Let's hope they can improve the precision of this method. Currently I don't see its value in dating US Civil War flags. "Authentic" flags may only be 5 to 10 years older than Veteran's reunion flags. Also, war surplus silk guidons with 35 stars were issued to US Cavalry troops during the Indian Wars period.

A precision of 50 to 100 years won't help much. Unless, that is, the folks who made the infamous "Bristol Fakes" start working in silk.