U.S. military issue PEACE FLASK Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, suffice it to say this rarely found DIXON & SON peace flask remains in excellent condition while offering a pleasing untouched age patina and good evidence of period use and handling. Long considered the most attractive of U. S. martial issue powder flasks, this example will be just the thing for the collector looking for a nice pure example that demonstrates good evidence of period use. Otherwise functional and complete, actual use will require replacement of the internal charger spring. (see also: Howard Crouch’s (Excavated) Civil War Artifacts - A Guide for the Historian
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tin spout - Civil War era Non Regulation CANTEEN This unusually proportioned period canteen measures approximately 6 ½ inches in diameter while offering an unusually deep body of 3 ¼ inches with 2 inch sloped sides giving it the capacity of the larger regulation stile canteen while being easier to carry. Featuring a tin spout reminiscent of a confederate origin, this eye appealing canteen sports a corncob spout, cloth covering and period cotton strap. Best described here as to eye appeal and condition, this desirable canteen shows good period ware and age while remaining in pleasing 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!
 

Gettysburg Battlefield & National Cemetery - 19th century LITHOGRAPH Titled ’Plan of Gettysburg with the battlefield of July 2nd & 3rd, 1863 and the National Cemetery’, this offering was done by mid 1800s lithographer Augustus Meisel of Boston and may be referenced in the Library of Congress collection. In a nicely frameable 18X26 inch size the sheet shows battlefield troop positions, roads, railroads, streams, and a few houses as well as an insert plan for the Gettysburg National Cemetery. In pleasing condition on its face with folds that may be ironed out, the sheet has two minor seam separations are archivally repaired on the back. A nice period display item for the Gettysburg enthusiast without breaking the bank. 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!
 

19th century STONEWARE BEER BOTTLE Standing approximately 8 ½ inches and just under 3 inches in diameter, this classic old stoneware beer bottle is marked GRAY – PORTOBELLO . One of the most notable manufacturers, Gray, operated the Midlothian Potteries in Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland from 1858. They specialized in stoneware bottles, spirit jars, and chemist containers, all of which were found their way in quantity to the US and Confederacy. With good evidence of age and originality while remaining in pleasing original condition this classic old 1800s bottle will display well. An attractive period item without spending a lot of money. Now that is a rarity! Don't forget to give our search feature a try for special wants. A simple key word in lower case works best. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques !
 

earlier to Civil War era - Fire Starter Standing approximately 11 ¼ inches with a 3 5/8 inch base, this lead soldered sheet iron fire starter remains complete with its original spun iron wire and brick fire ball. All original and in pleasing condition yet with good evidence of age and originality, with a little lantern oil inside, this piece would be just the thing in a country home, Civil War winter camp, cook fire, or western chuck wagon as the flame of the oil soaked fire ball made quick work of starting a heat giving fire. 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!
 

Dr. Francis Lord collection – published - IDENTIFIED CIVIL WAR WATCH FOB Best described here by our photo illustrations, we purchased this attractive hand carved peach pit watch fob from the personal collection of Dr. Francis Lord. The piece is illustrated in his Lord’s Civil War Collector’s Encyclopedia Vol. V page 217 where the author identifies the fob simply as once the property of T. Williams, 1st Maine Infantry. Recently rediscovered as we peruse long set aside Maine related items we find that some in depth research will be necessary to nail down our T. Williams of the 1st Me. Inf.. as our initial check of Maine rosters did not produce a 1st Infantry T. Williams. As there were four Mainers by that name serving in 1st Maine designated units, (1st Me. SS, 1st Heavy & two in the 1st Me. Cav.) we assume the Infantry reference was in error in the book or more likely that one of the four served in the three month 1st Maine Infantry prior to enlisting in one of the above.
Veteran collectors and those familiar with the authoritative publications of the pioneer Civil War collector will appreciate the fact that this item emanated from the collection of Dr. Francis Lord several years ago when we were fortunate enough to purchase several groupings from the personal collection of our longtime friend. A Civil War collector from a day when nearly no one else paid much attention to the details of many now valued Civil War collectible categories, Francis authored the widely known, multi volume, pioneer reference, Lord’s CIVIL WAR COLLECTORS ENCYCLOPEDIA. While a lot of detailed knowledge has been gained as the interest in Civil War collectibles increased so dramatically over the years, Dr. Lord’s encyclopedia volumes and his Civil War Sutlers & Their Wares continue to offer valuable and reliable reference to Civil War collectors.

 

1st Maine Heavy Artillery – Spotsylvania Court House wounded Averill brothers - TINTYPE pair A rare offering from our decades of collecting Manie images, (at age 81+ its time to reluctantly pare down) these images emanated from a small group of Maine Averall family tintypes. Each retains an early 1900’s gummed label identification by Ira Dunn Averill (1871-1933) the son of the subject of this of Benjamin Dunn Averill ¼ plate and William S. Averill shown in this 1/9th plate patriotically matted tintype. Both wounded at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia with the hard fought 1st Maine Heavy Artillery we couldn’t bear to break up the brothers but will be offering other Averill family related Civil War tintypes from the group separately. (see our items: 63522 & 63523)
Benjamin D. Averill Enlisted and was mustered in on December 28,1863 as a Private of Co. E 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. Wounded at Spotsylvania Court House on May 19,1864, he was promoted Corporal on May 5, 1865 then to Sargent upon mustering out on September 1,1865. After the war he lived in Prentiss, Maine and is buried there in the Belden Cemetery.
Brother William S. Averill mustered in as a Private of Co. I, 1st Maine Heavy Artillery on January 5,1864. He was wounded at Spotsylvania Court House on the same day as brother Benjamin. (A tough day for Mother.) Discharged for disability on May11,1865, William lived in Orono, Maine after the Civil War and is buried there in the Riverside Cemetery. Our letter attesting to the above will be included with the tintype 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!
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vintage Navy BOATSWAIN’S PIPE Offered here untouched and as found after decades of storage, this 19th century boatswain’s pipe shows heavy period use and good evidence of period originality while remaining solid and pleasing to the eye. Due to its high pitch the pipe it could be heard over activities in bad weather or combat and was used by the Navy Boatswain to pass commands to the crew. Will set well in any Civil War era nautical grouping without breaking the bank. 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!
 

Historic Americana - 1876 CDV – 92 year old Identical Twins Daniel & James Prince Of special interest to American history enthusiasts, this centennial year 1876 carte de visite by Moore Bros. of Springfield offers a view of the offsprings of a Revolutionary War British POW, the 92 year old identical twins and Springfield US Armory veterans, Daniel and James Prince. Best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal, the photo is accompanied by a period printed history of the parentage and history of the twin brothers. (A ChatGPT inquiry will produce much corroborating material.)
A British soldier under Gen. Burgoyne, Daniel and James Prince's father was taken prisoner of war upon the 1777 capture of Burgoyne’s army at the Battle of Saratoga. Whin the defeated British troops were marched acrost country to Boston as prisoners of war Daniel Prince senior escaped while passing through Massachusetts an subsequently became a US citizen taking permanent residence in Williamsburg, Mass. where identical twins Daniel and James were born in 1784. Twin Daniel (photo left) entered the Springfield Armory in 1799 as an apprentices and worked his way up to serve as an arms inspector serving until 1827. He died in 1876 at the age of 92. Brother James was a farmer before entering the Springfield Armory as a laborer in 1810. In 1812 he began service as a government teamster before removing to Goshen, Mass in 1821 where he was engaged in farming. He died in 1878 at the age of 94. 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!



 

state issue Model 1860 CAVALRY SABER Offered here uncleaned and untouched just as it was set aside in a Maine farm house sometime after the Civil War, is this nice old Mod. 1860 Civil War issue cavalry saber. If it is the authenticity and charm of a carried saber that you desire, this one will fit the bill. With no maker nor government inspector marking this well used but pleasing condition saber is clearly a state issue piece. As such it is a rather scarce example as the majority of Maine cavalry seemed to carry the earlier and heavier Mod. 1840 wrist breaker though identified period photographs have offered proof that the Mod. 1860 was indeed carried by troops of both the 1st and 2nd Maine Cavalry. This example shows good evidence of period use and carrying with the usual dents and dings of field use on the scabbard and guard with its original wire wrap over well worn but solid grip leather. The blade is in excellent original condition, full length with no chips or dings in its edge. The scabbard is minus its throat insert and retains a coarse coat of period tar based paint. Both conditions are original to the period and familiar to us as long time Maine Civil War collectors. Theories as to the purpose of removing the insert tend to center on ease of draw from the scabbard and opinions on application of the flat tar based paint run from protection from rain to toning down the glint of shiny scabbards in the sun and moonlight. At any rate we would recommend leaving all as is thus preserving the hard to find as carried Maine cavalry saber. Buy with confidence! All direct sales are backed by no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased ! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item is being returned per these previsions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!!



Manufacturer: antique  

1880s Band Shako A visually impressive addition to any 19th century band instrument or headgear grouping, this size 7 ¼ bandsman shako remains in pleasing condition while offering good evidence of age, originality and period use. Set off by its bright color, and classic bell crown design, this eye appealing shako is totally original and complete retaining its original US Army Model 1881 eagle front plate.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!
 

Carved Bone ‘YANKE’ Skull - CONFEDERATE VETERAN’s CANE A relic of the old south, this vestige of our years of searching out such treasures will best described here by our illustrations as to condition and eye appeal. This desirable Confederate vet. walking stick is composed of a natural stick topped by a stout home carved bone YANKE skull. Measuring 35 1/2 inches in length and remains in pleasing condition while offering good evidence age and authenticity. Most likely just post-Civil War, this stick is a scarce example of an understandable but very carefully expressed lingering Southern resistance in the early 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!
 

War of 1812 period Veteran identified - Straight Razor & Spectacle grouping All offered here as found in a period ’coffin’ type double straight razor case, is this early stub-tail razor with accompanying late 1700s early 1800s iron frame spectacles. The razor is mounted in whale baleen scales with a telltale stub tang, indicating the razor was probably manufactured in the 1820-1830s. The blade fits snugly between the scales, shows evidence of period hone wear while remaining keen with no nicks in the cutting edge. The shank is marked CLARK & HALL WARRANTED. The iron framed spectacles are fitted with classic telescoping temples and string tie loops.
Included as folded and housed with the family relics is a descendant note advising that ’ these Spectacles and the razor belonged to your great – great-grandfather Riley He was born in Virginia in 1786 Died in Indiana in 1860’. Innocuous as the information provided seems, an Ancestry.com search for a Riley born in Virginia in 1786 and passing in Indiana in 1860 produced but a single match. He was James Riley who was born Prince William County, Virginia on December 22, 1787 and died on June 22 1860 in Whitley County, Indiana. A notation posted by a descendant offers advises that James Riley moved to Fayette County , Ohio at age seventeen where he married and settled as a pioneer. Relocating to Whitley County in 1843-44 Riley purchased 40 acres of land for himself and each of his four children. The notation advises further that James Riley had been engaged in Indian skirmishes as a soldier in the War of 1812 and that his father Abraham was a veteran of the American Revolution. A neat all original personal grouping worthy of preservation.
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!


 

USN Academy - WWII Submariner - Killed In Action - GROUPING A bit of a reach from our usual time frame we could not pass on an effort to preserve this offering intact. Offered here as a group to preserve its historical integrity are the personal items and US Navy memorabilia of Annapolis graduate Lt. Commander Wilbur J. Mason. The executive officer of the US Gato class submarine Herring, Lt. Cdr. Mason was lost with all eighty-three aboard when the hard fought, five battle star, U-boat was sunk on June 1, 1944. Included in the group is Lt. Cdr. Masons inscribed officer’s sword complete with sword case and sword belt, his uniform submariner device framed for preservation by the family, a period photograph of the USS Herring with attached time appropriate campaign ribbons and the family framed portrait with military record. Best described as to condition by our illustrations, suffice it to say the sword is in exceptional shape. As with the sword we have made every effort to illustrate each component for your inspection and evaluation. All are original and as preserved by the family. A quick Google will offer an account of the extensive WWII history of the Herring and her crew. All acquired directly from the descendants, a family related Harley Davidson military service memorial leather jacket is offered elsewhere as item # 634104.
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 nice! likely Confederate issue - Aston Model 1842 Pistol Another treasure from our many years of seeking out such things, (see www.MaineLegacy.com) this exceptionally desirable Mod. 1842 emanated from the remains of Bosworth G. A. R. Post Department of Maine in Portland when the post was unceremoniously dismantled in the 1960s with much of its content scattered hither and yon. This likely early Civil War Confederate issue, Mod. 1842 remains excellent condition with good evidence of period use and carrying while offering crisp wood with pleasing natural age patina on wood and metal with crisp martial markings on both. The lock is mechanically excellent, with most of the internal parts retaining a large majority of their bright, fire-blued finish. The lock plate is marked US H. ASTON MIDDtn CONN 1852. Of special interest to the Confederate collector, the US on the US JPC P barrel marking bears obviously period peening obliteration. Per our internet research ( ChatGPT is a good start.) this particular obliteration method is attributed to pistols taken from the Alabama Mt. Vernon Arsenal. While it's difficult to find documentation on the exact obliteration process used by each of the various Confederate state arsenals, it is well established that many a captured or early war CS state arsenal US Mod. 1842 suffered this indignity by chisel crosshatching or peening.
The stock remains in very pleasing condition with sharp edges and offers two crisp script inspection cartouches on the side flat, the final ordnance acceptance stamp W.A.T. in script of William A. Thornton and just forward of that the JCB inspection stamp of Joseph C. Bragg, perhaps familiar to collectors from his inspection of Colt Dragoons. In short, this arm remains in unmolested exceptional condition throughout while offering desirable evidence of light period use and carrying.
Representing both the beginning and the end of an era in US military handguns, the Mod.1842 pistol was both the first official percussion ignition pistol to be adopted by the US military and the last of the large bore, single shot, smooth bore pistols to be issued in any quantity. The Model 1842 was .54 caliber with an 8 ½ inch long smooth bore barrel intended to use the same round ball as the US Model 1841 Mississippi Rifle. A general service arm issued to the infantry, cavalry, dragoons, and artillery, like its flintlock predecessors, the Mod. 1842 had a large bulbous capped butt specifically designed to allow the weapon’s use as a club after discharge. Primarily issued from 1845 through 1851 the Mod.1842 saw heavy use in the Mexican / American War with large inventories transferred to state arsenals between 1855 and 1859. This included thousands to southern state arsenals, especially Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 these large Southern state stores of the Mod. 1842 saw issue in these now Confederate states. This piece has been of particular interest to us over the years by virtue of the fact that it emanated from the Portland Bosworth G.A.R. collection particularly known to us as containing many a captured CS treasure. We have always felt that its extra nice condition especially for Confederate use was an indication that the piece was an early Civil War re-capture. Ultimately passed to the Maine GAR Post #2 by a veteran member for inclusion in their collection, the pistol was deassessed to a local historian upon destruction of the Bosworth Hall in the 1960s, then acquired by us to be maintained as part of our personal collection. (see: www.MaineLegacy.com for a sampling ) Now in our 80s it is time to find an appreciative new home. 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!