You guys are killing me with that one.
One of the best buckles from CA posted on any forum in a long time!
According to the gold rush buckle book, that one is military, and probably lost by soldiers from the Grand Army of the West!
Most likely a Mexican war veteran who headed for the goldfields, maybe even Stevenson's Regiment
Congrats to your bud on a great find.
Sweet lord that a great find on the buckle.
That sure is a killer find. Wow.