late 18th early 19 century Ivory mounted – elaborately embellished - Miquelet-lock MUSKET An outstanding decorator, this seldom offered all original and heavily ivory decorated musket will be best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal. This late 1700’s / early 1800s Jefferdar, Balkan shoulder arm is fitted with a 51 ½ inch, 56 caliber smooth bore barrel and measures a full 65 inches in total length. An early form of the flintlock, which became popular throughout the Ottoman Empire, such elaborately decorated, examples are thought to have been made specifically for the Ottoman Imperial Guard or as high-status arms rather than as military use muskets. (Examples of ivory-inlaid Ottoman guns are included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.) This offering remains in pleasing, un-molested, original condition with good evidence fine but period crude artisan work of the time and place. Due to age and the potential of damage we have not removed the miquelet lock for inspection and while all indications are that it is complete, pulling cock to firing position offers resistance such that we have not done so as a precaution. The frizzen is freely operating and there are no indications that the lock has removed in modern times. Most surprisingly for its age, this highly decorated piece retains all of its elaborate ivory and silver wire inlay. A rare and impressive ’wall hanger’, this piece will display well in any number of settings. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!

Antique Ivory notation: The purchaser agrees that while we believe this offering and its components to be antique in origin (see: Federal Exemption for Antique Ivory under U.S. Law 50 C.F.R. § 17.40) The Seller has made no claim regarding the item’s compliance with state, or international wildlife laws beyond this belief.

 

The [ COLT ] Peacemaker & Its Rivals by Parsons This 184 page 1950 edition of The Peacemaker & Its Rivals by John Parsons offers the story of development and use of the renowned single action Colt cartridge revolver. The first cartridge revolver adopted by the US Army and a favorite of frontiersmen and cowboys. The Peacemaker as it was originally called in the trade, had many rivals as described but was the leader among weapons of its kind. Author John E. Parsons, an expert firearms historian, extensively researches the single action Colt offering readers a rare and remarkably insightful account of the evolution, use and accuracy of the gun. Full of facts and easily readable, the cover shows light use with an as new interior. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

Original! U. S. Mounted Rifleman's – Pattern of 1858 - Hat Insignia Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, this ultra scarce regulation Mounted Riflemen insignia remains in fine, all original condition with an attractive natural age patina that comes to such die struck brass insignia with decades of age. The standing trumpet was used by a single regiment of Mounted Riflemen in the years before the Civil War and into the War's early years. Prescribed by regulation for use by enlisted Mounted Riflemen with the broad brimmed pattern of 1858 Jeff Davis hat, the distinctive insignia saw continued use into the Civil War. Though the Mounted Rifles ceased to exist after August, 1861 numerous volunteer regiments who called themselves rifles in some form adorned their headgear with the standing trumpet insignia. With just one regiment of Mounted Riflemen ever officially in service, this is a very difficult piece of regulation insignia to find in this condition. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!



 

Revolutionary War era SPECTACALS & Original Iron Case This pair of rarely surviving 18th century spectacles remain in excellent all original condition with all the telltale design and construction features knowledgeable collectors appreciate. As seen in the Colonial Williamsburg collection, this pair of eyeglasses are nicely crafted of brass with double-hinged temple pieces. round rims, 'C' bridge and large circle ribbon receptacles. Retaining their original hand crafted sheet iron case with classic period jacquard coverlet style lining, this desirable pair is offered just as acquired years ago from decades of Maine attic storage. An especially desirable find for the vintage eye ware collector as well as the early American enthusiast. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

Saturday May 13,1865 RICHMOND DAILY WHIG Published now as a Union newspaper after the fall of Richmond, this the first newspaper in the city to be operational again dates just four weeks after the assassination of Lincoln. With lengthy article containing a letter from ex Confederate diplomat James M. Mason (see Trent Affair) to, the London Times ’denying that the assignation of the President was planned by the Confederate leaders’. With the expected military content to include an interesting directory of Union Army leaders in residence, this early post-Civil War of the Richmond Whig reflects the reality of a city and state struggling to regain it footing. With an abundance of business and service advertisements and entitled articles such as Southern Integrity – Consequences of Abolition and Virginia Reinstated this relic of the early post-Civil War reconstruction offers considerable insight. A letter from Gen. Sherman regarding a request to gather war ’trophies, curiosities, relics and autographs for the Sanitary Commission will be of particular interest to collector /historians. The paper is complete in four 19 X 24 inch pages on a single sheet and remains in pleasing condition with period ware at the center fold. It is solid demonstrating good age with no tears or repairs. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

Civil War vintage Abraham Lincoln - MOURNING COCKADE Best described here by our photos as to condition and eye appeal, suffice it to say this Lincoln mourning cockade remains in pleasing original condition with good evidence of period originality. Set off with a period Lincoln button and even retaining its japanned fastening pin this Lincoln cockade will make a desirable addition to any quality period grouping. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

MAGIC LANTERN SLIDE SHOW– Pilgrims – Rev. War – War of 1812 – Civil War & Spanish American War View Harkening back to the days when folks gathered together in darkened country halls and city theaters to marvel at beautifully hand colored views offered by the turn of the century traveling Magic Lantern projectionist, this nicely slide show travel case offers its original content of 28 McAllister Magic Lantern Slides. Each hand colored glass slide remains in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or condition issues. As most of these patriotic sets have been broken up with individual views offered separately, show sets of the most popular and now most collectable Historic Americana and Patriotic War views are seldom found. Included in this set are illustrative historical views from Columbus, the landing of the Pilgrims, Revolutionary War views to include Washington at Valley Forge, battle views and the Surrender Of Cornwallis. Included are Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans then Civil War views to include Confederate artillerists active in the Bombardment of Fort Sumter, Lincoln rallying the troops the Battle of Gettysburg and finally peace as illustrated by a pair of Union and Confederate veterans shaking hands before the American flag.
With a sprinkling of attractive Lady Liberty and Stars and Stripes views the collection is concluded by Spanish American War views. Explosion of the Battleship Maine in Havana Harbor then views of land and sea battle round out the grouping with views current to the time in which the show would have been presented. As with all direct sales, we are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with refund of the purchase price upon return as purchased! Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !



 

ultra rare! c. 1888 U.S. MARINE Corps. – UNIFORM JACKET Best described here by our photo illustrations, this Marine Corps uniform jacket remains in pleasing condition while showing good evidence of age and originality. A configuration that we have been unable to reference in text or by example, this wool uniform jacket sports eight HORSTMAN PHILADELPHIA back marked Marine Corps two piece buttons (c.1875-1902). The right shoulder sleeve lining bears the period stamping ‘V. H., N. Y. / Style (120) Size (38) Stock (34)’over QUARTERMASTERS DEPT. / U. S. Marine Corps / 1887-1888 markings. The padded lining offers a period identification to ‘J. McManus’. Worthy of additional research, we have been unable to pinpoint the ‘V. H., N. Y.’ marking and wonder if the link to New York over the Marine QM marking is a link to ultimate transfer of this little used even unissued design uniform jacket from U. S. Marine Corps stores to the then newly created New York Naval Militia which encompassed the 1st Marine Corps Reserve Company ? The New York Naval Militia (NYNM) was first created in 1889 and was formally mustered into state service as the First Battalion, Naval Reserve, on 23 June 1891. Following the sinking of the USS Maine in February 1898, the Navy Department called up Naval Militia volunteers for duty in the Federal Auxiliary Naval Force. The NYNM sent five divisions of its 1st Battalion to fight in the Spanish-American War. With clear speculation as to the origin and specific history of this jacket, it was unquestionably included in U. S. Marine Corps Quartermasters stores in the late 19th century and the scarcity of reference by text or by form can only attest to its rarity. A desirable companion to any Marine Corps or general U. S. military uniform collection.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

2nd New Hampshire soldier authored - FALLEN SOLDIER – MEMORIAL RHYME Best described here by our photos as to condition and eye appeal, suffice it to say this touching Take This Letter to My Mother memorial sonnet is easily read and remains in pleasing period condition with no tears or repairs. The rhyme was penned by Cpt. Enoch G. Adams who was a 23 year old graduate of Yale and teacher when he enlisted on 6/1/1861 as a Private of Co. D of the soon to be hard fought 2nd New Hampshire Infantry. Promoted to Sargent 10/1/1861, wounded at the Battle of Williamsburg on 5/51862, then commissioned 2nd Lieut 8/10/1862. Discharged for promotion on 5/6/1864 when he was promoted Captain of the 1st Regt. U. S. Volunteers Capt. Adams was in command of the 1st USV for 4 months in which as senior Capt. and acting Colonel. After the War he lived for a time in National Military Home, KY. He died in Berwick, Maine in 1901. The sonnet reads as follows:

early issue - Civil War Union Veterans Union Medal group Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, this scarce early issue Union Veterans Union membership medal sports the UVU regulation crossed swords suspension bar with a variant US flag ribbon from which is suspended the bronze medal with a naval anchor, the cannon of the artillery, and crossed rifles of infantry. The Union Veterans Union was formed in 1886 by Civil War veterans who believed in service improvements were needed over the much larger G.A.R. Forming a number of chapters the UVU fostered the Sons of Union Veterans as an auxiliary. Included with this Union Veterans Union medal is a period membership medal of that group. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


 

Especially desirable! VIRGINIA MANUFACTORY Confederate Conversion Another remnant from our decades of scouring the countryside for such treasures, this Confederate altered 2nd Model Virginia Manufactory will be of special interest to the deep dish historian who appreciates unquestionable evidence of hard wartime use while remaining in honest as found and unmolested condition. Pleasing to the eye with an obvious hard fought history, this example from the war’s only state run armory was manufactured in Richmond, Virginia circa 1818 with its original’RICHMOND 1818’ & ’VIRGINIA / MANUFACTORY’ functioning lock. Fitted with its crude field replacement hammer and hammer screw, the arsenal plate is held in place with one arsenal screw and a period field replacement stud and classic square nut. As part of the war-time conversion (c. 1861/62) the original manufacture brass flash pan was removed with an iron sliverset in place under the braised percussion bolster all reminiscent of the work of W. Morgan in Richmond who altered approximately 700 muskets by contract between February and September 1862. The 69 caliber 33 inch barrel offers an appealing smooth 100% natural age patina with telltale wear at the muzzle as a result of heavy use of an iron ramrod. The barrel is unmarked except for a deeply struck V touch mark at the left breech. The musket retains a shortened to fit Tower ramrod as continued evidence of make-do field circumstance. Dr. John Murphy’s CONFEDERATE RIFLES & MUSKETS offers additional insight into these scarce conversions all of which were contracted for by the State of Virginia to supply its own troops. Dr. Murphy in his work and Virginia historian Giles Cromwell in his Virginia Manufactory of Arms offer good information on early war issue of these arms as flintlocks with a campaign to cycle these muskets back through for update conversion to percussion. Included is specific information pertaining to the shortening of muskets which had damage to their forward portions. The stock was period shortened just forward of the middle barrel band with a crude extensively black iron pinned but sound wrist repair continues to provide evidence of a heavily used arm of the weapons starved Virginia Confederate. These, like other Southern and Confederate arms of the war, were obsolescent weapons subject to extremely hard use such that few exist today. As such this crudely adapted field used Virginia Manufactory is all the more desirable as an artifact of the Civil War Confederacy and the State of Virginia. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!

A note about firearms: WE EMPHASIZE HERE THAT THIS PIECE IS CONSIDERED AN ANTIQUE / COLLECTABLE AND IS THEREFORE OUTSIDE FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO COVERED (MODERN) FIREARMS. THE PIECE IS OFFERED AS A HISTORICAL COLLECTABLE ONLY AND THOUGH MECHANICALLY OPERABLE, IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FIREABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE PURCHASER ASSUMES ALL LIABILITY FOR PURCHAS, CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP. PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM WILL CONSTITUTE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF AND AGREEMENT WITH THE ABOVE.




 

desirable excavated - Civil War ID DISK / CORPS DEVICE RELIC A most unusual two piece remnant silver spoon, flattened to form a thin silver sheet from which a disk has been cut. A common make do to make a corps badge or identification disk, this rare recovery of both discarded pieces of such a project was recovered at a Union camp excavation near Fredericksburg. This fragment from a common soldier’s life will make a wonderful addition to lay in with the finest of corps badge collections or to set with a single piece as a rare original example of the use of a silver spoon for such a purpose. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!


Manufacturer: hand made American antique  

Civil War FULL PLATE Tintype - Bvt. Brig. General Robert N. Adams - 81st Ohio Infantry Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, this period hand painted, whole plate tintype, depicts Bvt. Brig. General Robert Newton Adams earlier in the Civil War as Captain Co. C 81st Ohio Infantry. The photo is identifiable by google AI photo search, a copy of which will come with the image. { Drag tintype facial closeup (see site 2nd image) into the google photo search box then click AI Mode.}
Civil War Union Bvt. Brig. Gen, Robert N. Adams first entered his Civil War service when he enlisting in the 20th Ohio (Three-Month) Volunteer Infantry on April 18, 1961 and was mustered in as a Private in Company B. He was mustered out on August 18, 1861 when his enlistment expired. Shortly after that he received a commission as a Captain of Volunteers, and was mustered in as Captain in command of Company C, 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment on August 30, 1861. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel before the year was out (December 1, 1861), his regiment went on to fight in the Battles of Shiloh and Corinth, in operations in northern Alabama, and in the 1864 Atlanta Campaign. He was promoted to Colonel on August 8, 1864 and was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "meritorious services during the war". He was mustered out on July 13, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Illustrated here in our main view in its period mat and walnut frame (to include period original wavy glass) as well as raw and out of its mount to better show off detail, this scarce 6 ½ X 8 ½ inch whole plate tintype will make a pleasing addition to any quality Civil War photo collection and will be of special interest to the Ohio Civil War collector. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!



 

unusual - Civil War Canteen Variant Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, this unusual canteen is patterned after the US Model 1858 smooth side with the exception that it features a soldered on circular reinforcement on each side. Crudely soldered but otherwise well made, the canteen measures 7 5/8 inches in diameter. Unusually crude soldering in combination with its cast pewter, higher and smaller bore than usual, flanged at the mouth spout are all indicative of potential Confederate manufacture. (see: Sylvia & O’Donnell - Civil War Canteens 1st edition pages 81 & 82 ) Remaining in untouched, as used condition, this canteen remains in most pleasing condition while offering a period indentation on one side as evidence use. A desirable addition to any Civil War grouping. Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!



 

Civil War vintage - Meriden Britannia Company - Pat. 1861- WIRE REINFORCED SPOON Definitely a specialty item for the deep dish mess enthusiast or tableware collector, this Meriden Britannia Company spoon remains in excellent condition and though unmarked as to maker is clearly identifiable as a ’M.B.Co’ patented Feb. 26 1861 spoon by design and the mark of a wire end in the handle edge indicative to the patented application of a cast in internal wire reinforcement. The most significant of several improvement patents utilized by the Connecticut manufacturer, upon close inspection by the educated eye, the clip of the wire end on the side of the spoon handle (see patent drawing) identifies spoons made by M.B. Co. in the period, with or without the {PAT'D FEB.26.61} or maker’s marking. ( A Google search for artdesigncafe.com/g-i-mix-co-designs-history will offer the original parent drawing and description.) Not a big deal but it should also be noted that the spoon bears the period owner’s initials E D faintly scratch engraved on the handle back.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!