Collecting Confederate buckles is a minefield and they have been making fine reproductions for years. 

Got some for the kids, made on base by local venders when Mountain Home was touring SW Asia

Tonomachi, Have not seen this Oval with the Purple center before. Thanks for posting it!

Thanks for that information. 

Definitely Japanese made but I’m thinking it might be a boy scout patch with the Troop 3.  I’ve come across similar patches.

I heard back from Will Gorges.  Here is what he said: “I'm leaning towards no, but again, not something to be done with photos if you want to be sure.”  It’s hard to take good pics of the buckle and as Will says, probably impossible to do by photos alone. I’ll probably take it up to the Hallowed Ground Gettysburg show at the end of July.  I was planning to go there anyway.  I’ll let everyone know what I find out.     Not being a Civil War collector, I didn't realize what a minefield Confederate items are.  I thought it would be a simple yes or no answer.  Probably similar to WWII German items where there are lots or imaginative fakes and some people try hard to deceive others.  I want to thank everyone who responded on the forum to the buckle.  It’s much appreciated and I’ve enjoyed learning new things about cool items.  To me, that’s what collecting is all about.

Hello What are your thoughts on this patch It looks Japanese made post war KW? its 4.50 x 4.50 inches No idea what unit or anything like that Thank you Tony

Below is an article written about the purchase of these revolvers by Edward Scott Meadows in the March 2004 Gun Report Magazine.  

Below is a Smith and Wesson New Model No. 3 with a nickel finish, 6.5" barrel, chambered in 44 Russian, smooth wood stocks, U.S. Marked, with Henry Nettleton inspection marks. This revolver was one of the 280 revolvers that were purchased for the State of Maryland. This one, 7318, shipped on November 9, 1878. You will see the H.N. inspection marks on underside of the barrel, the inside of the frame, on the cylinder, and a faint mark on the right grip. The left grip has the 1878 stamp alongside the David A. Lyle (DAL) mark. The butt has the US mark along with the serial number. I have wondered if these were issued in response to the violent 1877 railroad strike that greatly tested the Maryland Militia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_railroad_strike_of_1877 Regards, Lyle    

I like that a lot, and the question about lack of contracts is an interesting one. I do wonder if production constraints had a hand in this, I have seen a fair few used by USN aircrews. Unit purchase maybe, or private purchase or could it be a bit of both.