1930 and 1940 Census, it looks like he and his wife had no children.

 

[Daffy]

That kinda burst the ol bubble for trying to right....