1862 dated Civil War issue U. S. Navy Model 1860 Cutlass Best described by our illustrations and a general review of Peterson’s classic reference The American Sword, this U. S. N. marked and 1862 dated
Model 1860 cutlass offers some uncommon features for the model in that it retains its original wire on the leather wrapped grip, (usually removed upon issue), and the blade retains good remnants of period tinning. A rarely encountered feature intended to protect against the salt air. We have seen few examples in our years of observation of such. Like this example, all that we have observed are without the expected Ames Mfg. Co. blade markings. It seems to be generally accepted that the oft times light Ames markings were filled by the tinning process. With good evidence of natural age and period issue, this scares variant of the Mod 1860 Navy Cutlass remains in excellent all original condition. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!

Manufacturer: Ames Mfg. Co. Mass.  

original period homemade CAKE SOAP Acquired some years ago from decades of attic storage; we have just a few cakes of 19th century vintage handcrafted soap and are offering them here individually priced for the collector who would like a single example. Each cake measures approximately 2 ¾ X 2 X 1 1/8 inch thick ( Illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison.) and comes in a jute string bound brown paper wrapper. Solid yet with pleasing color as evidence of age and originality, a cake of this old lard soap will make a wonderful addition to any Civil War era shaving kit or personal grouping. Another example of our personal appreciation for common items of everyday life in the mid1800s, such simple items as a cake of period soap have rarely survived. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!


Manufacturer: Handcrafted antique  

Civil War vintage German TOBACCO PIPE / Writing Instrument motif A popular style among those of the German / American regiments of the Civil War (use our search feature to see our period Gen. George B. McClellan pipe, item 4008.) this example offers a hand painted writing material motif on its delicate porcelain bowel. A reflector oil lamp, sheet of writing paper, writing quill, sander, ink and ink scraper appear over the German inscription, Her Fschreiberist Furs merhen. (We have drawn a blank in our attempts to research this. If anyone can help please send us an e-mail.) All in nice original condition with much of the period finish on its cast pewter neck, the turned horn stem section would require a reed insert for smoking. Rarely surviving in this condition this will be a special item for the Civil War personal item or tobacciana or writing instrument collector and will be of special interest to collector of Civil War era German-Americana. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!
 

1842 Patent CLIPBOARD Fashioned from lacquered sheet iron measuring 11 ½ X 9 ½ inches with a spring activated brass clip this SCHLESINGER’S PATENT marked version of what we now know as a clipboard, remains in pleasing condition. Complete and functional with its gold wash and striped trim on period black lacquer, this piece offers a rich age patina and will lay in nicely with any 1840s / 1860s writing or document grouping. The patent for this piece was granted on 16 July, 1842 to Joseph Schlesinger of Birmingham for improvements in instruments for filing or holding papers and other articles. A neat item to lay on an old desk or to go with a period writing instrument, this piece will do especially well with a period letter or document. 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!


 

Civil War era bone & ebony DOMINO SET An especially attractive full set of ebony mounted bone dominoes. With all the evidence of Civil War era construction and materials, sawed bone, slabed ebony and heavy brass rivet fasteners. With twenty-eight game pieces all matching and complete, this is an especially nice set for the collector who strives for authenticity and period charm. The set offers an attractive smooth patina with good evidence of age and originality and period use. A desirable size, each piece measures approximately 1 inch wide X 1 29/32 long X 7/16 thick all set in their original dovetailed oak box. This eye appealing period game, so much a part of military camp life, will fit well in any personal grouping Union or Confederate. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!


 

mid 1800’s fine RED WOOL VEST This beautiful bright red vest is a combination of hand and machine stitching with a front panel of fine quality wool in bright red with a coarse cotton lining and polished cotton back. With the exception of some seam separation under the arms (easily repaired with needle and thread) and lining wear at the neck and shoulders as evidence of period, use this attractive vest remains in pleasing condition with solid seams and material. The fine wool body is impressive with its bright red color with no fading or moth damage. Its period SCOVILLE SUPERFINE gold wash brass buttons are matching with evidence of period wear. The body measures just over 18 inches across and the shoulders and is approximately 13 inches across the shoulders. Appropriate as civilian attire or militia use this nice period vest will make an attractive companion piece with any militia grouping and will go especially well with band or Zouave material. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
Manufacturer: American antique  

Newspaper Man & Author- William Wirt Sikes / Civil War era Photographs Offered here as a group to keep them together are four original photographs of noted Civil War era newspaper man and author W. Wirt Sikes. Found in the period CDV / tintype album of a well to do Watertown, New York family, (Elizabeth Townsend Porter Beach wife of John C Beach) the two carte de viste images are ink identified on the back with family pencil notations. The tintypes are period pencil identified on the album page. All are in excellent condition with sharp focus and strong contras. A nice grouping for the Civil War era newspaper enthusiast and American literature collector, Watertown born W. Wirt Sikes started his literary career in 1856 as a typesetter and contributor for the Utica Morning Herald. At the outbreak of the Civil War we find Sikes in a prestigious position appointed as State Canal Inspector of Illinois. Two years later Wirt Sikes was back again in newspaper work on the Chicago Evening Journal and by 1865 he had removed to New York where he was a contributor to several of the popular periodicals of the day to include Harpers New Monthly Magazine, the Youth's Companion, Oliver Optic's Magazine, and the New York Sun. He became part owner and editor of the Nyack City & Country and the Rockland County Journal while at the same time writing for other periodicals such as the Toledo Weekly Blade and more. He was appointed U.S. consul at Cardiff, Wales, in June, 1876, and published much on the archaeology and history of that region. By the time of his death in 1883 the prolific William Wirt Sikes was said to have used over twenty pen names. A rare opportunity for the America literary enthusiast to acquire personal unpublished photographs of one of the Civil War eras most prolific American writers.



 

Civil War era - BANISTERS Pat. 1864 BUCKLE Measuring approximately 2 X 2.25 inches, this double buckle is die struck from sheet iron with remnants of original nickel plating and bold Patent markings BANISTERS CENTENNIAL Pat. Mar. 15, 64 . Attendees of the annual Mansfield, Ohio Civil War Show will find the image of this buckle familiar as they remember Dennis Keesee’s award winning display of Civil War drummer boy equipage. If not Keesee’s book on the subject, Too Young To Die offers an illustration of the Banister buckle laid in with the personal effects of 43rd Ohio drummer David Auld. Keesee identifies the buckle as the Ohio Drummer boy’s drum sling buckle. Our own research produced information on more than one buckle patent by Isaac Banister. With the exception of Keesee’s 43rd Ohio buckle we have never encountered another example of the Banister type in any size. A rare example!
Manufacturer: American antique  

Civil War Major General Franklin CDV A nice E. & H. T. Anthony, Matthew Brady backmarked albumen photograph of General William B. Franklin, who was considered one of the most gifted of his military counterparts graduating first in his U. S. Military Academy class at West Point in 1843. Franklin won a brevet for gallantry in the Mexican War at Buena Vista and as an Army engineer would later be placed in charge of the construction of the new Capitol dome in Washington the erection of the Treasury and Post Office buildings. He commanded a brigade at the 1st Battle of Bull Run, and led a division, and subsequently the 6th Corps, with distinction during the Peninsular Campaign. During the Maryland campaign, he commanded the forces which penetrated Crampton's Gap at South Mountain, and his corps at Antietam. At the battle of Fredericksburg, he commanded the ‘Left Grand Division’. He later commanded the 19th Corps in the expedition to Sabine Pass and in the ill fated Red River campaign in which he was wounded. During his leave,
And while still an invalid, he was captured by Confederate raiders while riding on a train of the Baltimore & Philadelphia road, but made his escape the same night. He was given the Brevet rank of Brigadier General, June 30, 1862, for gallant and meritorious service in the battles before Richmond, and Brevet Major General U. S. Army March 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war.


Manufacturer: E. & H. T. Anthony  

3rd Corps Decorated CIVIL WAR CANTEEN Pure as it can be, this lovely old Civil War issue smooth side canteen shows good age and evidence of period use and carrying yet remains in pleasing condition with it’s original cloth cover, cotton strap and stopper. The pewter spout is unmarked as to maker. Of special interest is a red diamond corps badge of the hard fought 3rd Corps Army of the Potomac that decorates one face of the old canteen. Clearly original to the period, we have held this piece back for years as it came out of a local estate and we always thought it sat in well with our 17th Maine things. Time marches on through and it is time the old 3rd Corps relic found a new home. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !


 

Civil War era SEWING KIT Most commonly referred to by Civil War enthusiasts as a housewife, these roll-up traveling sewing kits were a common staple among most soldiers of the era. Used primarily for the carrying of sewing implements, buttons &c, writing material, stamps and other small personal items were frequently carried in these little kits. This example is fashioned from thin patent leather with a silk lining over a half round tin forming a small container. (Illustrated here with a quarter for size comparison.) All remaining in excellent condition, this housewife is the product of our cleanout efforts and is offered just as we acquired it some years ago with its content of period stuff still intact. Set off by a period replacement tie of red cotton docketing tape. (Used in the period to bundle military documents for filing, the practice led to the still familiar term ’Government red tape’.) The little personal kit contains a collection of three small needles and a larger three sided Sharps needle for heavier work, buttons to include two period hard rubber examples (one pat. dated 1851), a period Maine staff button, heavy iron thimble, period thread and, of all things, a period (as found) percussion revolver nipple wrench, screwdriver combination tool . 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! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!


 

Indian Wars era Uniform Button - STICK PIN Not a big deal but a nice little keepsake of the last quarter of the 19th century is this handmade stick pin from an enlisted grade U S Army uniform button. Maker marks on the back are those of Thomas G. Hood, Philadelphia. Handmade by soldering the pin shaft through the eye of the button. Rich age patina to all. ALL ITEMS ARE CURRENT & AVAILABLE UNLESS MARKED SOLD!! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
Manufacturer: Thomas G. Hood, Phila.  

18th early 19th century HAND-WROUGHT SPIKES Those familiar with our site are well aware of our appreciation of now rare and seldom encountered but once very common items of daily life. Reflective of that is this offering of a bundle of eight 1700’s / early 1800’s, blacksmith wrought, black-iron spikes. ( Illustrated here with U. S. quarter for size comparison. ) Set in as companion to period collectables, or utilized as stout hanging pegs for period relics these old black ironcut spikes are worthy of appreciation. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !


Manufacturer: handmade American antique  

SABER BAYONET for Colt Mod. 1855 Revolving Rifle Set aside years ago when acquired in a large bayonet collection, this scarce Prussian made saber bayonet will best be described by our illustrations and a review of Hardin’s The American Bayonet. This example is as described in Hardin’s classic reference (Fig. 81 Type II) with the exception that the blade is devoid of U. S. marking and measures ¼ of an inch shorter than Hardin’s 22 13/16 inch figure. (The tip of the blade shows evidence of period sharpening.) This scarce Civil War vintage saber bayonet was made for Colt’s Model 1855 Revolving Rifle and Artillery Carbine. Fitted with a brass grip and iron cross guard, the blade is maker marked P. D. L. (P. D. Luneschloss) as described in Hardin and offers good evidence of period use yet remains in pleasing condition with good age throughout. A good opportunity for the Civil War bayonet / edged weapons, or Colt collector. 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. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!



Manufacturer: P. D. Luneschloss  

c. 1860s / 1870s Fly Tying Group 17 postal envelopes most addressed to William W. Hand (born in Phila. abt. 1842) and or his father John Keen Hand (b. Virginia 1807 d. Phila. 1893)both of 1423 North 13th St. Phila. in the 1860s and 70s Some are business envelopes and have the names of such period Philadelphia firms as Stokes, Caldwell & Co., Strassenmeyer & Schiller, William Mann Lithographer. Each envelope holds a small bit of bird feathers for the purpose of fly tying. Most envelopes bear a small pencil notation of color or species and one contains a note from a friend that the content will make first rate Ginger Hackles. Not a big deal but a nice little grouping for the vintage fishing gear enthusiast and will lay in nicely with related material of the period. Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !!


Manufacturer: handcrafted antique