Misc. Dug Relics
Absolutely Superb Battlefield Souvenir/Pick-Up & ULTRA RARE US M1863 Artillery 33" Musketoon Rifle
Excellent True Battlefield Relic and Souvenir From Petersburg
Much of the Stock Still Intact, "1863" Lockplate Date Clear, Even Original Ramrod Still Intact!
A truer, nicer, and more unique "battlefield souvenir" relic you really couldn't hope for (well...unless it was a JS/Anchor Enfield with SC markings I had a few months back!) This is an excellent example of the early battlefield pick-ups being gleaned by the locals in the South, who were trying to find any means of making money on the backs of their former foes (or whoever wanted to buy this "junk" littering their fields by the cart load!) Many veterans--especially wealthy Northerners--made many journeys back to the scenes of the youth and terror of the war, and a fledgling industry began in the entire south (and places north like Antietam and Gettysburg) where these relic souvenirs were sold to visitors, or left out for viewing in one of their unique and quite artful displays. In Petersburg, the "Fort Hell Museum & Souvenir Shop" was one of those early, pioneer operations which displayed and sold many unique and incredible artifacts from the surrounding Petersburg area. This specimen, coming from there, is a fantastic example, not only in that it clearly was a piece picked-up within 20 years after the war (seeing the metal and wood condition), but that it is a much rarer US M1863 Artillery Musketoon, measuring 33" long (see Flayderman's Guide to American Antique Firearms). Even the original, full-length threaded ramrod is present! You can clearly read the lockplate date of "1863". As was so common back then--and actually DID help the piece--it was coated with some poly or shellac of some kind, which truly did forever protect the metal and wood from further deterioration. Thanks to that coating, it is 100% stable and solid. With the aging of that coating, however, it has aged with a mellow-yellow patina--but hey--IT SAVED IT FROM DETERIORATING INTO NOTHING! You can paint or "patina" it any color you want nowadays. But I love it just the way it is. Just splendid.
Sale Pending
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Exceptional Early Pick-Up LOADED Remington Army .44 Cal. Revolver
An exceptional condition and completeness example of an early-found/"battlefield pick-up" Remington .44 cal. army revolver. This baby not only has the most perfect look (the right balance of slight ground action to give it the perfect "relic" look), but is complete in every way. You can easily read the serial number 7095 on the inside frame. of Obviously not a "dug-dug" excavated specimen found in the last 40 years, but one picked-up as a souvenir, eye-balled, or plowed-up and put away as one heck of a "killer" relic weapon! Best of all, three chambers are LOADED...AND...there's a round JAMMED IN THE BREECH! Obviously, the officer or trooper with this weapon must have quickly realized that he had at least one (maybe two) rounds stuck in the breech of his barrel, and thus pitched the weapon in the heat of combat. Though no provenance as to what battlefield are this came from, it is the last of the Kegerreis collection--which he lived and collected great quantities of Gettysburg items. But we'll truly never know where it come from. Regardless, it is as fine of a "relic" battlefield found revolver as you'd hope to ever have. No need to upgrade ever. Someone will treasure this specimen for decades to come...
LAYAWAY
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Outstanding Excavated Colt "Navy" Revolver
MATCHING 99035 JANUARY 1861 PRODUCTION HARTFORD COLT SERIAL NUMBERS & ADDRESS!!!
Arguably the Most Desirable & Collectable Colt Navy Serial Number Range EVER
The Consignor Says, "It's Time To Go!" Price Reduced !!!
This little gem has an untold history it's dying to tell--which is what really appeals to any Colt or dug weapon collector. Not only is it a Colt Navy revolver dug from the Vicksburg area decades ago, but is in such fine, early excavated condition that you can still read the matching serial numbers and some of the Hartford Colt address on top of the barrel. But without question, the best appeal of this weapon is that the matching serial numbers are 99035...a JANUARY 1861 production piece! The Hartford-made specimens in the latter 90,000 range, like this one, made in late 1860 and extremely early 1861 carry the greatest desirability among most collectors. With the impending secession and conflict that was clearly at stake with Lincoln's election, many Southern states, arsenals, local Southern retailers, individuals volunteer Companies of soldiers, officers, and anyone wanting a good gun to "kill 20 Yankees" was purchasing weapons from Colt and other manufacturers up North--even after the firing upon Fort Sumter! There were many shipments of these Colt Navy's sent south in the 90,000 range, especially right after the election of Lincoln through Fort Sumter. Thanks to Colt's fine serial number production records that survive today, we know this piece was both made and shipped within January of 1861. Among the Southern shipments were those made to retailers in Mobile, Alabama (if you ever watched Antiques Road Show at the Mobile show, you saw an elderly lady there in Mobile tote one in front of the cameras!) and even 17 Navy's were delivered to the famous Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond! Given that this weapon was made AND shipped just days prior to secession--or mere days after secession began, all one needs to do is pay Colt the $400 for a serial number check to see what the records say as to who, what, where, and when this specific piece was sold. I'd love to hear someday from the future owner that this was sold to Jackson or Vicksburg, Mississippi!
This piece also comes from the nationally award-winning excavated weapon display of my local good friend, Claude Maley. As you can see, it has the quality and historical appeal that is worthy of any fine display. The metal is virtually free of ground action and pitting, with the greatest detail of even the screws and trigger spring crisp and clear. You know it's good if you can read ANY of the maker's mark/address or serial numbers. The hammer is free, so you can move it at will in whatever position you like. Sure--I wish the trigger guard and backstrap were present to make this one "killer" dug Colt Navy...but then it would be exorbitantly priced, too! As it is, you get all the quality, history, and beauty for a very reasonable price...
SOLD
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Fantastic Intact Excavated Colt M1860 Army Revolver w/Bullet Mold & Bullets on Display Plaque
From Historic Chickamauga Battlefield
You'll be hard-pressed to find a Colt Army revolver in this fine of excavated complete condition--and having the bullet mold to boot! Excavated decades ago from the bloody and decisive Confederate victory at Chickamauga, Georgia, this excellent centerpiece-quality dug Colt Army with bullet mold come with a beautiful display plaque--ready to place on your wall in your "war room"! It has the distinction of coming from the nationally award-winning excavated weapon's display of Mr. Claude Maley, my very good local friend. The digger placed two unfired Colt Army bullets with the mold from the battlefield as well, so it really makes the entire display so complete. There is essentially no pitting whatsoever on the revolver, and only the most minor "round action" to be seen at all. It is such smooth, solid, stable iron on the weapon. The brass has a gorgeous patina, and there's even a carved letter/initials on the brass backstrap of "R" or something else with it. You can even read the matching serial numbers on the weapon!!! How's THAT for quality!? Doesn't get much better than this, my friends. They aren't digging any more of them, and if they did, they wouldn't be the slick, phenomenal quality like this one!
Sold
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Very Nice Excavated Remington .44 Cal LOADED Revolver
I'll keep the parade of excellent quality dug guns heading your way! Another fantastic displaying revolver, being a LOADED Remington .44 cal. Army Revolver, dug years ago. It comes from the award-winning, stunning dug weapon display of Claude Maley, and it's quality obviously shows. It has a great, early-dug look and condition to the piece, being completely stable and free of active oxidation. Most of the chambers are still loaded, as you can see in the photo's below! It is missing the loading lever, and the brass trigger guard is a modern replacement that was professionally added and aged for display purposes only--if you weren't familiar with Remingtons, and I didn't tell you, you probably would never have noticed. But we don't pull any "stunts" like that here at Champion Hill Relics. It looks fantastic with the piece, and you can always have it removed if it bothered you. Regardless, it sure displays so well, and with those loaded chambers, will be a treasured addition to a dug weapon collection.
SOLD