CHICKAMAUGA STATION - US Mod. 1816 Musket - BATTLEFIELD RELIC Acquired some years ago with a grouping of similarly identified G. A. R. hall mementos, this Civil War vintage percussion conversion, .69 caliber, U. S. Model 1816 musket remains in untouched battlefield pick-uprelic condition. With the foreend of the stock cracked along the grain and the hammer gone from a broken tumbler (all clearly occurring in the period) the weathered old battlefield castoff is boldly labeled CHICKAMAUGA STATION. Upon personal inspection the buyer will agree that the old GAR hall lettering is period. There is evidence on the side of the butt stock of an additional larger placard likely removed when the relic was removed from display. The 1816 musket was originally produced in the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Arsenals between 1816-44. Originally produced in the flintlock version and later converted to percussion, the old smooth bore was used by both Union and Confederate troops in the early part of the Civil War with later use of the obsolete weapon limited primarily to Confederate use. Accordingly this example, left on the September 1863 battlefield at Chickamauga, Georgia was most likely Confederate used. Long gone today, this class of relics came from a time before metal detecting made digging popularly productive. A time when battlefield pickup recoveries were credited to early Civil War relic hunters and returning veterans; eyeballers who visibly searched out treasures remaining on top of the ground or only partially covered by time. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.
 

original issue! 12/6/1863 ARMY NAVY JOURNAL A nice complete issue of the Civil War military newspaper the Army Navy Journal the Gazette of the Regular & Volunteer Forces. With sixteen 10 x 14.5 inch pages headed by the classic federal eagle masthead, this disbound December 6,1863 issue is crammed with news and advertisements aimed at the Civil War soldier, regular or volunteer. Under the heading MILITARY SITUATION the reader is advised of the latest war events in such verbiage as the tone of the Rebel press is very bitter and gloomy with reference to the disaster in Tennessee. Not so different than today, the press critically reports that this last campaign is certainly the most fruitless that has yet been undertaken. Numerous article headings such as HISTORY OF THE ARMSTRONG GUNS and under CORRESPONDENCE, A CHAPLAIN’S COMPLAINT – THE FORT SUMTER FLAG followed by such articles as IMPROVEMENT IN CAVALRY ACCOUTREMENTS and THE QUESTION OF EXCHANGE precede all manner of notices of special interest to the military reader include assignments, dismissals, court-martials &c. Such is followed by four pages of advertisements aimed at the soldier / sailor reader. Horstmann Bros. & Co. and TIFFINAY & Co. offer presentation swords – Colt revolvers and all manner of military goods while others hawk Porter Ale – visiting cards – Starr revolvers – Derringer pistols - stationary – cigars – artificial eyes – coffins and of course the inimitable P. T. Barnum shows. The scope of commercial effort , too broad to recount here, is a snapshot of Civil War era culture. All original and complete with no tears, repairs, stains or other problems.
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original ! Civil War era / Officers Grade / NECK - STOCK This rare officer’s grade neck stock stands approximately 1 1/8 of an inch at the back and 1 5/8 of an inch wide at the front. Fashioned from thinly layered and stitched, finely finished, black calf skin, the stock is secured with a 7/8 inch wide leather strap which fits into a two tined, Pat.1855 iron buckle. (see: Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields & Campsites of the Civil War by Phillips) This example remains as supple as when new and is in all original, fine condition. Worn around the neck, the tight fit of the stock made it an unpopular uniform item as one can imagine. Still required for officers and store-keepers in the 1861 Army Regulation), the neck stock was not an item one was eager to preserve when use was no longer required. This and the fact that the leather stock would have been soaked with perspiration in use, meant a limited survivability in attic storage. Accordingly surviving examples are considered a true rarity. (Try our search feature to see 3355.)


 

19th century HAND TOOL SET One would expect to find this nice little turned maple set in the tool chest of a 19th century artificer such as a clock maker, gunsmith, tool maker or any craftsman who specialized in fine detailed work. It would not be out of place in among the personal things of a scrimshaw artist or anyone who enjoyed the fabrication of small finely crafted things from wood or bone. The bulbous grip is fashioned from turned rock maple and measures approximately 5 inches in length to include it’s iron chuck. ( Illustrated here with a U.S. quarter for size comparison.) The butt end of the grip screws off to reveal a tool compartment containing 6 handmade iron bits, each designed by the maker for a specific purpose (see illustration). Included among the bits is a small spanner wrench to secure a selected bit in the chuck. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.


 

19th century SATIRICAL CLAY PIPE Illustrated here with a Civil War era quarter for size comparison is an attractive little satirical clay pipe featuring the figure of an elf doing what all elves must do sooner or later. Never smoked and retaining it’s period wound string mouth piece, this pipe remains in excellent condition with no cracks or chips. French made as is the case with nearly all of these figured pipes, this one retains bold maker marks. A bit unusual in that the figure is partially glazed. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!
 

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON 1840 CAMPAIGN COAT This rare, all original and period, William Henry Harrison presidential campaign tail coat is of dark blue wool material, hand tailored and cut in the fashion of the day. The coat sports the popular double breasted bodice with five Harrison Log Cabin buttons on a side (see: Albert's American Uniform & Historical Buttons # PC152B) and two on the back waist with a single button at the tip of one tail for a total of 13 of the Benedict & Burnham marked full size two piece buttons. Each of the slender sleeves were tailored with three one piece cuff buttons. (One of these is missing with only the shank remaining.) Indicative of the warmer climate of Harrison's southern home state of Virginia, where this coat surfaced, the coat is unlined except for a light weight cotton sleeve lining. With the exception of a small number (5 or 6 or so) of very small moth holes scattered about (two are approximately 1/8" in diameter with the others measuring 1/16" or less) and a 3 3/4" long hand stitched tear repair beginning at the lower waist and running vertically and parallel with the back seem the coat remains in excellent + condition with no mothing staining or problems. Given the rarity and over all fine condition, we believe the new owner will agree these faults are inconsequential and mention them here only in consideration of description accuracy. A rare piece of political Americana that will be of special interest to collectors of Presidential Campaign memorabilia, American costuming, antique clothing, textiles and even militaria as one considers the history of old Tippecanoe and his affiliation as an American General and Indian fighter. As popular mementoes even in the time, these buttons were nearly always striped for gifts and remembrances to family and political supporters with the garment re-fitted for more conventional use. While there is a single known example of an intact Washington inauguration coat in the Smithsonian National Collection we are not aware of another complete example of an American Presidential Campaign coat.

 

early scrimshaw decorated POWDER HORN Measuring approximately 10 ½ inches from butt to tip, this attractive all original and period old powder horn remains in excellent condition with no cracks, weak spots or worm damage. It offers that appealing rich age patina that comes to these early light colored horns only after decades of natural aging with period use and handling. The folk-art scrimshaw is unquestionably period and, like all our offerings guaranteed to satisfy. Worthy of some research, the horn bears the name of a W. B. Mack. Our photographs will speak best for the decoration except to point out that the American flag bears nineteen stars placed so as to leave room for additions in the last row. In this period of expansion, such a design is helpful in dating the work as it generally indicates that the number of stars placed on the flag was significant to the number of states accepted in the Union at the time of the work. The nineteen stars though never an officially adopted number, would have seen use sometime around 1818 / 1820. Buy with confidence! All direct sales are backed by no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased ! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item is being returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.


 

Jefferson Davis CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE PRESIDENCY TICKET FOR PRESIDENT, JEFFERSON DAVIS, of MISSISSIPPI =//= FOR VICE PRESIDENT, ALEXANDER H. STEVENS, of GEORGIA is boldly proclaimed on this 3 X 5" Confederate presidential ticket. Eighteen lesser names appear below those of Davis and Stevens. A typo (electoral ticket appears as ELECTORAL "TICKER") adds to the charm and rarity of this relic of the early Confederacy. A desirable political campaign item as well as a neat Civil War collectable. please note: ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!!. If you are new to Gunsight Antiques and wish additional information or just to learn who we are, please check out our home page. Thanks for visiting our on-line
 

CIVIL WAR era SPIRITS BOTTLE A classic heavy black glass bottle of the Civil War era. All original and period, in the style we so frequently find in period photographs and in all too often damaged condition from excavations of Civil War camp sites. This example stands 9" high and is a nice clean non excavated example with no chips, flakes or cracks. We see them referred to both as ale and as whiskey bottles (you can decide) and so will side step that one by calling it a "spirits" bottle. (see: Philips Excavated Artifacts from Battlefields & Campsites of the Civil War) In a hurry? Try our View All Items feature located at the top of the thumbnail page. It offers crisp, faster loading thumbnail images with titles as a link if you want more detail.
 

original 19th Century Clay Pipe makers SHIPPING STENCIL This eye catching brass stencil dates from the earlier 19th century through the Civil War period. Measuring approximately 8.5 X 5.25 inches the brass sheet offers a design of nicely cut clay pipes with a barely visible stenciled identification on the sheet as the Philadelphia Pipe Company. A wonderful decretive piece of advertising for the tobacco collector, this stencil was likely used on the tobacco pipe and sawdust filled shipping crates. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


 

Civil War issue U. S. Mod. 1858 ‘BULLSEYE’ CANTEEN A fun advantage of our years of accumulation of neat stuff is our ability to continue to offer items of out of the ordinary interest. This Mod. 1858 bullseye canteen is a reflection of the good old days of collecting when then commonly found items were occasionally found in especially nice condition. All original and complete with the exception of a period string lanyard on the stopper and a shorter than usual issue strap (a period alteration common to mounted use) the pewter spout bears the markings of the 1863 / 1864 contracts of J. HALL ROHRMAN PHILAD . (see: U.S. Army & Militia Canteens 1775 – 1910 by Mike O’Donnell) The wool covering is in fine condition with only a bit of color contrasting at the rings and under the strap as evidence of age and originality. The cotton strap is in fine condition and bears a period brown ink identification that we have not deciphered. An unusually nice Philadelphia Depot Civil War contract canteen in the old bullseye pattern. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly.
 

early Diamond Match Co. ‘HOTEL PLUG’ MATCH PACKET Illustrated here with a Civil War era quarter for size comparison is a full, all original packet of stick matches just as it was found in the remnants of it’s tattered old store package. While the store package was long gone before we could save it we were successful in acquiring a hand full of the original packets and are offering them here by the single packet for the collector who would enjoy having one. A nice companion piece for any period personal item display or to set in with antique lighting or tobacco smoking material. Each packet is full of matches, remains in nice condition and is just as it was removed from the store packet. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best.



 

Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart MAGIC LANTERN SLIDE This classic war time view of the well known Confederate military leader will speak best from our illustrations. The all original 3.25 x 4 inch glass lantern slide remains in excellent condition with no chips or cracks while the original paper tape binding offers good evidence of age and period use. A period hand penned brown ink label proclaims ‘J. E. B. Stuart’ as the subject. Expensive in their time, a good quality portrait lantern slide such as this example was taken from a life photograph with sales more commonly limited to the collections of traveling magic lantern projections. The inclusion of such an image in his show would offer his eager Yankee public their best opportunity to view the infamous Confederate leaders they had read so much about. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased!
 

18th Century turned bone BODKIN A neat little sewing tool likely to be found in any Civil War era soldiers housewife traveling sewing kit, ladies sewing basket or sailor’s ditty-box. This all original and period example is approximately 2.75 inches in length and was carved from bone. A nice little all original relic ready for display with any number of early collectables. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting our catalog!!


 

Important ! SPECIAL PRICING NOTE These are lean times for many and for many more simply a good time to be cautious with a dollar.

In recognition of this we are placing additional emphasis on our long practice of offering a quality mix of material in all price ranges additionally we are reviewing our current pricing with an eye toward price reduction. Accordingly if you find something you’d like but would like to try for a lesser price send us an e-mail with a reasonable offer and if we can, we will do our best work with you. As always our goal is to provide visitors our site with a pleasant, entertaining and informative opportunity with an opportunity to buy at a fair price at all levels of the monetary spectrum.

Those of you who know us are aware that Janet and I have been chasing down antiques, collecting, buying, selling and swapping with a vengeance since we were youngsters in high school. (Don’t tell anyone but between us, that’s 45 years times 2 now for lots of years and lots of neat stuff.)

Our keen interest in what we use to call smalls, that is to say utilitarian items used in the daily life of common folk, military and civilian, has left us with a sizeable accumulation of interesting things, all getting more and more difficult to find at any price.

In our effort to place additional priority on buying opportunity reflective of a more conservative time, visitors to our site will be treated to an ever more diverse offering of quality collectables.

As in the past our highest priority will continue be on authenticity, quality and client satisfaction.