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"I would have lost all hope, had I not believed I would yet see goodness in the land of the living..." [King David]

Indeed, this--amongst so many in the Bible--has kept me going, even through the "darkest hours". And yes...I and my entire family are enjoying GOODNESS in the LAND OF THE LIVING this very day! I can truly say that this year has been such a turn-around, praise God, and couldn't end ANY better, for we had the BEST...CHRISTMAS...EVER. I can say this without exaggeration. A nice out-of-town trip...lots of snow-tubing, train rides, putt-putt, excellent dining, swimming twice a day in the hotel's MASSIVE heated pool and hot tub, Christmas festivals and light shows....EVERYONE had "the time of our lives". Considering that Davis and our family have had to spend 3 of the last 5 Christmases (since he was diagnosed August 2006) in the hospital, Davis LOVED the one Christmas we went to Atlanta/Stone Mountain...and wanted it yet again. What father would say no? Even my wife was hesitant, but upon arrival, and through our great joys, she relented in the wisdom of our trip. "You, who are evil, even know how to give good gifts to your children....HOW MUCH MORE shall your HEAVENLY FATHER give unto you..." Jesus said. Amen.

I have looked back with great sadness and darkness at pictures over the past 5 years of our son's struggle for sheer survival, battling his cancer. But I say, "GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!" as Jesus did, for it is Satan's way of trying to bring doubt, fear, anger, and bitterness. Those days are gone. Over. Never to return. "By His stripes, we were healed," and so has our son been healed, "for the glorification of the Heavenly Father."

We THANK YOU for ALL your prayers, which HAVE BEEN HEARD...and ANSWERED! Thank you for your years of selfless and infinite kindness and compassion. Thank you for your LOYAL business, which has allowed us the means to "make a living".

May our Heavenly Father BLESS YOU ALWAYS! Especially for a HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS, TRULY BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

Flayderman's FINE Condition, Pre-War, All-Original, All-Matching, Complete & Fully-Functional Hartford Colt M1851 Navy Revolver

Excellent Condition, Classic Confederate-Made Leather Holster (Made for Colt Navy style/framed Revolver)

Incredible Local-Made Confederate/local-made Side Knife & Scabbard (File-Blade Conversion & with Pewter or Lead Framing for the Wooden Handle)

Beautiful Pre-War (small-tongued), German-Silvered Applied Wreath Eagle Belt Plate on Original Belt

All of this entire ensemble were truly 100% "walk-ins" from local Murfreesboro-area descendents of Confederate soldiers, which is on consignment from my buddy LIVING in that area WHERE ACQUIRED, and BOY do they make for a KILLER CONFEDERATE RIG altogether! It's so fine, and so classically "Johnny Reb", that you can't help but stare and drool! Which is why I bought them! Knowing that they are right out of the area where so much Confederate history occurred, so much blood was literally spilt by the gallons, where many of Forrest's cavalrymen came out of, and so many other noble, stalwart, and ardent Southern defenders came from....this ensemble is screaming "history"--with a full "Tennessee Southern accent"!

Oh...where to start! How about the superb, all-original, complete, fully-functional, all-matching pre-war serial numbered (including the wedge), Flayderman's/NRA FINE condition Hartford Colt? Stunning beauty, bearing all-matching serial number 87034 (1858 production). This one even has CRISP cylinder scene ("Naval Battle") on 50%+ of the cylinder!!! All of the markings are really CRISP AND CLEAR, from the Hartford address atop the barrel, to the sub-inspector markings, the "Colts Patent" on the side of the frame--you name it. Action is splendid! Great bore/rifling--though obviously was "fired in anger" in defense of her beloved Southland, but NO burnout, batted cones, cracks, broken or repaired, nor any replaced pieces. Over 30% original case-coloring remains (the Flayderman's threshold for "FINE" condition), giving a beautiful attic/just-toned-down blued patina to the entire piece. Gorgeous original, intact grips with excellent remaining original finish to them. The archetypical Confederate-made holster is almost equally stunning in appearance (given the hard, arduous service it rendered), being 100% complete and intact, from the simple brass finial, the small single belt-loop with simple one-rivet affixing tight and intact, to the unclosed/unsowed open bottom of the holster, with INTACT stitching everywhere, and the classic "Confederate-cut" thin leather design and form (rather "squared" and simplistic in form and design--conserve time, energy, and resources that the South needed to spread-out and use as much--but as sparingly as possible.)

On to the remarkable, local-made Confederate side-knife! On boy....this one puts a grin on my face from ear-to-ear! Classic, crude, simplistic construction, appears to be a file-blade that was converted for the blade of the knife (cross-hatching visible on both sides), made with either pewter or lead as the framework for the handle! And, of course, with the 100% tight, stitching-intact simple scabbard. Unsharpened blade, no nicks, NO damage, NO repairs, and NO "monkey-business"---100% untouched and "righteous" and "tight" piece! The overall total length is 11.5" long, and blade is 6.5" long.

The pre-war, small-tongued, German silver-applied wreath with Eagle plate is absolutely gorgeous. Just perfect. With the mold "cup" in the middle of the back of the plate, this is believed and accepted as an Ames production plate. Fit's snug and tight with the keeper. Leather belt is so pretty, perfectly supple, and no repairs or "worries" at all.

If you priced them out individually, you'd pay at least $5000+ to buy them individually [the FINE Hartford Colt $2400+, the killer CS side-knife and sheath $1400+, the CS holster $1000+, and pre-war belt and buckle $550+]...and that is without the 100% legit Williamson County/Murfreesboro Confederate provenance! Sure wish I had someone's ID for this stuff, but they don't need it! It's just all Johnny Reb...

All-too young, but sternly ready to kill "20 Yankees", this stalwart Tennessean was ready...complete with Eagle-plate rig, side-knife, Colt Navy, and M1855 Rifle...

SCARCE, Spectacular POTTS & HUNT of London Enfield Rifle, CS Imported & Arsenal-Altered for Cavalry Service

Potts & Hunt-made Enfields are among the RAREST and MOST COLLECTABLE--and THE most premier Confederate supplier of Enfields--as documented in William B. Edwards' book "Civil War Guns" & Elsewhere...though FEW remain TODAY!

Cut-Down to 45" Long "Musketoon", Bearing ALL the Archetypical CS Arsenal Alteration Traits (Reference Murphy & Madaus "Confederate Rifles & Muskets" & "Confederate Carbines & Musketoons", as well as "Firearms From Europe" books)

Excellent Hand-Carved "Stars & Bars" Motif Cross-Hatching Into the Foregrip and Wrist Areas

This SUPERB, and archetypical Confederate cut-down for Cavalry service Enfield rifle REALLY SPEAKS to us from over 145 years ago! Coming straight from a Texas Confederate family decades ago, it had been in the private collection of Mr. Richard Gersten, then I sold it to a dear friend in Tennessee, who is now selling his entire collection! It is a classic alteration, being cut-down from the 3-bander rifle to a 2-bander, down to a 29" barrel, and 45" overall total length. As is SO WELL DOCUMENTED, the lamentations of the Confederate mounted forces--bemoaned by General's Forrest, J. E. B. Stuart, and Robert E. Lee, himself--forced the Confederacy to "adapt and overcome", utilizing whatever weapons they could to arm their troopers. Since there were so few existing true cavalry "carbines" in the South when the war broke-out, coupled with the extremely low production output by Southern workshops AND the blockade, longarms of every kind and type were utilized. What became the MOST sought-after were Enfields (reference "Firearms from Europe" to read EVERYTHING you'd ever want to know about CS cavalry weapon problems, and the popularity of them utilizing Enfield rifles and carbines). In fact, General Forrest continually DEMANDED new shipments of Enfields for his troopers, as they fit his style of fighting (utilizing his cavalry as mobile infantry). And YES, I HAVE COPIES of "Firearms from Europe" Civil War reference book--AUTHOR-SIGNED--FOR SALE!!! Only $40 !!!

And this ain't your typical "Enfield" by any stretch, either! It's among the RAREST and MOST COLLECTABLE--and most premier Confederate supplier-- POTTS & HUNT of London imported specimen! The "POTTS & HUNT" of "LONDON" is seen CRISPLY upon the lockplate. As documented in William B. Edwards' book "Civil War Guns", Potts and Hunt was indeed one of the most premier supplier of Confederate-imported Enfield rifles, though very few remain in existence today. The barrel and muzzle, coupled with the bolster wear and brass-tacked reinforcement plate are 100% PERIOD PROOF that this was a COMBAT-USED WEAPON. Sadly, there is no identification or provenance--excepting the "JH" faint carving into the stock-- other than being used by a Texas trooper, coming directly from their family years ago. But its "combat veteran" status is without doubt. Neither is its Confederate utilization, as it is a "textbook" example of Confederate alteration. Just look within your Murphy & Madaus books, and you'll see all the same characteristics: replacement ramrod, being a tulip-nosed style (almost like a Hall rifle) and full-length, the nose cap being re-attached right at muzzle (again, much like the Hall conversions), the buttstock being narrowed for allowing the trooper better sighting, and the trooper utilized a period civilian iron buckle with leather tacked into the underside of the buttstock to be used as a sling swivel. I was not allowed by the consignor then to take the barrel off (again, the period brass-tacked repair, and the nose-cap being tacked into the muzzle of the stock), but I would be willing to bet that there are CS Arsenal Roman Numbers, encryptic "dots", and/or other CS Arsenal tell-tale documented demarcations. Yet again, the current consignor does not want to risk any potential damage to the 150 year old or less arsenal/field repair work/alteration. THAT will be left up to the FUTURE owner....for if they are present...the value of this piece would jump up CONSIDERABLY!!! But what IS SUPER COOL that we see on the outside is that the trooper HAND-CARVED the "Stars and Bars" motif on the foregrip area! He also got rather "fanciful" cross-hatching" a nice pattern around the wrist, as well.

It doesn't get more SOUTHERN than "corn-pone and molasses," as old William Albaugh used to say! And if you buy it--take it apart to find those "magical" CS Arsenal markings....well...YOU'VE HIT THE JACKPOT! Regardless....SHE IS...WHAT SHE IS! And whistles "Yellow Rose of Texas" besides "Dixie"!! (LOL! Albaugh is probably laughing "up thar" right now!)

Gorgeous Mid-1800's, .48 caliber Single Shot English Pistol made by the FAMOUS Gunmakers "Lewis & Tomes"

100% Original, 100% Complete (Including original percussion caps inside the bottom cap-holder!), 100% Fully-Functional, and 100% BEAUTIFUL!

Ohhhh yeahhhhh! This is "old school" British quality at its FINEST! Complete with ALL the expected British finery of that era of gunsmithing....silver inlays all over...silver butt-cap designed to hold the percussion caps (which it is STILL STUFFED with the original percussion caps!)....the FINE etching, scrollwork, engraving....floral motifs....the classic "serpent's head" hammer....CRISP markings ("Lewis & Tomes" on the lockplate, and "London Fine Wire Twist" upon the spine of the octagonal barrel). Measuring at a total length of 10.25" inches long, this .48 caliber smoothbore single-shot pistol is the epitome of the English quality of craftsmanship in their gunmaking of the era. It is 100% COMPLETE...100% ORIGINAL...100% FULLY-FUNCTIONAL. NO REPAIRS....NO REPLACEMENT PARTS....NO DAMAGE...NOTHING worth mentioning that it a true detraction to this piece---only a few mere dings or bumps or scratches--again, nothing worth noting, especially given it is well over 150 years old! It's SO NICE to have pieces like these, for the PICTURES do ALL THE TALKING FOR ME! What you see is WHAT YOU GET!

This was a weapon, born of the "age of gentlemen," of "chivalry", and "class"....and it exemplifies it all in SPADES.

This is for you "old-school", "Gentile-class" collectors out there! Truly worthy of PROMINENT DISPLAY in your OFFICE, "WAR ROOM", MANTLE....you name it! Even MY WIFE LOVES IT!

Crisply Marked, Including the Inspector Initials "TTSL" (which stands for "Theodore Thadeaus Sobibski Laidley")

Authentic Reproduction Wooden Carriage w/Authentic Reproduction Accouterments/Gear as Shown

Wanna REALLY "make an impression" with YOUR COLLECTION!?!? Then do so--not with a "bang"--but a "BOOM" that will shatter the glass of every windows in your house and your neighbors! This "war-changing" Federal wartime designed and produced en-masse 3" RIFLED "Ordnance" cannon was produced and issued into the field in ALL THEATERS as FAST as they could forge, finish, and equip the awaiting Federal batteries--giving them the ability to "reach out and KILL SOMEONE" at miles, with ACCURACY. It was simpler in design and production than the renown "Parrott" rifled cannon, and just as deadly. Southern field batteries had to depend primarily upon smoothbores (range up to a mile), with the rare luxury of their own produced, or captured, or scant imported RIFLED cannon to respond to the later campaigns/"juggernaughts" of the Federal armies in Georgia and Virginia by 1864. The accuracy of these Federal rifled cannon in FORCE and NUMBERS can be attested to by CS General Polk himself--who was killed upon Pine Mountain, GA during the Atlanta Campaign when Federal gunner's by General Sherman with 3" rifled cannon spotted in the far distance, a group of CS officers...and Sherman DIRECTED THEM to FIRE upon the band of Confederate officer's so far away atop the small mountain. CS General Polk--if he could speak--would CONFIRM the DEADLY ACCURACY of these cannon!

This specimen is a VERY EARLY PRODUCTION specimen, bearing the production date of January 16th, 1863, produced by the Phoenix Iron Company of Phoenixville, PA. The 3" US Ordnance Rifle had ONLY been patented in December of 1862! This specific specimen offered for sale here was purchased from the Griswold, Iowa Legion Post YEARS ago--and coming from SO FAR out in the "Western Theater", one can EASILY "bet the ranch" that this was indeed a WESTERN THEATER-used cannon. I just can't see a small, simply Legion Post in the middle of Griswold, Iowa purchasing and having hauled this tube from WAY out east..."just don't make sense"...since SO MANY Western Theater batteries (including Iowa batteries" were ARMED with these 3" Ordnance Rifles.

It rests upon a BEAUTIFUL, authentic, "to-scale" reproduction wooden carriage with the authentic reproduction cannon accouterments/implements as shown. The muzzle bears the CRISP MARKINGS of "T.T.S.L." (the inspector markings of Theodore Thadeaus Sobibski Laidley), the "816 lbs" tube weight, "No. 562", and Phoenix Iron Company maker-mark of "P.I.Co". The sides bear the December patent date, as well as the "PHOENIX/IRON CO" markings. And as always...the beautifully clear/visible "US" upon the top of the tube!

THIS INCREDIBLE "PIECE" of HISTORY can BE DELIVERED on the way to the Dalton Show--in a MERE 8 DAYS--if you live along his (the owner/consignor) route of travelling.

Delivery IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE, so LONG AS you commit to purchase and have delivered within the next 8-9 days (today being January 24th) and you are NOT FAR off the owner's/consignor's path he's taking to the Dalton Show.

SWEET, ID'ed, & Arguably the Most Beautifully-Made Carbine of the Entire Civil War!

1st Model Merrill .54 caliber, MATCHING Early Serial Numbers (5210), CRISP Markings, UNIQUE Breech-Loading Carbine

This is indeed considered by MANY in the collecting arena as the MOST BEAUTIFUL US-made carbine of the entire Civil War--and ALL WARS, for that matter. I, myself, not only LOVE the LOOK of it (kind-of like a "miniature" M1841 "Mississippi" Rifle, in that it has the beautiful brass barrel band, buttplate, trigger-guard and Patchbox), but I, myself, even DUG ONE from the Battle of Champion Hill (from the 18th Illinois Cavalry)!!! So I guess I am DEFINITELY "partial" to these 1st Model Merrill Carbines (the later models would lose the patchbox and go with iron mountings). And this is indeed "J. BriLes' carbine", as it is carved into the gorgeous brass pathbox! When I and the "group" waiting outside the Franklin Show to open-up for dealer set-up that Friday morning, we all start pulling stuff out for "show and sell", and my buddies all know I LOVE ID'ed WEAPONS! So my good friend, renown dealer/collector Doug Heiser, says, "Here's one FOR YOU, JOHN!" and hands me this--"J. BriLes' carbine", as carved into the patchbox. [We, of course, all laughed, wishing the soldier's name was "J. GILES"--as in the "J Giles Band" of the late 1970's/early '80's.....relic humor...;). This EARLY-MADE, 1ST MODEL Merrill Carbine is 100% ORIGINAL, 100% FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, 100% COMPLETE--a truly BEAUTIFUL example of what is arguably one of the most BEAUTIFULLY made/designed carbines of the entire War. Only around 14,000 were ever made. It has the most "unique" breech-loading lever system ON TOP of the barrel, as you shall see in the pics. The 1st models had the beautiful "furniture-grade" brass patch-boxes in the stock, brass trigger guards, brass buttplates, and brass barrel bands. This baby, as I explained briefly above, can ONLY be attributed to ONE of TWO "JAY-HAWKER'S" by the name of "J. Briles". And because it DOES SHOW, 100% CLEAR COMBAT USAGE (by the hammer being cocked so much that it wore into the stock--which was a design flaw corrected in the 2nd Model of Merrill Carbines), the bolster wear and wear of the rifling (rifling present, but again, DEFINITELY "FIRED IN ANGER", "IN EARNEST", and "OFTEN!") I've got a "hunch" which soldier it was. The first "Jay-Hawker" by the name of Jesse Briles, enlisted on November 11th, 1861, into Company G of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry. HE DIED, however, a mere few months later on March 3rd, 1862.

The OTHER "RED-LEGGER" (for all you "Outlaw Josey Wales" fans!) was James Briles, Private who enlisted on July 28th, 1863, into Company "C" of the 14th Kansas Cavalry. Now THIS OLD BOY "up and deserted" on January 1st, 1864 at his winter camp for the regiment at Fort Smith, Arkansas! Now....BOTH of these units FOUGHT HEAVILY within ARKANSAS! From Prairie Grove, Prairie d'Ane, Coon Creek, Elk Horn Tavern, Pineville, Moscow, Poison Springs, Camden, Clarksville....you name it. BOTH UNITS! Now....I can't see James Briles of the 14th Kansas DESERTING WITH THIS CARBINE, only after serving 5 months....because the weapon SHOWS the CLEAR "VETERAN STATUS" of combat/field wear.

My thoughts are that it was Jesse Briles' carbine, indeed, of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry, and when he died, they issued it to someone else. And GIVEN it is a FIST MODEL, AND that he enlisted in 1861...I do NOT see how the "other fella" who ENLISTED in 1863, when the 2ND MODEL of the MERRILL CARBINES were already being made and issued....logical deduction says an 1861-produced Merrill Carbine got issued to the 1861 soldier---PLUS the obvious combat/field wear would not have come from a DESERTER after 5 months of service.

All historical info for both men are attached. But only the GOOD LORD truly knows!

Regardless....I just LOVE THE CARBINE!!! I DUG ONE...THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL...and it's "J. BriLes' carbine"!!!! 'Nuff said!!!

I have always LOVED ALL of the Ethan Allen/Allen & Wheelock/Thurber made weapons. I laugh as I watch my wife and other women shopping (and spending A LOT of MONEY) with "Ethan Allen" of today--and they haven't a CLUE that they made their RICHES in weapon's production in the 1800's! It wasn't until well after the turn-of-the 20th Century that Ethan Allen expanded in becoming a "retail" store! Though most noted for their truly REVOLUTIONARY "pepperbox" revolvers (the predecessor to the true modern "revolver"), they also made a plethora of single-shot pistols, and THEN dabbled into trying to answer the market's CRY for MORE FIREPOWER!!!! That's where this BEAUTY was designed and produced! It's a classic double-hammer and double-barrel, RIFLED .34 caliber pistol, being 7.5" long in total length, utilizing ONLY ONE trigger! You pull the trigger once to fire the first barrel, then pull the trigger harder and further back to fire the second barrel. As noted in Flayderman's Guide to American Antique Firearms, these were only made in the 1850's, and somewhere between only 500 to 1,000 were EVER MADE. So, too, does the phenomenal reference guide book authored by Mr. Paul Henry "Ethan Allen AND Allen & Wheelock" documents their production as being "well under 1,000 produced" according to surviving records...SO THIS GORGEOUS BABY is a RARE ONE, INDEED! And besides all that---she is absolutely, 100% COMPLETE, 100% ORIGINAL, 100% FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, having NO DAMAGE, NO REPAIRS, lots of original faded case-coloring, and VIVIDLY CLEAR and CRISP maker markings of "ALLEN & THURBER WORCESTER". Even the original wooden ramrod with brass tip is 100% intact and spectacular!!! It is truly in what would be graded--in my estimation--as "FINE" condition...to which Flayderman's latest guide places it's RARE VALUE at $900!!! It's twin rifled barrels (just over 4" long) are CRISP, and even both nipples as BEAUTIFUL and READY TO FIRE as the DAY IT WAS MADE!

But you NEVER have to OVER-PAY here at Champion Hill Relics to GET THE BEST and the RAREST!! And YES...look in your "Faces of the Confederacy" multiple books of original CS images, and you'll see a plethora of Johnnies with all sorts of Allen & Thurber's--including two pics with THIS DOUBLE BARREL MODEL--in their hand (in one picture) and his belt (in another)!

As Sold by Mr. Larry Hicklen from a Franklin, TN Family--Possibly a Battle of Franklin "Survivor", Being Dated "1864" on the Lockplate

100% Original, Complete (even sling swivels & ramrod!), Fully-Functional, Has classic "Johnny Reb" Rear "Tombstone" Sight Aperture

OH MAN, if this Enfield could just TALK!!!! An actually--in MANY WAYS--it does! This 100% ORIGINAL, UNDAMAGED, UN-REPAIRED, FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, and COMPLETE 1864-dated Enfield rifle does have "the look" that you EXPECT from a true WAR VETERAN! As stated in Mr. Larry Hicklen of Middle Tennessee Relics original sale paperwork (shown below, and shall be presented to the future owner), this weapon surfaced from a Franklin, Tennessee family--indeed, the site of that most "infamous" bloody and heroic "last hurrah" of the Confederate Army of Tennessee. Being an 1864-dated specimen, it is quite possible that the family did have this piece as a part of the "wreckage" left behind and picked-up by all the locals in town after that fateful November evening. So the "story goes"! The weapon is in SOLID condition, showing REAL field and service wear, but still 100% complete, fully-functional, and "ready for a fight"!

His ALL-ORIGINAL March, 1863 Oil Painting of "Cavalry Camp of South Carolina Holcomb Legion" in New Kent County, VA

Given as a Gift (and noted on back of the painting) to Rev. Dr. Lyman in Virginia

Within the Book "Conrad Wise Chapman Artist and Soldier of the Confederacy” by Author Ben L. Bassham, ONLY about 40 of Chapman's Paintings are Known to Survive

Though the Etching of this Painting (By Chapman's Father) is in the Valentine Museum, Mr. Bassham noted THIS PAINTING in his book as the "Lost Painting"! (Oh, no she IN NOT LOST!)

Indeed, this is a most historically important, "priceless", and critical piece of not ONLY "Civil War" art, and NOT ONLY being CONFEDERATE wartime artwork from the soldier/painter recognized as THE "Painter of the Civil War", but also so irreplaceable as early American/19th Century Art. This is soldier and artist, Mr. Conrad Wise Chapman's 100% ORIGINAL painting and framing, of the "Cavalry Camp of the South Carolina Holcomb Legion". It is a 14" x 10" oil painting on panel which was painted in March, 1863, in New Kent County, Virginia. It is 19.5” x 15.5” in it’s original frame. The scene is laden with much detail and history: 9 horses all defined in a corral, men playing poker with rifles and swords by their side, the man cooking by the tree and 20 plus tents in the distance. The attention to detail of the figures and camp/war implements are both historically accurate and interesting. The slave at the thatched lean-to windbreak is a wonderful story of the era. The mounted picket in the background adds immediacy to the scene, letting us know that it is not a rear-echelon camp. The tents appear to be set up against hollow tree trunks used as chimneys. It is signed and inscribed by the artist. He painted this scene for the Reverend Dr. Lyman. The etching of this painting, by his father, is at the Valentine Museum. It is imaged on pg. 102 of Ben L. Bassham's text, "Conrad Wise Chapman Artist and Soldier of the Confederacy”. Ben noted it as Chapman‘s, “lost painting.”. It is one of very few known cavalry encampment scenes by Chapman. According to Bassham, only about forty of his Civil War paintings are known to exist, the majority were painted on wood panel appearing fiber board from England. A conservator who has worked with the Art Institute of Chicago, performed an extensive, several hour evaluation of this painting. The painting has never sustained any significant damage, and it has never been restored, resurfaced or cleaned.

The Holcombe South Carolina Legion was named after Lucy Holcombe Pickens. The Legion was active in the defense of Charleston Harbor. They also were active in other battles in South Carolina, (Edisto Island, Stony Creek Station, Nottoway Bridge, Jarratt's Station, Bermuda Hundred, Ft. Stedman); in Virginia, (Rappahannock Station, 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Petersburg Siege, Five Forks and Appomattox Court House); and in Mississippi, (Jackson Siege).

Conrad Wise Chapman was born in Washington D.C. in 1842. As the son of the Alexandria, Virginia painter, John Gadsby Chapman, he began his artistic training early in Italy at age 8. In 1861, He returned to America to join the Confederate forces in Kentucky, participating in the Siege of Vicksburg and the Battle of Shiloh before being transferred back to his native Virginia in 1862. In 1863 he was sent to Charleston, where he was detailed to sketch the city's fortifications, under General P.G.T. Beauregard. These sketches were the basis for the series of thirty-one oil paintings, which he painted in Rome, depicting the forts and batteries, and were his most notable artistic achievement, as well as holding great historical significance. The set of thirty-one paintings are at the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond.

According to Ben Bassham, Chapman was without doubt the most important artist of the Confederacy. He may be little known because his 1860's work is rare and seldom seen. Virtually all of his Civil War paintings are at the Museum of the Confederacy and the Valentine Museum. He served 4 years as a Confederate soldier, unlike other Confederate artists such as Edwin Caledon Bruce, William D. Washington, and John Adams Elder, none of who had field experience. Most of the art was rather cliché vs Chapman's "Ring of Truth" - all first hand.

There is no near counterpart among the far greater number of Northern artists, the best including Winslow Homer, Edwin Forbes and Alfred Waud, all of who were "special artists" who follow Union armies and sent back sketches to Harpers Weekly and other periodicals as "artists - correspondences", they were non-combatants, which affected detailing and accuracy. Chapman was both artist and soldier, and was unequaled in the sophistication in his training and sheer talent. He was trained beginning at a young age in Europe by his father. His paintings and sketches have been used countless times as illustrations in books and articles. He served as a soldier in 3 theaters of war between 1861 and 1864. The intricacy and detailing in his paintings are as about as close to a snapshot photograph as any that would come from the hand of a painter. His skillful detailing and use of shadows is exceptional.

Chapman’s style reflects exquisite detailing and shadowing. His brilliance was creating “snapshots” of history, specifically moments of calm, soldiers playing cards inside a tent, images of comrades roughing it in the great outdoors or pausing to chat during their daily routines, even sharing a meal. These were not images of terror, the chaos of battle, exhausting marches, months of monotony, illness and homesickness. Painted toward the end of the war, Chapman’s encampment images are laden with nostalgia for an irretrievable past. The slave "nooning" in the Camp is a symbol of the “Old South”. Most Civil War art was produced following the conflict by artists who never saw battle.

After Appomattox, his art career ended with the exceptions of Mexican landscapes. Chapman was in Mexico for 7 years, and his "Valley of Mexico" painting has been compared to Mexico's Jose Maria Velaso, a 19th century landscape artist. With the defeat of the Confederacy, and the burning of the major cultural centers and cities in the South, 19th century Southern genre and "Old South/Old Virginia" paintings and art were destroyed and forever lost to history. Along with the Revolutionary War, and the settling of the West, the Civil War is considered as a "iconogenerative" event of 19th century American art.

In the summer of 2008, both The Gibbes Museum and The Yale Art Gallery were contacted regarding the possible sale of this painting. The Gibbes Museum did not have acquisition funds. Yale arranged for the conservator's visit, and communicated their interest in purchasing the painting at $950,000. Yale justified their price by comparing the Chapman to an Eastman Johnson painting, as well as to Winslow Homer's "Home Sweet Home," which sold in 1997 for $2,642,000. Johnson's only Civil War painting which has sold publicly is entitled, "The Little Soldier", which is a rather simple portrait lacking the detail of my Chapman. An accurate comparable would have been The Carneigie Museums "Union Soldiers Accepting a Drink" by Johnson, which is similar in size and detail to my Chapman. Southern Civil War paintings are ASTRONOMICALLY rare. Some years back, The Museum of the Confederacy purchased Julio's "The Last Meeting" {of Lee and Jackson} for $2.5 million. Although both enormous and historically important, the painting was commissioned and painted after the Civil War.

NOT SO with this March, 1863 Painting by Chapman--in which (as he was oft to do) he "inserted" himself in the painting--he is the soldier in the foreground within the tent--back facing us--in red shirt!

Again, compared to other POST-WAR paintings/sketches selling around $3 Million....this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity & price

Killer-Rare, Very Early War Memphis Novelty Works by Thomas Leech & Company CS Cavalry Sword

This is the VERY FIRST of the Memphis Novelty Works/Thomas Leech & Company-marked ("3-line Memphis" as the collecting community affectionately calls it) CS cavalry swords I have EVER had the pleasure to own. WHY?!? Because they are SO RARE to EVER SEE. So few were produced, and so few survived the 150 years since, given that Memphis fell so early in the War (early 1862 after Forts Donelson & Henry in February, 1862), and what few surviving specimens there are out there are HELD FIRM by their owners. Only VERY FEW MUSEUMS even HAVE ONE OF THESE! And when I did get a chance to even HOLD ONE....the price was just OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD! However, given our current economic situation, a very few (and sadly reluctant) owners of these have let a FEW go to the market.

This supremely rare, supremely BEAUTIFUL specimen is a CLASSIC example of these early swords made by Thomas Leech & Company, who before the War operated "Memphis Novelty Works"...literally producing "novelty" items of all sorts out of their Memphis shop and operations. Once War and Tennessee's secession came in early 1861, they quickly were begged to produce ANY accouterments, weapons, etc, to help arm the THOUSANDS of un-armed, "green" raw recruits of Tennessee. They quickly began producing all sorts of militaria--but it is these very early, and so SCARCE today--"MEMPHIS / NOVELTY WORKS / THOs LEECH & CO" marked specimen in the upper-most part of the guard that commands the profound collectability and historical significance today. The 100% ORIGINAL marking is CRISP and CLEAR--almost as good as the day it was STAMPED. Since it was stamped upon the curvature of the upper-most part of the brass guard (HIGH copper content, low zinc, because the South had so little zinc to make better quality "brass", thus the "reddish" patina from the copper -content), the "ME" in "MEMPHIS" looks like it's worn--but it's NOT. Try stamping a flat gang-stamp on a concave/curved surface, and you'll see what I mean! The "NOVELTY WORKS" and the "THOs LEECH & CO" are QUITE VIVID, with only minor wear! And even better still, the entire piece is TRULY GORGEOUS in EVERY FACET! A true CONFEDERATE BEAUTY--the ORIGINAL "Memphis Belle"! The painted-canvas cloth wrap (so typical of Southern construction, given the great quantity of cotton available, but needing the scarcer leather for cavalry/artillery equipage, etc), bears only the MOST MINOR WEAR--one of the BEST I've ever seen. And like the wire---she's TIGHT! The correct and again classic CS all-copper-twine wire is fantastic. And if it ain't original--it was re-wired LONG AGO. It's hard to tell, since SO FEW are INTACT today to judge against! But it's clearly OLD, and the CORRECT all-copper twine wire. All the high copper content brass has the most scrumptious, untouched for 150 years patina, as does the BLADE! Again, classic CS "un-stopped fuller", FULL-LENGTH (right at 34" long) and NO ACTIVE OXIDATION, NO SHARPENING--just a slick, smokey-grey patina over the blade....just the way we LOVE 'EM! It bears only the archetypical CS crude forging/finishing traits (these guys were used to making "novelty" items--NOT SWORDS or other weapons of war! But they sure did a GREAT JOB in turning their manufacturing over so quickly, and so DESPERATELY). Obviously, based upon the condition of this specimen, it (thankfully) did NOT see a LOT of action. Enough minor wear in spots that PROVES is was issued (and by God, THEY WERE ALL ISSUED, for they were so DESPERATELY NEEDED--just read the accounts of the officer's in the field in 1861/early 1862, as well as from Tennessee's Governor!), but whoever the trooper was that got this one clearly didn't drag this sword through all 4 years of HEAVY COMBAT. And perhaps an Officer/"desk-jockey" got it. Who knows...and WHO CARES, so long as it's such a complete beauty as THIS!!! I'll let ALL the MANY FINE PICTURES BELOW do all the selling and talking for me! All I did to it when I received it was clean it with Kramer's all-natural, no petro-chemical cleaner (the wire/wrap were dusty!) and then a light coating of the world's best--"By Order of Her Majesty" the Queen on England, "Renaissance Crystalline Wax". Just look at this MEMPHIS BELLE!

The Memphis Novelty Works would soon be completely abandoned in front of the oncoming Federals in very early 1862, moving into Mississippi, and later into Georgia--always trying to stay ONE-STEP AHEAD of the advancing Federal Armies! They quickly dropped the "Memphis Novelty Works" name upon leaving Memphis, and adopted the "Leech & Rigdon" name that we all are so familiar with.

Beat this condition, rarity, and price. And if you want THE scabbard for this, my buddy has one for sale. Only around $3000 for the SCABBARD!!!! And that's CHEAP!!!

On a wooden carriage, the carriage sold by the Stones River National Battlefield Park some 10 years ago (when they replaced the wooden park carriages for aluminum)

DOCUMENTED in the NY State Governor's (E. D. Morgan) letter for six (6) Parrott Rifles offered in 1861 at the outbreak of the war. See Below (From the "Artillery & Ammunition of the Civil War" by Warren Ripley. Also referenced in the OR's, as also referenced in Ripley's book)

At last...officially listed FOR SALE to YOU! Fresh to the market! This GORGEOUS, ultra-rare, 1861-dated, "SNY"-marked, and REFERENCED SPECIFICALLY by the then wartime/1861 Governor of New York (Mr. E. D. Morgan) as ONE OF SIX offered for sale, 2.9" (and marked so on the muzzle) Parrott Rifle. It rests upon a Stones River National Battlefield Park wooden carriage that was sold-off by the park some 10 years ago, when they were replacing their wooden carriages with new aluminum ones (obviously, for the carriage's protection outside against the elements). This one comes FULLY-EQUIPPED with AUTHENTIC reproduction accouterments, etc--EXACTLY as she would have appeared in the field! The rifled bore, as with ALL rifled original cannon, shows some of the rifling down the muzzle area, but essentially gone down the rest of the barrel--this is the case with basically ALL surviving rifled cannon, as (1) battlefield usage of firing their projectiles wore the rifling down, (2) the HIGHLY CORROSIVE black powder charges helped even more to wear-away at the rifling, and (3) since almost ALL original surviving cannon were displayed OUTSIDE in cemeteries, town-squares, parks, etc, RAIN/MOISTURE collected within the tube....thus again, helping to wear-away the rifling.

She's an absolute BEAUTY, as the MANY FINE PICS below show. And a RARE, "SNY", 1861-dated, 2.9" version, WELL-MARKED EVERYWHERE, and DOCUMENTED!

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

GORGEOUS & HISTORIC 4th Armored Division/Patton's 3rd Army Corporal's "Ike" Tunic

Complete with ALL Pins (those 4th Div. pins are SCARCE and HIGHLY DESIRABLE) and Ribbon Bars, Including His Purple Heart Award!

THIS ONE IS FOR ALL YOU 4TH ARMORED DIVISION FANS OUT THERE!! Here is a fantastically beautiful "Ike style" tunic from a corporal in the 3rd Army, 4th Armored Division. It is in extremely well kept condition (no mothing, dirt, or anything else) and is adorned with his corporal's stripes, the 3rd Army and 4th Armored Division patches, collar brass, ribbon bar which includes the purple heart award, and two very rare 4th Armored Division pins. It also has the corporal's service bars sewn on the left sleeve. It is, without a doubt, a jacket from one of the most famous of W.W. II divisions. Although members of the 101st Airborne would never admit it, the 4th Armored saved their butts at Bastogne!!! Hey...it's just the truth!

SO MUCH BEAUTY, RARITY, & HISTORY! All you expect from Champion Hill Relics!

Now Only $250

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.

It is my great honor and pleasure to present to you (under consignment) this truly phenomenal piece of history. This is indeed "end-of-the-road" fine...rare...and so historically significant. This 1862 produced (and marked so on the tube--see pic below) is numbered #1602, and according to the original surviving J. R. Anderson & Company/Tredegar Foundry receipt, it (along with other cannon and implements--see the receipt below) was delivered on August 22, 1862, at the cost of $165 CS dollars. The iron tube is of the improved re-design by Anderson/Tredegar, where previous 1861/early 1862 specimens experienced HIGH RATES of catastrophic breech failures in firing in battle conditions of continued stress in the thinner, weaker iron breeches. This new improvement is a thicker, reinforced breech, and proved successful enough that it became the basis for all following iron tubes produced by Anderson/Tredegar--both smoothbores and rifled tubes. The carriage is NOT original, but a Paulson Brother's-made aluminum reproduction (Paulson Brothers used exclusively by the NPS and many reenacting batteries for their quality, detail to authenticity, and durability.) The carriage is COMPLETE with all reproduction accouterments and equipment, and to have one purchased today costs a minimum of $12,000 alone. The current owner had a special cast plaque placed upon the carriage, describing the history and details of this phenomenal piece. According to his excellent research, we know that only four (4) field batteries were in Richmond around August 22nd through the beginning of September (as Lee's freshly victorious Army of Northern Virginia at 2nd Manassas was launching his Maryland Campaign), and can safely narrow down to TWO batteries which we know were equipped with 12# field howitzers--Sturdivant's (Albemarle) Virginia battery, having had four (4) bronze 12# field howitzers, with two being lost earlier in the year, and then Taylor's Virginia Battery being JUST FORMED in August of 1862 within Richmond. Given the existing evidence, and logical deduction, we are quite confident that this iron tube #1602 went to Taylor's brand new raw-recruit Battery--being comprised with many North Carolinians--and given that Sturdivant's Virginia Battery already had bronze tubes and were a field combat experienced battery, coupled that the classic "we take care of our own" Virginia mentality, it is only logical to deduce that Sturdivant got matching bronze 12# field howitzers to replace the two they lost, and the iron (weaker) tubes went to the raw-recruit Battery of Taylor's. But this is not "firm" knowledge, but someone certainly could do the research to possibly 100% conclude which battery received this iron tube #1602.

As you can see in the pictures below, the muzzle bears the #1602, and the "1862" and "JRA & Co" for J. R. Anderson's mark, and the "TF" for Tredegar Foundry are CLEARLY visible, and the tube is in outstanding condition, given it's battlefield usage. Thanks to Wayne Stark's database, we know that THIS TUBE #1602 is the LAST KNOWN SURVIVING iron field howitzer tube, and the 3rd-to-last one produced. Tubes #1562 and 1595 also do survive.

Before 2008, other Tredegar's sold for MUCH MORE. The ONLY OTHER TREDEGAR FOR SALE on the market is $200,000 right now. This is someone's EXCELLENT opportunity to take advantage of "the times" for a phenomenal, irreplaceable piece of history--and investment.

PLEASE feel free to contact me for more information, and the owner does have reams of the aforementioned documentation research information.

It's not about the "politics", the evils and horrific deeds of Hitler and the Third Reich--this is about the stalwart MEN of Germany who answered their country's call, as any patriotic and loyal people have done for any war from any country. And for the Afrika Korps--coming to the rescue of the pathetic Italian forces--they would become LEGEND through their bravery, ferocity, and tenacity to win victory after victory under the most revered Field Army Generals of all history--Erwin Rommel. "The Desert Fox" would pull-off overwhelming victories in spite of his enemy's overwhelming supplies, men, artillery, and tanks, thanks to his incredible command and tactical/strategic tactics---and the LOYALTY of HIS MEN of the famed "Afrika Korps". It would only be the ill-health of Rommel, the cut-off supply lines in the Mediterranean, and the final Allied (the US's first "fighting" in the Euro theater) that spelled the doomed of the once invincible Afrika Korps.

This all-original and complete specimen, with faded maker/size markings, and the leather-reinforcements, is a SPECTACULAR specimen. Taken from the surrendered/captured supply depot/port (they had plenty of uniform equipage--just not enough MEN, AMMUNITION, 88's and Panzers to issue men to man these missing weapons of war--as a "war trophy" by a GI, This OBVIOUSLY explains the condition, being SOOOO GOOOOOD--it didn't come off some half-starved German soldat who fought through Tobruk or El Alemein. This is your chance an extraordinary piece of a PROUD heritage of history.

VIVID Maker's-Marking and Detail, 80cm X 135cm (31.5" X 53), INTACT Tie-Strap and Loop Holes!!!

Here's a really great Nazi "Battle Flag" in a perfect to display size. It is of one piece design and all markings are stamped. It measures 80cm X 135cm (31.5" X 53"). It is in perfect condition except for one micro small hole in one of the black cross stripes which is smaller than the eraser on a pencil - very hard to even see unless you're looking for it. Crisp maker and size stamps. and the TIE-STRAP with LOOPS are 100% SOLIDLY INTACT!!! Ready to HOIST ON HIGH! (Except the neighbors may not like it!) It IS NOT marked with the "Eagle" stamp which means this flag was accepted for land forces use. Both rope lanyards are firmly in place. All in all, it is an extremely good looking example of Nazi Germany's pageantry!

$650

Purchased Personally by the "GODFATHER" & Pioneer Confederate Collector & Dealer, the Late Mr. R. E. Neville, Directly from a Baldwin County, Alabama family by the name of "Blackwell"

A Southern-Made Copy of the US Pattern 1858 Kepi, but was the AVC's Regulation Kepi Adopted for their Troops (from 1858 through 1861)

Sold in 1993 by R.E. Neville to Renown CS Collector, Mr. Michael Kramer, with ORIGINAL Letter of Sale and Authenticity from Neville to Kramer in 1993

As good as it gets, my friends. A true local Alabama, Southern-made copy of the US Pattern 1858 kepi for the famous Alabama Volunteer Corps...bought by the pioneer "GODFATHER" of all relicdom, the late Mr. R. E. Neville of Mobile, Alabama....bought directly from a Baldwin County, Alabama "Blackwell" family (who stated it was used by their ancestor in the War--see Neville's Letter of Sale & Authenticity below)...and then sold to the RENOWN CS Collector, Mr. Michael Kramer in 1993...and got the Letter of Sale/Authenticity from Neville to Kramer to prove it!!! If you DON'T KNOW who R. E. Neville was...you are either a beginning collector, or someone who doesn't collect TOP-DOLLAR Confederate items! (Not that there's anything wrong with that...I can't afford to buy this stuff to collect for myself!!!) Just call one of today's "Godfather's" of relics, like a Mr. Larry Hicklen, for example, and ask him about who R. E. Neville was! Same with Mr. Michael Kramer (if you have Shannon Pritchard's "Collecting the Confederacy" most excellent Confederate reference book...just look on the acknowledgements page...and the many pics "courtesy of Michael Kramer..." in his book!) Knowing that this AVC kepi--made in the south as copy of the US Pattern 1858 kepi, used by the regulation standards for the AVC from 1858 through 1861--came from R. E. Neville, and then through Michael Kramer, I had NO DOUBT as to it's authenticity or pedigree. And the Neville to Kramer Letter of Sale and Authenticity (see below) was all I needed to know, and will happily give to the future owner. And I enjoyed showing it around to the "experts" at the Dalton Show...to which I received almost unanimous comments of, "Old R. E. Neville...he may have been gruff when dealing with him face-to-face, but that old boy was selling CS uniforms, flags, etc [starting at the age of 17] when we were in diapers...and HE KNEW HIS CONFEDERATE ITEMS!" I also heard the same as to the kepi and it's construction..."I've never seen a US-made kepi made as crudely in form, style, and construction like that....but I've seen plenty of CONFEDERATE-MADE kepi's made like that!!!" So if you think you are wiser that R. E. Neville, Michael Kramer, and a host of real experts/"Godfather's" in Confederate kepi's, construction, cloth, etc., I'm sure everyone would love to see the FACTUAL EVIDENCE to the contrary!

Indeed, this Southern-made, AVC and Confederate-worn kepi from the Blackwell family (exact family member ID is NOT KNOWN, but you can narrow it down!) in Alabama shows the typical and expected wear from a truly "in-the-field" used kepi (sweat stains, fading from the elements outside in the sun, rain, etc., stitching and cloth being worn thin in spots--just read enough wartime soldier/officer accounts how after hard campaigns that their uniforms were literally in RAGS). It also bears the effects of time, such as the very minor mothing. The classically Confederate painted-leather (for water protection) on the brim, and crudely sewn and cut inner leather liner are beautiful examples of the Southern-made attributes you only find on Southern specimens--"I've never seen a US kepi made like that...but I've sure seen a LOT of Confederate ones made exactly like that!" as the chorus "sang" to me at Dalton!

If you go into the National Archives, you'll find only a handful of "Blackwell" Confederates from Alabama...you just have to look into their place of enlistment, or 1860 census to find THE "Blackwell" from Baldwin County, and you can ID this AVC Confederate soldier's kepi.....I leave that work up to you...

This kepi was appraised several years ago (for auction) at $20,000+. This ain't your typical "blue kepi", now is it?!

ONLY for the SERIOUS CONFEDERATE or ALABAMA COLLECTOR...here's your chance to get a STEAL!

With that said, two men with the last name of Blackwell enlisted in Co. B later made Co. I, of the 5th Alabama Inf. Reg't on May 6, 1861 at Grove Hill, Clarke County, Alabama. Both men were 23 years of age. J. D. Blackwell was one of those men but lived until being killed on May 01, 1864 at the Wilderness. The other enlistee is J. F. Blackwell who enlisted in the same company at the same time, but died in Richmond, VA on June 19, 1861 and it is to him that this forage cap most likely belongs too. Why am I so certain? No other individual with the last name Blackwell enlisted in any unit that raised troops in early 1861 in Southwest Alabama and it is highly unlikely that this cap belonged to J.D. Blackwell as he had a long service history and the survivability of a cap made 1861 through May 1864 in constant use would survive. Grove Hill, Alabama is only 15 miles from Baldwin County and was a muster point for this company. It is likely that the two men were at least cousins as they list their birth places as Sumter County and Clarke County in 1844 were only separated by a dozen miles. I think it very possible although very rare that these two men were brothers and indeed twins. One of these men was named John and the other Josiah but it impossible to tell which one is J.F. Blackwell as neither the Census or their service records are forthcoming with that information.

PUBLISHED Ultra-Rare HALF-PLATE CS Texas Soldier's Double-Armed Image, Wearing English-Imported "Snake Buckle" Belt Rig, Double Barrel Shotgun & Revolver, and Bible in his Front "Battle-Shirt" Pocket!

Published on Page 58 of "Still More Confederate Faces" Reference Book of CS Images by Author D. A. Serrano

You know my mantra (besides "NO UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS!") is GIVE ME RARITY...GIVE ME CONFEDERATE...and GIVE ME the HIGHEST QUALITY to offer, and you've got John Spicer of Champion Hill Relics "figured out"! Offered here is an astounding, ultra-rare, double-armed, equipped with an English-imported "Snake buckle" belt rig, HALF-PLATE sized image of a PUBLISHED Southeast Texas soldier, found on page 58 of the seminole Confederate image/picture reference guide book, "Still More Confederate Faces" by author D. A. Serrano. This Confederate image has EVERYTHING going for it:

Though the book calls it a 4th-plate, AND claims he has a flintlock-conversion musket, YES, EVEN the "EXPERTS" get it wrong! Simple magnification shows CLEARLY it is a DOUBLE-BARREL shotgun. Worst mistake yet is that , as you can see with your standard Image Sizing reference chart, this is a COMPLETE HALF-PLATE sized image that was slightly shortened by 1/4" only on one side to fit this most unique, one-of-a-kind seen brass image frame. The official "Half-'Plate" size for images is the measurement of 5.5" by 4.5. [See charting below.] This image here measures exactly 5.5" by 4.25". Your 4th-plate images measure a mere 4" by 3 and 1/8". Thus this HALF-PLATE image DWARFS any 4th-plate image! Finding a CONFEDERATE image THIS LARGE or LARGER is just....my Lord....almost UNSEEN!

GOOD LUCK finding a PUBLISHED, HALF-PLATE, DOUBLE-ARMED, BIBLE-IN-POCKET, Snake Buckle-wearing TEXAS SOLDIER--FULL POSE-- anytime soon, and ANYWHERE near this price!

CONFIRMED as the "ONE and ONLY" by the Published & Renown US Accouterment Expert, Mr. Paul Johnson

100% INTACT, COMPLETE, EXCELLENT Condition, and with LEGIBLE Maker's-Mark Upon the Inside Flap (John Baker of Boston)

Bears TWO Maine Soldier ID's ["J. H. Hunt Bangor" Inside the Flap, and "L. D. Lake" in Milk-Paint on the Back]

THE ONLY-KNOWN-TO-EXIST Pattern 1839 Rifleman's Cartridge box made exclusively WITHOUT belt loops (solely for shoulder straps) with TWO different soldier ID's! One is "L. D.Lake" in the old, standard "milk paint" on the back of the box, the other is a Bangor, Maine Militiaman's name "J. H. Hunt Bangor" on the inside flap. The Boston maker's marking is STILL LEGIBLE on the inside flap (John Baker of Boston). In researching for this cartridge box, the records exist that a large number of these were contracted for purchase by the state of Maine--which explains why it bears the two different Maine soldier ID's. I purchased this killer-rare specimen from Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal, and DOUBLE-CHECKED with the US 19th century author and military leather accouterment expert, Mr. Paul Johnson (author of the GREAT reference book about Federal accouterments of the 19th Century) that this was indeed THE only P1839 Rifleman's box made WITHOUT a sling configuration, and he confirmed. It is 100% COMPLETE, UN-DAMAGED, containing the ORIGINAL TINS, and in EXCELLENT SHAPE, as you will quickly see below.

ALL the beauty....ALL the RARITY...and a LONG history of Maine militia and military use!

Sold Through the Horse Solder, w/their Letter of Authenticity to be Provided to the Future Owner

You CAN NOT dig on the a National Park--and so if you EVER hope to have a piece of history off the bloody battlefields, they would have to come from the EARLY pioneer collections when it was "legal". And form GETTYSBURG? From Zeigler's Grove? Your only hope has been through the auctions in the past decade from such famed early collections, like the Geiselman of old "Little Round Top" museum collection, This 100% COMPETE and INTACT 3" US Hotchkiss shell--with beautiful sabot, cup-base, flame-grooves, and brass paper timed fuze adaptor--is from the WORLD-RENOWN Geiselman Collection and bought from The Horse Soldier. As can be seen, it is fired but ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! Since it was picked-up from the early 1900's, the iron is as SLICK as you could EVER HOPE TO FIND! It was recovered from Zeigler's Grove on the bloody and most historic Gettysburg Battlefield. It comes with the Letter of Authenticity from Mr. Wes Small from the Horse Soldier! They don't get much better than this! The white sticker on the bottom is from the consignor, and it will come off.

LEGIT GETTYSBURG, and GEISELMAN HISTORY, with ALL the early 1900's SLICK BEAUTY, and the Horse Soldier Letter of Authenticity so you can REST ASSURED it is 100% the REAL-DEAL!

Another GREAT "relic" pistol from my great friend's MASSIVE "relic weapons" collection, this Model 1859 4-barrel "Pepperbox" made by the famous Sharps weapon's titan! Shooting a .22 cal. rimfire cartridge, bearing the "fluted" barrels, and the GORGEOUS brass frame with clear Sharps Patent dating demarcation on one side and the Sharps address on the other, these were made beginning in 1859 until well after the Civil War.

Just a NICE "relic-condition" specimen for those of us who like the "been-there...shot that" LOOK!

SWEET "US" Arrow Hook Early-Dug Belt Buckle & Eagle Breastplate with Complete Loops and Carved Letter "F"

Ah yes...some "old school" quality of the early "good old days" of relic hunting! Offered here for sale out of my friend's collection are two early-dug, classic Federal plates: one is your standard, but GORGEOUS in CHOCOLATE-BROWN, SMOOTH PATINA, "US" arrow-hook belt buckle, with all hooks intact, solid lead in the back, and no damage to that GORGEOUS face and look!

As well comes a chocolate brownish/deep-woods greenish patina early-dug Eagle Breastplate, with both iron loops intact (flat) and the Billy Yank Carved the letter "F" very visibly...and BACKWARDS!

My friend is selling both separate, and there's no deal if bought together...and no reason for one when they're this purdy!!!

Extraordinary Original Rear Wheel Hub, Bullet-Struck, From Wreckage of German Luftwaffe Ju 52 Transport Plane

Shot Down By The Russians Near The Grobina Airfield (Luftwaffe Airfield) in Early 1945, Liepaja, Latvia

Here's one big, cool piece of World War II history--and only a few dollars per square inch in price! This is the rear wheel rim from a German Luftwaffe Junkers Ju 52 3-engine transport place that was recovered from the wreckage impact site of the downed plane several years after the war. What is so great is to see that Russian machinegun bullet hole going right through the thick metal of the rim...no question about this one being shot-down! The wheel rim itself measures 16.5" in diameter, by 6" wide. The two original German manufacturing metal tags are still attached on both sides. Liepaja, Latvia was a critical German naval base, and thus airbase location for the Eastern Front Wehrmacht armies and naval presence. The Grobina airfield became even more substantial in it's late-war role of supplying the ever-encircled and embattled shrinking German armies, as the Russian onslaught pushed them back upon the borders of the Fatherland. The Ju 52 German transport plane was actually an engineering marvel of design, quality, and reliability, made well before the war by famous aircraft designer and manufacturer Junkers, starting in 1932. It was affectionately nicknamed "Tante Ju" ("Autie Ju") and especially "Iron Annie" as this workhorse 3-motor transport plane was so reliable and dependable. It would take a lot to bring her down. Unfortunately, the pilots from this "Iron Annie" met a terrible fate in early 1945, as her wheel rim helps attest to. Really unique and cool piece of WWII history--a lot of history for the price...

Spectacular Civil War (or Pre-War) Cadet Enfield-Style Musket, Bayonet, & Belt Rig

Complete with belt, cap box with ornamental brass oval attachment, original cadet belt buckle and keeper, bayonet scabbard and bayonet for the Enfield-style .44 caliber Cadet Musket. This phenomenal collection of pre-war or wartime Cadet gear came out of North Carolina, and was within the famous Bill Beard collection for years. The fantastic Enfield-style copied .44 caliber fully-functional, all-original, and complete musket is in very good + condition. It is still fully-functional in both positions, having all the original parts and pieces complete, right down to the ramrod, and a nice cloth and leather-ribbed sling. Being a Belgian-made miniature copy of the Enfield Rifle, you can see the clear and vivid Liege proof on the top of the barrel. No repairs or damage. The original bayonet fits well, and has it's own metal scabbard upon the original cadets belt rig. A cap box with ornamental brass oval attachment on the flap are with the rig. No ID, unfortunately, but if it came out of North Carolina, and BILL BEARD HIMSELF liked it enough to put it in his collection, you know it's gotta be good. So many Southern states had a plethora of military school across the South, who would give up her young sons to defend her soil to the bitter end. The boys would trade-in these small cadet muskets for the real death-wielding weapons, and employ them, and all their training, upon a thousand battlefields dotted across the Southland. The honing of their fighting skills would be executed in full fury from Virginia to Texas. No more parade-ground drills and inspections.

Really cool, rare to see grouping. It would make for a great conversation piece. I've got a copy of the letter of authenticity from Will Gorges and it's provenance through Bill Beard lying around here somewhere--and I can even ask Mr. Beard to provide a letter if I have to (he's a GREAT and WONDERFUL man--I enjoy "Face Booking" with him!)

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