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Clearly a "water-find" from the slight encrustation, though location excavated is unknown

Man....I sure as heck WISH that WE DID KNOW WHERE THIS WAS DUG!!! It's got a HISTORY to TELL!!! Coming from my good friend--Iraq and Afghanistan vet several deployments-- for consignment out of his large dug/relic weapons collection. Those two remaining loaded chambers clearly indicate she was lost in a FIGHT! And given the loaded chambers have an empty chamber in between them--the first loaded chamber obviously MISFIRED! Clearly being a water-found specimen, given the slight encrustation, one RARELY finds the US Model 1863 Starr Army .44 caliber revolver EXCAVATED. And this one IS 100% COMPLETE! (The bottom of the handle did NOT have any butt-cap, or anything like that--she's ALL THERE!) Despite the slight encrustation, you can plainly see the weapons distinct features, such as the screw-in round knob on the left-hand upper side of the frame, some distinct screws, the cylinder stop-slots, nipples, etc. As with the Kerr above, I di AS BEST as I could with my skills and my Dremmel Tool to clean her up, and put a nice wax coating for beautification and as a barrier against the elements. The iron is STABLE and no active oxidation.

"HOLY GRAIL" of CS Revolvers! FULLY-LOADED! And just Photographed to be PUBLISHED in Upcoming, Sure to be THE Seminal Civil War European Firearms/Importation Reference Book

Great CS Victory, and as One Historian Noted as "Custer's FIRST Last Stand" (as he & his men were surrounded, almost captured/annihilated)

Indeed, the EXCLUSIVELY CONFEDERATE, British-made and imported Kerr .45 cal. revolver is within the ICONIC PANTHEON of Confederate revolvers. Mr. Caleb Huse--Chief CS Purchasing Agent for the Confederate Government--secured the EXCLUSIVE deal in 1861 with the world-famous London Armoury that ALL Kerr Revolver production was to be produced SOLELY under the contract for the Confederacy. It is estimated and published by the "experts" (Mr. Val Forgett, for one) that approx. 7,000 of these beauties DID make it through the blockade into Southern ports, and EAGERLY awaiting hands of Confederate Cavalrymen and Officers. Most specimens do bear the "JS/Anchor" inspector demarcation of Mr. John Southgate--previous London Armoury chief inspector, but employed by Caleb Huse/the Confederacy to "view" and "proof" through inspection the British weapons purchased and shipped to the South during the War (Southgate took a nice "leave of absence" from his duties with the London Armoury to work for Huse/Confederacy, so as not to show the British Governments favoritism for the South!)

Of course, finding a NON-DUG Confederate Kerr Revolver is "Hail Mary" enough! BUT....to find AN EXCAVATED Kerr revolver...FULLY-LOADED (with caps showing)...and being excavated about 20 years ago from the Battle of Trevilions Station, VA--THE LARGEST CAVALRY BATTLE of the entire War....now THAT is a "HOLY GRAIL" find!! And if this wasn't just enough "killer-cool", "end-of-the-road" fine and unworldly rarity and historic provenance...it was pictured by Jack Melton for Russ Pritchard and the up-coming co-authored--SURE to be THE SEMINAL reference book of Civil War European Firearms/Importation "bible--at the Franklin Show!

This "Holy Grail" comes straight from my friend--and relic dealer from New Jersey-- his personal collection. This was his 2ND FULLY-LOADED excavated Kerr! Given the economy these days, he didn't need two--one would be fine, and thus he called ME, knowing how I LOVE DUG WEAPONS! Though not an "early-find", it was dug several decades ago upon the heart of the Trevilions Station battlefield, and has a GORGEOUS EYE-APPEAL....especially when you see EVERY ROUND in EVERY CHAMBER LOADED!!! The nipples can be seen, and partial to full remnants of the percussion caps can be seen on almost all cones. It is 100% COMPLETE, excepting for the bottom small round cap & loading lever--how/why it is missing, there IS a VERY possible clue as to why (more on THAT in a minute...has to do with the Battle and what happened on the first day's fighting!) The metal is 100% STABLE and SOLID, and has been EXPERTLY cleaned BY EXPERIENCED HANDS....MINE! With my years as a relic hunter, coupled with being a dealer, I've perfected the "art" (and believe me, it IS an "art" based upon years of experience) of utilizing a Dremmel Tool to ever-so-carefully "polish" and clean-up the metal, without risking any nightmare scenario of electrolysis. Then I have applied a light coating of wax as a protective barrier against air ("oxidation"/rust need AIR), and BEAUTIFICATION. You can see EVERY inner component wonderfully.

The 2-day, LARGEST CAVALRY BATTLE of the ENTIRE WAR was fought around the Travilion RR Station (the Virginia Central Railroad) and the Trevilion's house (still standing today), on June 11th and 12th, 1864. As a part of Grant's strategy to keep Lee guessing where his next move was, as a diversion for his crossing of the James River, AND to destroy as much railroad line of the VA Central RR as possible. Grant dispatched Sheridan's Troopers for the job. However, the FAMOUS Cavalrymen of Fitzhugh Lee (one of General R. E. Lee's sons) and Wade Hampton BEAT Sheridan to the station on the 11th. When discovering the enemy's approach, the CS staff asked General Hampton what his plan was. His reply was, as usual, TO THE POINT: "I propose to FIGHT!" And fight, they did! The combat became VERY HEATED, and VERY CLOSE QUARTERS, though most of the fight was at a stand-still, until Custer's Brigade fell upon the flank of Hampton, CAPTURING his entire wagon train! This great success of the dashing, already becoming famous (and obvious MORE "infamous" later) cavalry officer (Custer) was SHORT-LIVED! He found himself literally SURROUNDED in no time, in what historian Eric J. Wittenburg called "Custer's FIRST Last Stand"! Having to abandon most everything he had captured to fight his way out, he and his men's near capture was SO IMMINENT that Custer himself took their flag and hid it within his officer's coat! Note: THIS is quite possibly where a LOADED Confederate Kerr revolver, having the loading lever REMOVED to render it temporarily USELESS to use for reloading, AND the bottom iron cap to the handle which was broken-off, again to crack the handle off to render it useless to the Confederates taking their weapons/captured men and supplies back--makes SENSE TO ME! Custer would lose many of his brave boys in this affair...a foreshadowing of Little Big Horn to come! The 2nd day's fight was another day of attack and counter-attack, achieving nothing for the Federals, denying them any further destruction of the railroad, and with MORE Confederate reinforcements pounding the dirt to get there and "bag" Sheridan's raiders entirely. Thus, this complete Confederate victory of the largest cavalry battle of the entire War ended with the Federals retreating back to Grant.

Yeah...THIS ONE HAS IT ALL going for it!!! A CS Kerr...a DUG specimen...FULLY-LOADED...BEING PUBLISHED...and from the LARGEST CAVALRY BATTLE of the WAR (and "Custer's FIRST last Stand)....

Recovered from the Battle of Hoover's Gap, TN, EXCLUSIVELY From the Famous Wilder's (US) "Lightning" Brigade!!!

100% Complete, EXCELLENT Condition, And a Matching Pair, per the Serial Number Having a "2" underneath it!

Hailing from my North Carolina buddy's personal collection he's consigning, this GORGEOUS, VERY EARLY FOUND/BATTLEFIELD PICK-UP, Colt .36 caliber Navy revolver, being a MATCHED PAIR, since under the serial number, it bears the number "2"--meaning it was in a cased set! This means that being found on a battlefield, this was a PRIVATELY-PURCHASED set...and WHO could afford such a BEAUTIFUL, and EXPENSIVE cased clutch of Colt Navy's??? Gee....let me guess....AN OFFICER!?!?! Sure, perhaps some rather well-to-do US cavalryman could afford them....but they were getting these and other revolvers issued to them. But an OFFICER, on the other hand--of higher wealth, status, importance, and "vanity"--is clearly the LOGICAL CONCLUSION! Clearly NOT a barn-find, as the iron pitting can ONLY be that of a weapon left OUTSIDE and ENTIRELY exposed to the elements...just long enough to pit it enough to prove it was truly "outside" and "picked-up", and not stowed in some attic or barn. The cylinder is still frozen, but the hammer does pull-back and the loading lever does function---but ONLY after this piece underwent electrolysis. A beautiful and professional electrolysis job was performed on this BEAUTY, and a professional coating of protective wax lightly applied to the metal. The matching 127464 serial numbers show it was an EARLY 1862-produced specimen, and again, with the "2" under each of the serial numbers...this was a VERY FANCY and NOT CHEAP cased pair that only a wealthy man of the "officer class" could afford, in my humble opinion!

100% Complete...100% ORIGINAL...100% GORGEOUS! THE TRULY "ICONIC" FIREARM not only of the Civil War, but American Antique firearms...period. They ain't getting any cheaper!

Excellent "Relic/Battlefield Pick-Up" Condition Model 1858 Starr .44 Caliber Army Revolver

Some people LOVE dug/"relic" condition weapons....others just turn up their nose. And hey--I understand both sides of the view, and we live in a free country to love or care less for whatever we choose (at least our country is STILL that way...hoping we can STAY that way!) But as for me...I LOVE ANY "dug" or "relic" condition weapon! It's just....something....something about that "look"--knowing it was REALLY "OUT THERE" and REALLY USED (especially dug ones--I having the pleasure to dig two complete longarms myself!) There's no DOUBT that some soldier had it, held it, USED it. It didn't sit in some warehouse or arsenal collecting dust...it "saw the elephant". Offered here is yet another gorgeous "relic" and/or "Battlefield Pick-Up" condition, and rarer Starr M1858 .44 caliber Army Revolver from the award-winning dug/relic weapon's display of Mr. Claude Maley. It has all that nice aged pitting and patina, with the wooden grips being somewhat fading away softly, like a real battlefield pick-up that was outside maybe 10-15 years after the war, then found and brought inside. So many weapons and relics like that were picked-up by travelling veterans and their families, and collected by the REAL "Godfather's" and pioneers of the first "relic hunters", "relic dealers", and "relic collectors".

If it is good enough to win so many awards for Mr. Maley, you know it's good enough for you!

Rare, rare, rare....not only are the NON-DUG Joslyn .44 caliber, 5-shot "Army" revolvers made by Benjamin F. Joslyn RARE and EXPENSIVE to buy...but a truly DUG specimen....like I said, the only one I've ever seen, or anyone has communicated to either myself or Claude! Coming out of his award-winning display (won many awards with this and other phenomenal dug/relic condition weapons at such shows as the Nashville Show, Memphis Show, Vicksburg Show, etc), this one is a SHOW-STOPPED & JAW-DROPPER! It's 100% complete, including the brass trigger guard, every nipple, trigger...you name it. It's all frozen-up, as it should be for a DUG specimen. Let us know if you know of another, so we can document it!

All-Complete, Including the Ejector Rod and Sling Swivel (but Missing Loading Gate)

Yet another beauty you've seen, if you've been to the Nashville, Memphis, or Bend in the River Vicksburg Shows--where he won awards for all his excellent dug/relic weapons on display. This excavated French (or possibly Belgian) made LaFaucheux Pinfire Revolver comes BEAUTIFUL and COMPLETE--excepting the loading gate. Even ejector rod and sling/lanyard swivel are present! Everything is "frozen", as it should be for a dug specimen. I've only seen a handful of these...not many were imported to the North or South before or during the war (compared to all the dug Colt's and Remington's you see)

Oh yeah....another clearly Confederate M1842 .69 caliber musket from the climactic Battle of Gettysburg! Coming straight from an old Adams County family (specifically from Josephine Friend, as old tag relates), my buddy from Florida picked this one up AT THE GETTYSBURG SHOW this summer!!! [Yes: Adams County is WHERE Gettysburg is!] This old war relic was picked-up off the debris left after the nearly 200,000 men left--with 50,000+ casualties behind. It was then tucked away in a barn for decades upon decades. Clearly, much of the stock remains, with the upper and lower barrel bands, and the weapon is actually still FULLY-FUNCTIONAL! But where the forestock is missing, there is a VERY GOOD REASON: look where the small forestock was, and you shall find TWO DISTINCT, CATASTROPHIC barrel cracks, obviously where the weapon blew when being fired (and thus, the wood forestock and middle barrel band would have cracked at least, if not completely blow-off). Which got me thinking....I bet that Johnny carrying this gun might have had MULTIPLE ROUNDS in the barrel when it went-off--something like that to cause such stress for the barrel to loose it's integrity and fail/crack. I tried to stick an M1842 ramrod down there, my friends...and as you'll see in one of the pictures....IT DOESN'T GO ALL THE WAY DOWN! It stops about 7" short! SOMETHING is DOWN THERE!!! X-Ray, anyone??? Sure wish we knew who "HS" was in the Army of Northern Virginia....but his name, history, and fate shall remain a mystery forever.

But his KILLER relic from that most cataclysmic, epic, bloodiest battle of ALL US MILITARY HISTORY can be yours...

Once again--if you like ULTRA-RARE Civil War firearms....AND EXCAVATED ONES at that....coming from Bloody Shiloh....the you have met the "Holy Grail" of excavated Civil War Pistols! And to top it off, it comes straight-out of the competition award-winning excavated weapons collection of Mr. Claude Maley. This .52 caliber rifled "beast" was only produced between 1854 through 1858, and only a few hundred ever made. Even Flayderman's Guide to American Antique Firearms defines in no uncertain terms that this is a "very scarce American breechloading pistol"....and Flayderman doesn't use the word "scarce" lightly!!! This one is in perfect early-found (probably 1950's) early excavated condition--the kind of quality only a few left alive today can recall the "glory days" of relic hunting when such plenty and quality was commonplace. Almost certainly a Confederate weapon, as pointed-out within Flayderman's Guide that this is NOT a "martial" weapon (bought/purchased and issued to US armed forces), and would make perfect sense being a pre-war weapon that a wealthy Southern civilian who owned this weapon carried it off to war with him...only to be lost upon the blood-soaked catastrophic Battle of Shiloh April 6th and 7th, 1862. Everything is complete and fully-functional, excepting the top head of the hammer, which broke-off. The breech with loading lever spur is still perfectly operational, opening and closing with ease, with the original nipple intact.

My friends....it doesn't get any RARER, HISTORIC, and "AWARD-WINNING" than THIS!!!

Coming from the award-winning dug/relic condition weapons collector Claude Maley, is yet another phenomenal battlefield picked-up Spencer Carbine, which has amazingly crisp and clear features, including the serial number underneath the barrel, being 53883. You can barely see any of the serial number behind the breech, and barely any of the Spencer's maker's markings--it obviously sat outside just long enough for surface pitting, but as you can see in the pictures below, it is in stunning "relic" condition. The 6th Indiana would fight hard and heavily within the Western Theater, and given the provenance where recovered, it matches precisely with where they engaged Wheeler's CS cavalry on the extreme CS right flank along the Brushy Mountain/Kennesaw Line.

Not going to get much better for a pick-up/relic condition Spencer carbine, my friends....

Those of us astute historians can "hear" the history that a piece like this one tells. Not only is it just a spectacularly complete and excellent "relic" condition Spencer carbine of clearly VERY LOW production (all-matching serial numbers 3889), this one was found with two very intriguing facets: it was found underneath an original cabin (being torn down), and despite every single other piece of the weapon being there (the wood stock obviously rotted away), the loading lever is missing. This is where the "CSI" or "History's Mysteries" investigator mind kicks in: if this piece belonged to a mounted infantry regiment--which operated throughout the Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia areas with such renown (especially by their enemy who learned the deadly way what it was like to up against Wilder's "Lightning" Brigade, armed exclusively with the latest, technologically advanced repeating longarms of their day) why/how did it end up with the loading lever being purposely gone....and found underneath a cabin??? The loading tube--necessary to load the 7 rounds of Spencer brass-encased ammunition in order to load and fire--just doesn't "fall out". You have to PURPOSELY turn the latch knob within the buttplate, and pull it out. Being in enemy territory continually, and constantly being utilized to scout far ahead of their army, Wilder's Brigade foraged, raided, and fought throughout the Deep South. If--as they did on many occasions--made their raid or "contact" with their enemy, but a trooper (for whatever reason) had to "ditch" his weapon to prevent it's capture by the Johnnies, what would he do? Take the loading lever out, rendering it totally useless to anyone, and hide it under a cabin for good measure (or know where it is in case you had the chance to come back to get it!)

Other than the purposely discarded loading tube, it is complete from barrel muzzle to buttplate. With professional cleaning removing any scaling, the weapon is in such incredible "relic" condition--you can read both matching serial numbers, almost all of the Spencer's maker's mark and patent mark, and the breech still can open and hammer pull back and forth!!!

If you love "relic" weapons with such a excellent rarity, completeness, quality, and intriguing element of how/where found, then you've got the best of the best!

Yet another "Holy Grail" of excavated weaponry, no known battlefield/camp excavated specimens are known to exist--excepting for these that were tediously excavated from the site of the Griswold factory in Griswold, Georgia (near Macon, GA). Several diggers spent years excavating the old factory site, recovering so many tools, parts, pieces, test-fired specimens, rejects, sub-assemblies, and weapons ready for shipment there at the last in late 1864, after the fall of Atlanta and Sherman's infamous "March to the Sea". But there's so much more to the fact of it being an excavated Confederate Griswold-made Colt .36 caliber Navy copy--there's a tragic and sad story behind the destruction of the factory itself--a most pitiful, yet quintessential Confederate "against all odds" and story of heart-breaking sacrifice and blood surrounding the factory and these weapons recovered from there. On November 21st, 1861, the only real significant "battle" to occur opposing Sherman's hellish "March to the Sea" occurred here at the factory site and the town of Griswoldville--aptly named so because of the brilliant entrepreneur Samual Griswold, originally a Connecticut Yankee himself in the 1820's, who came to this spot 10 miles east of Macon, Georgia. The town was established as he grew his massive factory business of the first iron foundry for making cotton gins, and eventually when the Macon and Savannah Railroad came through, he moved his primary factory next to the railroad. In 1862, he converted his cotton gin factory into a weapons-making facility for the Confederacy, where he produced more than 3500 Griswold Navy-style brass and iron-framed Colt copies for the Confederacy. But on November 21st, 1864, US General Kilpatrick's cavalry slammed into the town, burning everything but Grisold's home, slave cottages, and one worker's residence. Since the Confederate commander--General William J. Hardee--was in charge of trying to parry the thrusts of Sherman's advance, he assumed the massive Augusta, GA Arsenal was Sherman's main target, and did not think Macon would be of any importance to defend against Sherman. Well, Sherman had other plans for destroying the Macon Arsenal, munitions' testing laboratory, and then turn to the sea and eventually take (and give as a "Christmas gift" to Lincoln) the city of Savannah, at the very sea. Well, all that available to make any attempt to thwart this new threat were around 4300 old men (some in their 60's) and very young boys (as young as 10 years old) in the "Georgia Militia", that ran right-smack into Kilpatrick's cavalrymen, and the battle-seasoned veteran Federal infantrymen under Brig. Gen'l Walcutt. Armed with Spencer repeating rifles, and batteries of artillery, the untrained very young and old Georgian's would make their "grand charge" against the storm of iron and hail--within site of the very factory itself. These mere boys and old men would literally make 7 CHARGES--coming as close as within 50 yards at times to the Yankee lines--but all in bloody, murderous vain. Georgian's for years to come would call this battle the "Gettysburg of Georgia". Over 500 Confederate casualties were the terrible result in their defeat and retreat...while the Federals lost only just over 100 (including their commander, General Philips). Union Colonel Charles Wills wrote in hi battle report that, "Old grey-haired men and weakly-looking men and little boys....lay dead or writhing in pain....I pity those boys. I hope I never have to shoot at such men again. They knew nothing at all about fighting, and I think their officers knew as little, or else certainly knew nothing of our being there...". Another Union soldier would write home, describing in one spot "a 14 year old boy, with broken arm and leg. Next to him, cold in death, lay his father, two brothers, and an uncle. It was a harvest of death...."

All the KILLER Confederate history, rarity, and sad story....all wrapped-up into a stunning, irreplaceable piece of history...this is just more than some "ultra-rare" Confederate-made revolver. And a non-dug one? You'll have to pay the price of a new car to get one! Personally, I'd rather save my money have have this one with ALL this history!

And if you thought the non-dug specimens were hard to find, expensive, and highly collectable--HOW ABOUT A BATTLEFIELD DUG SPECIMEN!?!? Straight from the bloody and historic fields of Brandy Station--scene of the largest mounted cavalry engagement of the entire Civil War--this beauty if forever frozen in time from that bloody day....still cocked and ready to "rock"! Though no rounds left in the exposed chambers, it appears that the cylinder it is indexed on may indeed be loaded, though the percussion caps have long since oxided away. The iron is 100% stable, has been professionally cleaned and coated, and is clearly in such fine displaying condition, given that it was dug decades ago. Colt began production of these M1862 "Police" Revolvers in 1862, making this a smaller, lighter, and easier .36 caliber revolver than it's original BIG DADDY, the M1851 .36 cal. Navy Revolver.

Ultra-rare excavated revolver that is "loaded" with history--fired in anger last at Brandy Station, and dropped into the soil for over 100 years...now it can be in your collection...

If you know anything about me, you know I go "ga-ga" over dug weapons!!! This one really caught my eye right off the bat when I saw my buddy Tom Hays of Stones River Trading Company had this being put out on his table at Nashville!!! He and his daddy had purchased this from a long-time relic hunter they knew very well, and he dug it straight from the bloody battlefield of Chickamauga many decades ago. It's absolutely GORGEOUS! I've NEVER seen a dug specimen of the Remington "Rider/Belt" .36 caliber model revolver--which Remington produced starting in 1863 to compete with Colt's M1862 Police revolver. Though the backstrap is missing, EVERYTHING else is present, and in solid, stable, and beautiful condition. Even the trigger is still present, and the hammer is forever frozen at "full cock"--I can just see the poor Yank--on the run for his life after their disastrous defeat at Chickamauga--firing all cylinders, then realizing that he was out of ammo, and had cocked the weapon in vain, and just tossed it aside amongst the debris of defeat left behind the routed Yankee army.

You know something is truly "ultra-rare" when 19th Century firearms experts and guru's like Tim Prince (College Hill Arsenal) and Cliff Sophia (CS Arms) say, "I've only seen two or three of these LONG barrel Adams Dragoon Model revolvers NON-DUG---NEVER SEEN A DUG ONE!!!!" This is indeed the only known to exist specimen at this time. Clearly in excellent early-dug (1950's or 1960's) condition, with the hammer present and still free, as it the cylinder. Sure wish the trigger guard and handle frame or loading lever were present, but for a weapon discarded on the battlefield, I sure can't ask for more, given the rarity! Just happy to actually SEE and HAVE one at all! Clearly a "Johnny Gun," multiple Virginia Cavalry regiments were equipped with Adams', as well as other companies of cavalry and individual CS Officer's throughout the South.

The Yankee's Would Assault this Fort/Battery in a Bloody Fight on May 15th, 1864

Only the finest of the fine....rarest of the rare...incredibly historic Confederate, and obviously VERY EARLY found excavated Colt LONDON Navy revolver, intact and STILL WITH TWO LOADED AND CAPPED CYLINDERS & NIPPLES, off the very bloodiest part of the Resaca battlefield! Found in March of 1950 with simple old "mine sweepers" leftover from WWII, with permission from "old man" Chitwood (of the Chitwood family which still owns and lives upon this northern section of the battlefield--over 600 acres to be precise, and the youngest Chitwood son lives in his house RIGHT BEHIND the GA Cherokee Battery position! NO RELIC HUNTING ALLOWED these days, but this was back in the day when it was a mere "curiosity" to let guys dig come crusty old relics out of the trenches!) The Battle of Resaca was the 2nd attempt by Sherman at trying to outflank General Joseph E. Johnston's Army of Tennessee (the first being the Dalton/Rocky Face line), which the battle would rage from May 14th through the 16th. It was almost exactly one year to the day, one year later in 1864, that Van Der Corput's Georgia "Cherokee" Battery would once again face the onslought of Yankee's--and lose some of their guns yet again! It was May 16th, 1863 at Champion's Hill that they lost all four of their 3" CS Parrott Rifles. A year later on May 15th, their little fort in a bend in the line stood-out enough to make a "tantalizing" target for a Federal attack on the 15th. The valley and ravines before the battery would be littered with dead and dying Yankee's, riddled with shot, shell, canister, and accompanying rifle minnie's supporting the battery. But the Georgia gunners would be forced to abandon the guns within the fort, seeking refuge with supporting Confederate infantry, behind the back wall of the fort--not giving another inch. But neither did the hard-fighting Federals who clung to the front-face of the fort--not willing to retreat. As night fell, the ever-industrious Yankee's--who paid such a high price to get this far without coming back with the cannon--would dig an opening within the fort to retrieve the guns and pull them back to their lines in the darkness!

Just take a good look at the pictures below, and you will see the stunning condition that obviously confirms it's March 1950 excavation date. You can vividly see the multitude of London proofs not only on the cylinder, but the frame as well. You can read the "Colts Patent" on the side of the frame, as well as on the cylinder with "2057" serial number. The iron is completely stable, of course, and outside of a screw in the backstrap missing, everything else appears to be 100% complete and intact from that May 15, 1864 day when it was dropped in the heat of battle defending the Cherokee Georgia battery.

So rare. So beautiful. So historic. Only the best from Champion Hill Relics to you...

Found w/Cache of Several Weapons, Cannonballs, Relics, Within Creek Upon Chancellorsville Battlefield

When something is so good like this, it makes my job really easy. Don't have to say much (unlike all the "wind-bagging" I am capable of!). The pictures do all the work for me. This stunning dug Savage .36 caliber "Navy" revolver was recovered decades ago within a creek on the Federal right flank (where "Stonewall" Jackson blew-through them on his famous flank attack), along with a multitude of other relics (unfired 12-pound Bormann shell STILL attached with tin straps to INTACT wooded sabot, a couple other pistols, piles of Minnie' balls, etc, etc). Obviously ditched in the water in a BIG HURRY from the fleeing Yankees. And thankfully so--for the water helped to preserve this magnificent and very rare revolver in the state which it is in today--nearly perfect for an excavated specimen. You can even still read most of the Savage maker's marking/patent info on the top of the frame. Almost all of the wood on the left-hand grip is intact (must have been the side the revolver was laying in the mud--the other side is missing its wooden grip, so much have been exposed to water action). Oh yeah--and loaded, of course. Three visible loaded chambers, and it appears by bore light that the the cylinder down the bore is also loaded.

Enjoy the pics....and all the rarity, history, and stunning beauty behind this one...

I've seen maybe 2--maybe 3 at most--excavated Whitney "Navy" .36 caliber revolvers, but have NEVER seen a dug .31 caliber Whitney "pocket" revolver. This gorgeous, solidly intact specimen is a wonderful early find, and appears to be a 1st model, 4th type-ish. Regardless, it is a PRE-WAR specimen, and based on location found, most likely Confederate (makes sense, being a pre-war weapon). These .31 caliber Whitney Pockets were made to compete against the famous Colt Pocket .31 caliber revolver, starting production in 1858, and ending production by 1863. Everything is in stable, solid, and "early-dug" looking condition and patina. All the iron is just gently showing the ground action of 100 years under the soil, and the brass trigger guard has a pleasing "dug" patina. being entirely untouched, it is fantastic. It's also absolutely complete--from the front sight bead, to every nipple, the trigger and hammer, and spring, but the loading lever is missing (possibly why it was discarded, or purposely taken off to render useless to their enemy).

Nicknamed the "11th New York Cavalry Model" by Collectors (See Flayderman's)

This piece represents the perfect convergence of rarity, history, quality, and prolific cleaning. My friend Police Sgt.Tyree is letting this beauty go from his collection, when he acquired it some 20 years ago. Working as a police officer in north-central Florida at the time, he was approached by construction workers with this incredible piece of history. They knew he liked "old Civil War stuff" and unearthed it while doing some digging/excavation, and wanted to sell it to him--but assured him that they found it some 50 yards from the "border".....to which my buddy asked, "Border to what???" Well, the worker got a little nervous, and kept saying they "weren't in the park." Can't blame the worker for NOT wanting to get a police officer enticed into thinking there was some digging on the Olustee State Battlefield Park! The 100% sandy and often very swampy lands in the Olustee area obviously kept the weapon in incredible dug condition, as often sand and water finds do (where else can you find weapons with intact stocks, or metal so good you can read the stampings except in sand or water areas). He chemically cleaned/soaked this Sharps & Hankins for months, until all scaling and surface oxidation was removed. And THIS IS THE FINAL PRODUCT! I know it doesn't look dug--I know. That's what a relic found long ago, in good soil conditions, and excellent cleaning and preservation can do. (Or you can call the Sarge and call him a liar! I dare ya!)

The Sharps & Hankins 19" "Short Cavalry Model" was a smallest produced (around 1000) production model of the Model 1862 Sharps & Hankins Carbine, all with saddle rings, and blued barrels. It is known that a couple of companies of the 11th New York Volunteer Cavalry were issued these pieces, and thus old-time collectors often simply refer to them as the "11th NY Cav Model". This specimen is in such spectacular condition, such that you see the matching serial numbers 6702, and that the hammer still moves. If soaked and pried with enough oil, the barrel will STILL SLIDE OPEN at the breach for you! And it has a great barrel despite the years! Comes complete with gorgeous custom-made display board ready to hang on the wall. It even has some really cool modifications (Johnny Reb???) where the rear of the loading lever had cracked, they drilled a hole in the back of the curve of the trigger guard and inserted what could be a nail--to serve as a "catch" for it, soldered a spring into the bottom of the tang to act as a catch for what remained of the loading lever. And you can see where they tried to braze a crack with brass on the bottom of the frame for the barrel glide. Really interesting how they tried to keep this one "in action". In the swampy hinterland wilderness of Florida, both Johnny Reb and Billy Yank had to keep whatever weapon they had in service--or they were out of luck!

Ever seen another one? Straight from the backhoe digger outside of Olustee, Florida...and now to your "war room"....

Extraordinary Dug CS Artillery Shot Sword

Intact and Complete, 100% Stable, Early-Found Specimen from Petersburg

And it gets even better....it is PROJECTILE STRUCK!!! I can't make this stuff up if I tried. Hit squarely upon one side of the scaled handle, and perfectly round impact, and a case-shot ball fits it PERFECTLY (I show a picture of an impacted case shot to prove my point). 100% intact CS-made artillery short sword. NO RIVETS in the scaled handle (all US specimens made with 3 rivets--only CS ones made without), and NO EAGLE MOTIF on the pommel (all US ones do--CS ones do NOT), with the classic CS recessed quillon ends that were machined ever-so-slightly and crudely--NO US blades EVER made like that. It is believed by some to be a product of the Burger and Brothers Foundry in Richmond, VA. They are most noted for their CS short artillery swords with the "CS" at each end. Dug out of a Confederate artillery redoubt at Petersburg, it's the "best of the best"! If it were non-dug, it would be a $3000 sword! Personally, I like it better DUG. No question this one "saw the elephant," and a little "too close" for the artilleryman who had it sheathed at his side in its scabbard!

"End-of-the-road FINE" as Larry Hicklen would often say.

Excavated .45 Cal. CS Imported Large-Framed/Dragoon Sized British Adams Revolver

Better take a good look at this one....because you won't see another one! Currently the only known excavated specimen known in existence, this spectacular early-dug (1950's-era) large-framed/Dragoon-sized .45 caliber CS imported Adams British revolver is the real deal. In phenomenal early-dug condition in the very gentle soil of the Red River region where found, it is identical in excellent condition as was the dug CS Colt Navy Revolver dug from within the same area of the Prairie D'Ane/Elkin's Ferry corridor, where the mounted Confederate forces were on almost a continual running fight with the Yankee's along the river region. They'd set-up ambushes and roadblocks all along the way, and the evidence of their fighting was left in the debris such as this. Being entirely stable and intact, with the most beautiful unrusted patina and no flaking, cracking, or active oxidation whatsoever, it is "end-of-the-road fine" as Larry Hicklen would say. And yeah....it DOES WHISTLE DIXIE!!!

There is a very real, very tangible appeal to "relic" weapons....for the simple reason you KNOW they were truly used in combat. No guessing or whistling "Dixie" or "Battle Hymn of the Republic" when you have weapons that were either dug or picked-up by locals off the battlefields themselves. And these two right here would make any collector grin from ear-to-ear. The stunning battlefield pick-up Confederate D-Guard Bowie knife measures exactly 17" long, and is completely solid and stable. No junky 1960's or 1970's mine-sweeper plucked from the mud job here--oh no. This was one of the classic field-found debris finds that was not left out in the elements too long. With is from the Fort Hell Museum & Relic Shop in Petersburg is an incredibly rare Smith Carbine that is a true "dug" specimen in every sense of the word. Full-length barrel, still with trigger and saddle ring bar, it's not the prettiest dug Smith carbine--but have you EVER seen another one??? Coming from the famous local legendary establishment, the old Fort Hell Museum and Relic Shop was a stable tourist stop in Petersburg for decades--and a magnet for all the local boys and neighbors to haul-in all this "junk" that littered their grounds, furrowed and tilled fields, and Granny's flower beds. Given the enormity and length of the Petersburg siege, it's no wonder everyone had relics piled in garages, attics, and barns across the landscape.

From once blood-stained, death-wielding hands of long ago, these pieces of that past shall outlive us to tell their story to generations to come...

C.S. Pettingill .44 Caliber "Army" Revolver & MASSIVE Dug D-Guard Bowie Knife

I wish I could have been at the Richmond Show, as my "undercover agent" buying on my behalf snagged this before the "sharks" smelled the chum in the water and stole it from under me!!! Ah, what are true, good friends for. My true friend could barely walk to hide this Pettingill away before one of the sharks spotted it, and fought to get it from his hands! But alas....Champion Hill Johnny and his "agent" were too quick on the draw, and this one came home to Mississippi! Offered here are two phenomenally rare, exceptionally "mint" truly dug condition weapons that would be the end-all, centerpiece of any collection. First is the absolutely gorgeous dug C. S. Pettingill .44 caliber "Army" revolver--one of only TWO SPECIMENS KNOWN TO EXIST excavated. And we talk about the late 1800's/early 19th century "excavated", we're talking about pieces that were picked up by locals eye- balling them on the battlefield, or children playing in creeks or fields finding them--old ladies digging in their garden, or farmers who unearth them behind the plow, and pitch them off to the side as mere junk, since the landscape was quite literally littered with the debris of war. These are the early-found pieces--not the 1960's and 1970's junk found by old army mine detectors, and laid in the decaying earth for 100+ years. The locals would go by the local relic shop or museum to pawn them off for a nickel or so--just enough to get a cold drink or chewing gum. A true relic of Petersburg, and yet another example of the thriving relic trade and mass appeal of the old famous "Fort Hell Museum & Relic Shop" there in Petersburg. Now long gone--buried under strip malls that now lay vacant and decaying (way to go, Petersburg!) The other gem with the grouping is a "KILLER" and MASSIVE 20" long D-Guard Bowie knife, whose blade width alone is just over 1.5" wide!!!! WHAT A MONSTER! Bet it came in handy somewhere around the Crater, and/or many other battlefields where cold steel and bare knuckles were needed in the life and death grapple with Johnnies hated blue foe.

Not much more to talk about with these...they do all the talking for themselves. Irreplaceable history, and "end-of-the-road FINE" as Godfather Larry Hicklen would say.

It's got everything going for....super-rare made breechloading carbine....in excellent, complete, and solid dug condition.....and recovered from within a NC Cavalry winter camp along the Weldon Railroad during the Petersburg Siege, so it's a "Johnny gun" 100%. Wesson only produced about 4400 of these "Military Model" rimfire .44 caliber breachloading, double-trigger rifled carbines, and began producing them before the war broke-out. This specimen offered here is complete, stable, and in exception truly "dug" condition. Even the double-triggers are solidly present, as is the rear sight aperture. It is the ONLY KNOWN SPECIMEN of any Wesson carbine known to exist! Coming from my dear and deceased friend Joe Ginn of Cherryville, North Carolina, this beauty was excavated within a long-term winter camp of a brigade of NC cavalry along the Weldon Railroad for the Petersburg Siege.

Excavated from the "Priest's Cap" Confederate Fortification, Siege of Port Hudson

My Confederate "crusty iron" addiction is only assuaged with the really good stuff these days. If it isn't the rarest dug Confederate projectile or weapon, it just doesn't turn me on! And the only place this could have been dug that would have meant more to me is if it had been found within the Vicksburg Campaign. Close enough, though--the even longer, equally strategic and simultaneous besiegement of Port Hudson, Louisiana's last Confederate stronghold along the mighty Mississippi River was only rivaled by it's larger sister fortification north at Vicksburg. If either one fell, the other was surely doomed. Vicksburg guarded the northern-most reach of CS control left upon the Mississippi River, and Port Hudson guarded the southernmost. With only around 6,000 defenders, CS General Gardner held-off US General Banks entire army for over 50 days of siege. Repeatedly fending-off the continued assaults and bombardment, the beleaguered defenders held-on even longer than their brothers in the "ditches" at Vicksburg. Once news reached Gardner of Vicksburg capitulation, he immediately knew his position was impossible to now hold off against two entire massive Federal armies, and had to surrender. Many earthen forts along the Confederate lines at Port Hudson received terrible names--befitting the horrors that both sides faced during the many attempts storm the Confederate defenses. "Fort Desperate," "Devil's Elbow," "Slaughter's Field," and "Priest's Cap" are just a few to mention. Forget the fact that this is the "Holy Grail" of dug Colt revolvers (when, if ever, do you see a dug Colt DRAGOON?!)...this piece was excavated with the land owner's permission upon the "Priest's Cap"...in fact, it CAME from the land owner! Through the hail of lead and iron, with Ketchum hand grenades being hurled, and Confederates with their land-mines/torpedoes set in front, the Priest's Cap was but one of the real "hell holes" that many men on both sides would have seared into their memory for the rest of their days (assuming they survived the attacks and siege at all). Left behind in the debris of destruction and defeat was this beautiful Colt 3rd Model Dragoon Revolver, still with visible serial number 17666, showing it to be a pre-war 1858 production specimen.

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

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Spectacular Dug Colt M1849 "Pocket" .31 Cal Revolver

Found Just a Few Years Ago in Athens, Alabama in a Federal Trash Pit

You know me and dug weapons--I get all warm and fuzzy when I can have spectacular quality specimens like this. This piece was purchased from the digger just a few years ago from the long-term encampment of a Federal camp guarding the all-important railroad heading north out of Athens, Alabama, just a few years ago. Forrest had actually attacked Athens and the fortifications north of town in 1864, though this specimen was not dug on the battlefield, but in a trash pit. I was stunned by the completeness and beauty of such a recent find! Now, it is back to the market so someone else can enjoy among the finest dug Colt Pocket Revolver specimen's ever found. It's 100% complete--not missing not a single screw or nipple. Even the spring in the handle is showing. It even has a good portion of the original walnut grips! Fantastic. Matching serials seen on the brass frame, of course. There's even ample original silvering on the sides of the frame (where the grips had once protected it). No need to upgrade from this excavated Colt Pocket. Doubt you'll see one better anytime soon.

SOLD

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Unmatched & Unprecedented Quality Excavated Colt Revolving Carbine

Stunning Condition, Completeness, & Rarity -- Dug From Hoover's Gap, Tennessee

ID'ed Exclusively to the Famous Wilder's "Lightning Brigade" (US) Armed With These

I have had the honor to behold several of the finest excavated weapons ever found--ever. Without hesitation, this Colt Revolving Carbine and the "Dog River" sword last week are among the pinnacle pieces of all dug weapons that exist anywhere. But this specimen has a provenance behind it that relates an incredible tale of the men, and the battle, in which this piece was fired in desperation against overwhelming odds. In fact, it is a piece of history that only the most astute historians of the War know and understand. Brig. Gen'l Wilder's Brigade, being newly designated as a "mounted infantry" brigade to help bolster the pitifully weak Union mounted service arm in Rosecrans army in Tennessee during 1863, would be armed with great effort (and even personal monies) with the latest and best repeating rifles and carbines available in 1863. Though famously known for their Spencer Rifles they acquired, there weren't enough to be procured, so they also bought Spencer carbines, Enfield Rifles, and some Colt Revolving Carbines. The Confederates in the Army of Tennessee had not yet encountered a full-scale "fight" against Federal forces armed with new and deadly repeating longarms...but that would change at the Battle of Hoover's Gap in June of 1863. As Bragg's army rested behind the line of steep hills north of the Tullahoma valley, Rosecrans probed up and down the range of "gaps" in the hills--looking for any opportunity to find a gap open to exploit a Confederate flank. Given the job to probe Hoover's Gap, Wilder's Brigade would brush aside the Confederate pickets and small patrols at the mouth of Hoover's Gap, and emerge on the southside of the gap, nearing a crossroads, a small country store, a cemetery, and creek. Confederate forces camped only a scant few miles from the Gap were hurriedly double-quicked into battlelines, and eventually more than two Confederate brigades of infantry, several batteries, and spare cavalry units assailed Wilder's defensive position at the south end of Hoover's Gap. What ensued was indeed a watershed battle--the Confederates outnumbered Wilder at least 2-to-1...and they would pay dearly to learn the lesson of new weapon technology! Despite the sheer weight of Confederate numbers and fury, the repeating rifles and carbines of Wilder's men would punish the attacking Confederates with horrible casualties. It became quite apparent that the Southern assaults were futile, and eventually, Bragg had to concede that Rosecrans would have him "in the bag" now, and thus began his slow retreat toward Chattanooga. The Confederates who fought at this small, yet horrific battle would quickly bemoan the new Yankee rifles that their foe could "load on Sunday and shoot all week..."

This piece is an incredible piece of history in equally dazzling condition. Only lightly pitted with the most minor ground action. The long-range leaf of the sight still folds up and down with ease, and the hammer moves freely. Even the sling-ring is still present and free-moving. As well, the loading lever appendage is movable. The detail of this weapon's every feature is so gorgeously crisp for a dug weapon, and could not possibly be in any better "dug" condition. Only 4435 of the Colt Revolving Carbines were ever produced between the years 1856 and 1864. As rare or rarer than most Confederate-made weapons!

Another show-stopper, jaw-dropper. "End-of-the road fine," as Larry Hicklen would say. I have only seen one other dug Colt revolving longarm--and was in such poor dug condition with most of the barrel missing that you couldn't really tell the details of the weapon (whether a rifle or carbine, or what). I've never even heard of another one in existence. Coming from the award-winning showcase dug weapons collection of Claude Maley, it can now be the centerpiece of your display...

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Museum-Quality Excavated CS Sword & Scabbard

"Dog River" Cavalry Saber with Brass-Mounted Scabbard Rings, Vividly Clear Crude CS Lap-Seam

This is bar-none the finest Confederate dug sword and scabbard I have ever personally beheld. It is hard to describe this seemingly unprecedented and unmatched quality for a truly dug specimen. I've seen a couple dug Confederate swords alone (without scabbard), and another sword and scabbard dug together, but even they weren't the quality of this. Indeed, you can still take the sword in and out of the scabbard easily. Obviously a very early dug specimen (and in very "friendly" ground without a lot of mineralization!). The brass mounted scabbard rings as well as the brass 3-branch guard have the most beautiful mellowed dug plum/green patina, classic to early-dug brass and copper items. The pommel, guard, and blade are still quite well attached, and as you can see, only the most minute ground action anywhere. It comes from the award-winning dug weapons and belt buckle display of my local friend, Claude Maley. He has set-up his massive display for years at many shows, and as you probably already know, has won so many awards thanks to the quality of showcase items like this. Now, it can be in your collection. Bet you won't see one like this for sale anytime soon...

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You all know by now my affinity for excavated weapons if you've been watching my site long enough. Since the day I dug a complete Type I Merrill Carbine several years ago (followed by P56 2-band Enfield, and a cache of destroyed muskets on a battlefield), I have ever been in awe of dug weapons. When you've got a gun dug from a battlefield, you KNOW it was used in combat. No need to wonder if it truly saw service in the war slinging hot lead at it's foe (or sat in some arsenal gathering dust, or someone's sock drawer in New England). Offered here is a superb example of a dug Remington "Army" .44 cal. revolver that was found upon the Yellow Tavern, Virginia battlefield many decades ago. It is clearly in early-found, wonderful "dug" condition, as the detail of the piece shows. You can even read some of the Remington address/maker's mark upon the top of the barrel--now THAT is GREAT dug condition! You quickly notice it is on half-cock (or "prime" position, where you'd put the percussion nipples on). Every nipple is clearly seen, as is about every single screw in the frame. Even the detail of the front loader latch is vividly intact, as well as the trigger itself. The small brass trigger guard is missing, though the internal mechanisms are crisply intact and seen. A .44 bullet is within one of the chambers, but was placed in there by the digger--not original to the chamber. It is the finest dug Remington revolver I've ever had, and only a "battlefield pick-up" could be in better condition. As relayed by the old time digger, he found in on the Yellow Tavern battlefield, and if you know your Civil War history, you know that JEB Stuart was mortally wounded at the May 11, 1864 battle. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better specimen anytime, anywhere. Dug weapons in this condition and completeness have become extremely desirable, and very hard to find--for the same reasons that I love them. Larry Hicklen has dug around 70 Confederate plates--but only two weapons. And you thought digging CS plates was hard as a relic hunter! My two dug guns are among the rarest and prized items I have ever found.

Famous Harper's Weekly Wartime Sketch of the Battle of Yellow Tavern -- Fateful End to the "Last Cavalier"