A886.   Confederate Archer bolt for a three inch rifle, it is the style with 3 grooves, the lead sabot as usual is MIA, the iron is strong and stable with only minimal surface pitting, nice bolt

UP1275.   Model 1851 sword belt plate in good dug condition, it was recovered many years ago in Murfreesboro, TN, it is the enlisted man's / NCO style that had the applied silver wreath, as usual it is mostly gone with just a small amount remaining by the wingtips, there is no damage, the reverse has the early style long, narrow tongue hook, displays well

EW1134.   French import short sword in very good condition, the blade is full length and free of nicks, it was period sharpened and is still very sharp, it has a mottled medium gray patina, the ricasso has a clear Paris armory mark, the blade fits tightly to the brass hilt with no wiggle, the grip has concentric circles and is in great shape, has a mellow brass patina 

DR5189.   here is a unique relic, a soldier modified skeleton key recovered many years ago at Fort Fisher NC, apparently the top of the key broke off and the soldier melted a large lead grip onto it to be able to continue using, it measures 4" x 1.5" and weighs 4 ounces, the Confederates were always under equipped and found ways to make do with what they had, cool relic

CP607.   South Carolina panel plate measuring 63 x 80 mm is in very good condition, the face has strong detail and a pleasing copper patina, the reverse retains the tongue hook and the belt bar with both tongues, really cool thing is that it came loose and the soldier did a field repair to continue using, he accomplished this by placing two small holes into the edge of the plate and inserted the bar through these and then peened the ends, great example of Southern ingenuity 

L488.   U S plate on its original regulation belt, the plate is in very good shape, it has a small push to the rim past the S, it has a pleasing mellow brass patina, the reverse has full, slick lead and arrow hooks, the leather belt remains strong and pliable with uniform crazing, you can see the outline of a maker's or inspector's mark but I can't make it out, there is one small split in the leather that has been reinforced with wire, has the brass keeper

DR5188.   crossed sabers cavalry insignia in good shape, they were dug many years ago in the Shiloh, TN area, 3.25" wide

DR5187.   dug bugle mouth piece recovered many years ago at Fort Fisher, NC, it is in good shape, 2.1" tall

M1147.   Hawksley rifle powder flask in very good condition, measures 8.5" tall x 4" wide, copper body has a few small dings, the cap is marked C & J W HAWSKLEY SHEFFIELD, many Southern boys carried these civilian flasks off to war

A885.   James Type I bolt for a 14-pounder James rifle cannon in very good condition, this fine example of this scarce projectile was recovered in the Shiloh area several years ago, the iron is strong and solid with only slight surface pitting, the birdcage base is damage free, great artillery relic

F1301.   Manhattan Navy Revolver in very good condition, the metal is smooth with a medium brown patina, the 6.5" barrel has a clear MANHATTAN FIRE ARMS CO NEWARK, NJ / PATENTED MARCH 8, 1864 marking, five shot .36 caliber cylinder is marked PATENTED DEC. 27, 1859, the action works well, the walnut grips are in good shape, the right grip has three initials very lightly carved into it, matching serial numbers, these revolvers were a stiff competitor to Colt once Colt's patents had expired, and many were used in the war

DC638.   Confederate script I infantry button in great dug condition, the face has an even brown patina and no pushes or damage, the reverse is in equally fine condition with a straight shank and a good S Isaacs Campbell & Co / London / 71 Jermyn St back mark, it is a little faint but completely visible

DR5186.   very unique brass spur found in a Confederate camp, it is a very unique spur with Confederate characteristics, the end of the neck appears to have been an animal / bird head but the rowel has rusted into it, and I can't tell for sure, measures 5.75" from the strap boss to the rowel, one leg has a large M M lightly carved into it, cool spur

DR5185.    U S rosette recovered many years ago at Fort Clark, it is the larger size measuring 1.5" in diameter, it has strong letters with a dark brown patina that really stand out against a lighter brown background, the reverse has full lead, the attachment bar is MIA, the digger lightly marked it F C for Fort Clark, cool find

DR5184.   eight side umbrella inkwell dug many years ago from a trash pit at Fort Fisher, it is in great dug condition without cracks, chips, or breaks, it has only had the dirt rinsed out and has slight cloudiness, has a slight greenish hue, has a great open pontil mark on the base

F1300.    Savage Navy revolver in good condition, has a seven inch octagonal barrel with a brass bead front sight, the frave has a clear Savage address and patent info, these weapons had a unique action with double triggers inside a heart shaped trigger guard, the larger ring trigger would cock and index the cylinder, the smaller upper trigger would then fire it, this was a complicated action that usually doesn't work properly if at all, but this one is crisp and functions perfectly, the two piece walnut grips are in good shape, this is a rare weapon to find with only 20k ever made

EW1133.   French import short sword in an original scabbard in good condition, the blade is full length, it has some very minimal surface pitting, the tip is slightly blunted, the ricasso  has a good Paris marking, it fits tight to the brass hilt with no wiggle, the hilt is in great shape and has an attractive mellow brass patina, the scabbard is strong and the stitching is intact, the leather has some finish loss, the brass throat and drag are firmly attached, the drag has a small crack, very nice example of the sword that the Ames MOdel 1832 short artillery sword is patterned from

A884.   Confederate 12 pounder cannon ball in very good dug condition, the iron is strong and stable with a dark patina, it has only minimal surface pitting, it has a clear mold seam, it took a wood drive in fuse

CP606.    lion head with snake connector buckle in great dug condition, unfortunately only one of the lion heads were recovered, measures 87mm long overall, the snake is 40mm long, the lion head is 42mm tall, high relief being 15mm thick with a concave reverse, has an even bronze patina, a very rare find that will stand out in any collection

UP1274.   very nice U S waist belt plate that was dug back in the 80's in Murfreesboro, TN, the face still has the dirt on it, looks like it would clean up slickly if desired, has the slighest push on the rim left of the U, the reverse has slick lead with just a few flakes at the edge, "puppy paw" stud hooks, great plate

CP605.   solid cast C S clip corner waist belt plate in very good condition, measures approx. 45 x 72mm, the face has very well formed, large letters, has a raised rim, this style had black enamel paint on the back ground, face is near perfect except for a few tiny dings on the letters, the reverse has long, narrow hooks, the tongue hook was broken off, no doubt why it was lost, this fine buckle was purchased by Steve Mullinax from the digger and sold to a well known collector in the 1980's 

L487.   here's a way cool relic, an early U S waist belt plate with puppy paw hooks that has been crudely trimmed down removing the rim, it is on a well worn leather belt, oral history is that it was worn upside down by a Georgia trooper, I have no way to verify this, but I have no reason to doubt it, and it certainly has that look to it, the face has several dings from hard, extended service, the reverse has full lead except for a small area at the rim, just a super cool looking piece that was likely Confederate used

UP1273.   Federal drummers sling plate / drum stick carriage in very good condition, measures 80 x 92mm, brass clip corner plate with two ringed tubes attached for carrying the drum sticks, has a dark brown patina, the reverse has the wire hook firmly in place, great relic I seldom see anymore

L486.   here's something you virtually never see anymore, a pair of white leather, officer's gauntlets in very good condition, they measure approx. 13" long x 7" wide when laid flat, the leather is strong and supple, it has slightly yellowed from age and use, most collections are missing these

DR5183.   an Enfield socket bayonet that was fashioned into a pot hook, the iron is strong and stable with moderate deteriation, recovered many years ago in the Fort Fisher area

DR5182.   three Federal Model 1859 regulation spurs, each has a strap boss MIA and one has part of the neck broke off, this one had a hole drilled into the leg to continue using, one had the broke leg ground down

M1146.   brass G A R marker in great shape, measures 6.25" x 6.25", the center features raised  G A R over 1861 / 1865 on a stippled background, the reverse has the maker cast in, L.W. Parker of Ciyde, OH

CP604.   Confederate snake buckle in very good condition, large, heavily made buckle to stand up to hard use, the belt loops measure 57mm tall, the snake measures 42mm long, while we call all of these snake buckles, it is actually a two headed duck with great detail, has a mellow brass patina, displays well

L485.   regulation .58 caliber cartridge box in good condition, the leather is strong and supple with slight crazing, has a nice U S plate with a mellow brass patina, the reverse has both belt straps and is maker marked by S.H. YOUNG / & CO / NEWARK / N.J. which is a scarce maker to find, retains the roller buckles and closure finial on the bottom, also has the interior metal inserts, nice box with that used but not abused look

F1299.   small boot or pocket pistol in decent shape, it has a two inch long, .30 caliber barrel, half round / half octagonal, bar hammer, the frame has roll engravings, two piece walnut grips are in good shape, the trigger and trigger guard are MIA, these were widely carried as a personal defense weapon, displays well

DR5181.   nice grouping of 17 bayonet scabbard tips, most are in good dug condition, a few have minor damage, 1 saber bayonet tip, 2 Confederate tips, 1 Enfield, the remainder are Springfields, makes a nice display

DR5180.   here's a cool find, a "Christmas" spur, they got this unusual name due to the patent date of Dec. 24, 1861, it is a Model 1859 and the patent is actually for the decoration on it, these were private purchased by officers, this one appears to have been violently torn away

CP603.   Confederate forked tongue or wishbone buckle in excellent dug condition, it is a large size measuring approx. 95 x 65 mm, it is just as dug with no damage or repairs, the tongue moves freely, it has an even medium brown patina, retains a good body curve, nice buckle

DR5179.   dug regulation Model 1859 smooth side canteen recovered from the well known hospital trash pit that was unearthed during the construction of Titan Stadium in Nashville, TN, this pit was hit about ten feet deep and the relics that came out of it were in very good condition, this canteen is rusted but very solid, one side has a large period hole that was punched inward, the opposite side has several small holes, retains one strap bracket and remnants of the other two, the pewter spout is also present and firmly attached, the canteen was one of the soldier's most important piece of equipment

M1145.   small brass martingale in good used condition, measures approx. 1.75" tall x 1.75" wide, the face is in good condition with several small dings from use, the reverse has full lead backing and the four attachment wires, this smaller size would have been mounted on a larger size leather heart backing, cool relic

M1144.   Mary and baby Jesus in a small brass case, during the Civil War many of the soldiers were very religious and carried icons of their faith for comfort and protection, small with the statue measuring one inch tall, it was easily carried in a pocket, I can easily imagine a soldier nervously holding this before marching into battle 

F1298.   Allen & Thurber pepperbox pistol in very good condition, four-inch, six shot, fluted barrel marked ALLEN & THURBER / WORCHESTER, the bar hammer is marked ALLEN'S PAT. 1845, .31 caliber, the action is strong and functions, rolled engraving on the nipple shield, frame, and back strap, the walnut grips are in great shape, this one is much nicer than most I see

CP602.   heavy, stamped brass, clipped corner Confederate buckle in great dug condition, measures 83mm x 57mm, the face has an even, brown patina, the reverse has a small scrap brass tongue hook, the cross bar is MIA, the really cool thing is the soldier lightly carved his initials H B into it, it also has stars and what most certainly looks like a C S battle flag below the initials, faint but there, way cool plate

DR5178.   here's a cool relic you hardly ever see, a "Texas" star buckle cover or harness decoration, cast, brass, 2" long x 1.2" wide, has a mellow brass patina

DR5177.   brass shoulder scale in very good dug condition, it even retains the key, it was recovered many years ago at Fort Fisher and is out of the outstanding collection of Manny Bouzakis

DC637.   dug Confederate infantry cast I button, it is in very good dug condition but it did experience a blow of some type flaking off a piece of the brass at the rim barely extending into the bottom of the I, the reverse has a good shank, recovered many years ago in the Dalton, GA area

DR5176.   here's a cool find, a Model 1849 Colt Pocket frame and brass grip in very good dug condition, it was recovered many years ago along the Confederate retreat route between Shiloh and Corinth, MS, one of the "ears" where the back strap screwed onto the frame is broke off, otherwise it is in great shape

DR5175.   rare Leech & Rigdon brass sword hanger, these came on high grade L & R sword rigs, very distinctive with its crisscross pattern, 2.75" long, these are seldom found

DR5174.    dug Model 1855 Springfield lock plate with the Maynard tape primer system in good dug condition, the iron is strong and stable

DR5173.   brass heel plate with a heart cut-out in near perfect dug condition, measures approx. 2" tall x 1.6" wide, shows slight wear, tannish-green patina

M1143.   copper match safe with beautiful patriotic motif, measures 2.6" tall x 1.3" wide, the base is a striker plate, still has a strip of period "lucifers" or matches inside, will look great in a soldier's personal items display

F1297.   rare Model 1842 percussion pistol, these were made from 1842 - 1847 by N.P. Ames and Henry Deringer with only approx. 2,000 mfg by Ames and 1,200 by Deringer, it is a .54 caliber smoothbore with a six inch barrel, the metal is in very good shape, shows wear but is smooth and free of pitting, brass furniture, the walnut stock is also in good shape,the rear of the lock plate is marked U S / 1845, the front is marked N.P. AMES / SPRINGFIELD / MASS, the barrel breech is marked U S N / 1845 / R P / P, the swivel ramrod has been removed, the unique box lock action is crisp and functions perfectly, overall a rare weapon that saw service but has been well cared for 

L484.   .58 caliber regulation cartridge box that was a very early pick-up from the Bull Run battlefield, the leather is a little dry and stiff but in very good condition considering, the box plate, tins, and roller buckles are MIA, it is out of the well known collection of Ron Wolford, cool relic

UP1272.   beautiful eagle breast plate in outstanding dug condition, this fine example was recovered many years ago in Franklin, TN, it is just as dug with only the dirt cleaned off, the face has great detail and no damage, it has a deep dark brown patina, the reverse has full lead and remnants of the attachment loops, plates of this quality just aren't found any more

F1296.   highly decorated 9mm pinfire revolver, it has a 3.5" long barrel that is marked on the left rear flat E LEFAUCHEUX / ???BREVETE, coolest, most unusual thing about it is how decorated it is, particularly being covered in gold points, the ejector rod is MIA and the cylinder doesn't index, it will draw attention in any collection

M1137.   CDV of General Stonewall Jackson in very good condition, 4" x 2.5", reverse is signed Stonewall Jackson, no other markings, nice, clear image

CP601.    C S two piece waist belt plate, it is the "ball serifs" style like plate 013 in the expanded edition of Mullinax's book, it is in excellent dug condition, very strong letters and great detail to the wreath, 47 x 85mm, wreath height is 49mm, solid back wreath, this fantastic plate was recovered many years ago at Spotsylvania Court House

CP600.   beautiful Richmond style C S two piece waist belt plate in great condition, this fine buckle was dug many years ago in the Winchester, VA area and is out of the Harry Ridgeway collection, the tongue has strong letters you can read from across the room, and the wreath has great detail, unusual variant that has an oak leaf wreath, fine example that will stand tall in any collection

UP1269.   battle damaged S N Y buckle, the letters re fully intact but the outer edge is MIA, the reverse has the lead fill and all three of the hooks, one of the stud hooks has been slightly lifted and bent over, displays well 

DR5170.   meat cleaver in very good dug condition, measures 11.5" long with a 6.35" x 3" blade, the metal is strong and stable with slight, uniform surface pitting, cool relic

F1295.   Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolver in very good condition, the metal is smooth and free of pitting, it has a medium gray patina, the top flat of the six inch long barrel has a clear 2 line Colt Address, the .31 caliber, five shot cylinder retains approx. 50% of the stagecoach hold-up scene, the trigger guard has most of the silver plating remaining, the walnut grips are in great shape, the action is strong and functions perfectly, matching serial numbers of 25081 denote an 1852 production date, fine Pocket Colt much nicer than most I see

L482.   beautiful Pattern 1839 artillery plate on it's original, regulation, white buff leather belt, the buckle is in fine condition and has a pleasing, mellow brass patina, the belt is strong and pliable, all stitching is intact, has two brass rings holding the frog for an artillery short sword, about as nice an example as you will ever see of this scarce sword rig

DR5167.   Confederate pike dug many years ago in Mobile, AL in very good dug condition, measures approx. 17" long with 12.5" being blade, 1.8" wide at the largest point, the iron is strong and stable, compare this to the weapons of today, we have come  long way

DR5166.   Confederate picket pin in very good condition, the iron is strong and stable, measures 16.5" tall, it has a bulbous top that had a ring that is broke off, a straight shaft with the bottom 3.25" tapered to a point, it was recovered many years ago in a CS cavalry camp in Wartrace, TN 

F1294.   Colt Model 1860 Army revolver in good condition, the metal is smooth with a medium gray patina, the Colt address on top of the barrel is mostly worn way, it took many miles of hard riding to do this, the matching serial numbers of 141995 let us know it was made in 1865, the walnut grips are in very good shape, the action is crisp and functions perfectly, the cylinder scene is worn away, overall this is  well cared for Colt Army that no doubt saw much service