W M mark on buckle c1760

[buckler]

Small knee type buckle, recently bought from Australia with a shoe buckle of similar design but different maker (IC) although undoubtedly same original owners initials .

This buckle has a London Lion Passant Guardant of 1740 - 1756 period, although the shoe buckle has the post 1756 Lion - thus leading me to the, probably erroneous, conclusion that both date to the mid 1750's.

Almost certainly a Lost Register Mark.

Note the pronounced indents to the top and bottom of the punch .