Middle Tennessee Relics

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Firearms

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  1. Very attractive, 1820 date, .698 cal., Prussian or Pottsdam, 3-band rifled musket.  The Governor of Ohio in 1861 purchased several thousand of these to arm Ohio Infantry going off to the Civil War.  It was quickly realized that the muskets were extremely heavy and not very accurate at long distance considering the huge size of the projectile.  In spite of this fact, many Ohio Infantry soldiers left the State of Ohio early in the Civil War carrying these muskets.  Here in Tennessee, any time you start digging .698 cal. 2-ring Prussian bullets, you can bet that you're in an Ohio Infantry camp.  Many Ohio troops abandoned these massive caliber old muskets at the first opportunity to get a .58 cal. Springfield or a .577 cal. Enfield rifled musket.  Because the Union guys were happy to get rid of these muskets, they often turn up in Confederate estates here in the South as they definitely beat no arm at all.  This example has smooth, gently aging metal with lockplate markings of, "Danzig - 1820".  The European walnut stock remains in very nice condition and has brass barrel bands and a brass trigger guard.  We are including a display with a classic 2-ring Prussian bullet and a percussion cap.--$975.

  2. Very nice condition, .72 cal., import European single-shot horse pistol.  This massive Civil War Era pistol still functions perfectly and locks firmly into both half-cock and full-cock.  It is 100% out of a north Florida southern estate and would have been CS carried.  The lockplate is marked, "A. Bauman".  The barrel has an old "CSA" marking on the flat in front of the hammer.  The marking definitely has age, but we are not sure whether it dates war period or not.  With this pistol, we are including a small display case with a .72 cal. musket ball and percussion cap.--$975.

  3. Fresh in out of a local Confederate estate, this is a Model 1855, .58 cal., Maynard primed, percussion "pistol - carbine" made only between 1855 and 1857 by the Springfield Armory with a total production of only 4,021.  Almost every one of these that I have encountered over the years have had Confederate association.  This example shows good wear, but remains in very decent displayable condition.  When the pistol was brought into the shop, it was missing the front barrel band, and I was able to locate one that fits reasonably well.  With the massive pistol carbine, we are including an excavated Maynard door from this exact type pistol.  I recovered that door many years ago from the camp of the 8th Texas Cavalry located near Unionville, Tennessee.  This is a weapon that most museums do not even have an example of.--$1,650.

  4. Very attractive, .58 cal., Model 1861, Springfield 3-band rifled musket.  This is the weapon considered by many to be the most representative, "classic weapon" of the American Civil War.  The lockplate is marked, "1862 - Springfield - US", and there are remnants of a barrel date, but you can't make out the entire date.  The original walnut stock remains in nice condition with two clearly visible inspector cartouches.  The action remains crisp and locks firmly into half-cock and full-cock.  There is decent rifling remaining, and the musket retains original long-range site, both sling swivels, and original ram rod.  This weapon has clearly seen action as there is typical burn-out behind the nipple, and the small dings and marks to the stock indicating being carried through many a campaign.  This is a solid, middle grade musket with the most sought after date around (1862).  With this musket, we are including an original percussion cap and also a .58 cal. Minie ball recovered here at Stones River.--$1,595.SOLD

  5. Super, super rare and in beautiful condition, Model 1849, long barrel, Colt Pocket revolver with all matching serial numbers of 211975.  This revolver is inscribed to and was carried by Confederate General Thomas Benton Smith and what a story General T. B. Smith has to tell.  General Thomas Benton Smith was born near Mechanicsville, Tennessee, and grew up on a farm near Triune, Tennessee.  General Smith was widely known in the area as being incredibly, intellectually gifted.  By age 15, General Smith had been given a patent on a locomotive "cow-catcher" and appeared to be headed toward a lucrative career in railroading.  When the Civil War came, young Thomas Benton Smith was enrolled in the prestigious Nashville Military College in Nashville, Tennessee.  Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Thomas Benton Smith would raise the unit that eventually became known as Co. B of the 20th Tennessee Infantry under the command of Col. Joel A. Battle.  At Shiloh, the regiment suffered over 50% casualties including the capture and imprisonment of the regiment's Colonel, Joel A. Battle.  Upon reorganization, a month after the battle, his fellow soldiers elected Thomas Benton Smith as their new Colonel.  As Colonel of the 20th Tennessee, he led them at Murfreesboro where he was shot through both the breast and left arm.  Over the coming months, Col. Smith recovered, and at Chickamauga, Col Smith was again wounded.  At Missionary Ridge, the brigade commander, Col. Tyler was wounded, and Col. Thomas Benton Smith was assigned command of the entire brigade.  Through the fighting toward Atlanta, Col. Thomas Benton Smith was so impressive that, on July 29, 1864, while in front of Atlanta, he received his commission as Brigadier General CSA.  At this point, he was the youngest Brigadier General in the Army of Tennessee.  On December 16, 1864, on the apex of Shy's Hill at the Battle of Nashville, stood the tattered remnants of the 20th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.  At approximately 4:00 pm, on December 16, 1864, the Federal Infantry overran the Confederate lines on Shy's Hill at the Battle of Nashville.  General Thomas Benton Smith had been ordered by Confederate General William B. Bate to "hold the line at all hazards".  General Thomas Benton Smith and a small squad of his soldiers fought until they were totally surrounded, and at the bitter end, held a white handkerchief over his head surrendering himself and his few remaining men.  General Thomas Benton Smith was approached by Col. William Linn McMillan who appeared to be inebriated and began to curse and berate Gen. Smith.  All witnesses stated that General Smith's simple response to Col. McMillan was to state that, "I am a disarmed captured prisoner."  Col. McMillan was so enraged that, according to witnesses, he appeared temporarily insane.  The Colonel became so enraged that he drew his saber and struck General Thomas Benton Smith three times over the head, each blow cutting through Gen. Smith's hat and crashing into his skull.  Shocked by the action of their own officer, nearby Federals rushed General Smith to a field hospital where the attending surgeon examined the wound and remarked, "Well, sir, you are near the end of your battles, for I can see the brain oozing through the gap in your skull."  Much to everyone's surprise, the boy General, Thomas Benton Smith, would survive these horrific blows.  Unfortunately, in a short time following the war, General Thomas Benton Smith had to be admitted to the Tennessee State Asylum, also known as the Tennessee Central State Psychiatric Hospital.  On some days, General Smith appeared near normal while on other days he was ordering his troops forward.  Many more years passed until, on May 21, 1923, General Thomas Benton Smith was released from his earthly bondage.  His grave rests with his former comrades in the Confederate Circle of Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.  By all measures, Confederate General Thomas Benton Smith was a hero in every regard, and whoever becomes caretaker of his Colt revolver should treasure it and preserve and protect it.  This artifact is nothing less than an Absolute Civil War Southern Treasure.--$28,500.SOLD

  6. Very nice condition, 1st Model, Smith & Wesson 7-shot, .22 cal. revolver.  This revolver is serial number 64552 and is early Civil War production.  The "Smith & Wesson Springfield, Mass" marking on the barrel remains deep and crisp.  This little revolver has 90% silver wash intact and would be a very nice addition to any Civil War display.  They were very popular with officers in that they fired pre-manufactured, fixed ammunition.--$850.

  7. Just in out of a Chattanooga area estate, .54 cal., single-shot, percussion, 1st type Merrill carbine.  This carbine shows extensive use and has the soldier's initials, "W M", carved into the stock.  The lockplate is marked, "J. H. Merrill - Balto./Patent July 1858/Apl."  Carbines of this type were very sought after by Confederates who wanted to carry an actual carbine rather than one made by cutting down an Infantry weapon or possibly a double-barrel shotgun.  The metal has a smooth, gray/brown patina and is serial number 6876 out of approximately 14,495.  This would be a nice addition to someone's Civil War Cavalry display.--$1,150.SOLD

  8. Very attractive, percussion, 12-gauge, double barrel shotgun.  This weapon is out of a North Florida estate and is believed to have been carried by a Confederate Cavalryman.  Many years ago, I recovered a near identical shotgun from the camp of the 51st Alabama Cavalry.  These were carried by numerous Confederates during the first year of the Civil War.  It will make a fine addition to someone's Confederate display.  The shotgun remains all intact except for needing one ramrod tube which would be a very easy repair.--$450.

  9. Excellent condition, original ,Civil War "nipple pick".  If you have an original Civil War cap box, and it is missing the pick as is often the case, here is your chance to finish out your box.--$45.

  10. Bad to the bone 1830 to 1840 era single shot .69 cal. BRASS BARREL original FLINTLOCK pistol straight out of a central North Carolina estate, and sings "DIXIE" loud and clear !!  The lockplate is nicely "LONDON" marked, and the brass buttcap has a Drooped Wing eagle.  No Yankee would have been caught dead carrying this old out dated war-horse, - but load her up with about a dozen big buck, and up close and personal it would be a BAD BOY !!!  The stock has a couple very old repairs.--$895.SOLD

  11. Beautiful condition, 1st Model, .22 cal., Smith & Wesson 7-shot revolver.  This revolver has crisp action, deep sharp marks, and lots of original case color remaining.  You rarely find them this nice.--$900.SOLD

  12. Very nice condition, Colt .36 cal., Police Model revolver with an all-matching serial number of 25949, except for the wedge which is an old replacement.  This revolver has good action and a pleasing, aged, gray/brown patina.  The revolver comes in an excellent condition, original Confederate manufacture, leather holster.  On the butt of the revolver is carved, "K. Cockman - 11th Ark".  David Cockman was captured February 4, 1864, in action near Clinton, Mississippi.  K. David Cockman is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery having died at Camp Douglas on April 26, 1864.--SOLD

  13. Very attractive, .69 cal., smooth bore, Confederate carbine, hand blacksmith crafted from a Model 1842, 3-band, Infantry rifled musket.  The carbine has a smooth, aged, chocolate patina overall with lockplate markings of, "Springfield - 1850".  The weapon was shortened during the Civil War Era to carbine length for Cavalry use.  We are including a cased buck and ball which would have been very likely what would have been fired from this weapon.  It hasn't been cleaned at all and remains just as it has come down through the ages.--$650.SOLD

  14. Very nice condition, .71 cal., Model 1851, Austrian carbine.  This example shows clear evidence of being carried, is lockplate dated "1852", and remains in nice enough condition to yet fire today.  This is out of a deep South estate and was no doubt Confederate carried.--$1,150.

  15. Excellent condition original tin of Civil War era percussion Revolver caps.  This would be an excellent compliment displayed with your Civil War era percussion single shot pistol or revolver.  It was made by "Eley" of London.--$48.

  16. Very attractive, 6 inch barrel, Model 1849, Colt .318 cal., 6-shot pocket revolver.  This revolver is out of a deep South estate and was quite likely Confederate carried.  It is serial number 209433 which is most desirable 1861 production.  The revolver has a smooth, uncleaned, chocolate patina overall and is marked, "Address Col. Saml. Colt - New York - US America".  The walnut grips are original and show nice, even, honest wear.  The main spring remains good and strong, and the action advances properly some of the time and some of the time it does not.  This would be a very nice addition to any Civil War collection and was very likely CS carried.--$975.

  17. Very attractive, big 12 mm, "E. Lefaucheux" pinfire revolver.  This revolver is out of a private museum in Arkansas and is very similar to the pinfire revolver carried by General "Stonewall" Jackson.  It has intact both the loading door and cartridge ejector rod which are often missing.  The lanyard ring on the butt is not present and the trigger doesn't advance the cylinder "every time".  This will be a very nice addition to any Confederate display, and it is extra nice in that it is BIG caliber and is actually "E. Lefaucheux" marked.--$895.

  18. Excellent condition, small 7 mm, Belgian Leige produced, 6-shot pinfire revolver.  This revolver has the folding trigger, cartridge ejector rod, and loading door all completely intact, and the action still works perfectly.  Confederate General Stonewall Jackson carried a pinfire revolver very much like this one except a larger caliber.  This revolver would make a nice addition to any Confederate display.--$595.

  19. About 30 years ago, it wasn't really uncommon to encounter one of these.  But, in recent times, you seldom see one offered.  This is an original 25 round, Requa - Billinghurst battery gun clip.  This clip is complete and will still hinge open and closed.  There has to be lots of Civil War artillery and small arms collections that are missing one of these.--$250.

  20. Very attractive condition, US Model 1884 Trapdoor Springfield rifle.  The trapdoor mechanism remains completely intact and functions perfectly.  Both sling swivels and the flip-up long range sight all remain intact as well.  This rifle is serial number 535046.(CW)--$850.

  21. Very nice condition, quite rare, cast brass folding "scissor" type bullet mold for a .36 cal. "SUGAR LOAF" pistol projectile.  I have only recovered rare Sugar Loaf projectiles from Confederate campsites.--$175.

  22. Just purchased out of a local Southern estate.  This is a folding BRASS double cavity bullet mold for a .32 cal. round ball, and also for a .32 cal. elongated projectile.  This mold would make projectiles correct for the .32 cal. Colt Pocket Model, or would fit any of the other .32 cal. Pocket size revolvers.--$125.

  23. Very pretty condition "COLT" marked double cavity bullet mold that goes with the .32 cal. Model 1849 Colt Pocket Revolver.  This would be a sweet display accessory for your pretty Colt Pocket Revolver.--$175.

  24. Original twisted brown paper packet containing original Civil War musket percussion caps.  One of these packets of percussion caps were packaged with each brown factory wrapped package of 10 Civil War Minie Ball cartridges.  EVERY Civil War collection should have an original packet of musket percussion caps.--$48.

  25. Excellent condition, blacksmith made, "scissor type" bullet mold for a single, .36 cal. pistol or musket ball.  The mold has a rich, aged patina and still works perfectly.--$85.

  26. Very rare, double cavity, cast brass bullet mold for a "Sugar Loaf" style projectile.  This mold is approximately .48 cal. and would have been likely used with a "Country Rifle".  I have only recovered a few "Sugar Loaf" type projectiles, and every one that I have found has been from an early war Confederate camp.--$150.

  27. Beautiful condition scissor type cast brass double cavity bullet mold for a .36 cal. Country Rifle.  Many young Confederates left home for the Civil War carrying the family Rifle as that was all they had.  Within the first year of the Civil War these were all pretty much replaced by more conventional military weapons.  This is out of a local estate, and is in near perfect condition.--$95.

  28. Quite rare to find, non-excavated, .44 cal., Colt "Dragoon", double cavity, folding, iron bullet mold.  We have inserted two original battlefield excavated Colt projectiles for nice display.--$195.

  29. Very nice condition, solid cast brass bullet mold for a .45 caliber "country rifle" projectile.  Country rifles were carried from home by many young Confederates when they first left home for the Civil War in 1861.  We rarely find country rifle projectiles in Confederate camps any later than 1863 because of issue of more standard weapons.  This mold still operates perfectly and would yet mold bullets today.--$195.

  30. Extremely rare to recover, excavated, single cavity bullet mold for the .50 caliber Smith carbine.  This bullet mold is out of the nationally known Civil War author, Charlie Harris's, collection.  Although excavated, it remains in very nice condition and will open and close with ease.  This would be a fine compliment to display with your Smith carbine or to add to your Civil War excavated artifact collection.--$395.

  31. Extremely rare, scissor type, Confederate used, .65 cal., Hanoverian bullet mold.  This rare mold remains in perfect condition and is out of the personal collection of Civil War author, Charlie Harris.  It will be a fine addition to any Civil War collection.--$395.

  32. Super rare and in drop-dead beautiful condition, original folding scissor type, cast brass bullet mold for the Confederate used, .69 cal., "Tower" bullet.  Early in the Civil War, the South traded cotton to England for .69 caliber Tower muskets in an attempt to arm Southern Infantry troops.  The massive, .69 cal., Towers bullets are recovered in early war Civil War sites such as Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, and Stones River, but by mid-1863, most of the .69 cal. muskets had been replaced by the .577 cal., 3-band, Enfield rifled muskets.  This example is the rarer, cone cavity variety and is out of Civil War author, Charlie Harris's, personal collection.  In almost 50 years, this is the most perfect condition, .69 cal., Towers bullet mold that I have seen.--$950.

  33. Fresh out of a Central Illinois estate, Model 1873, 45 - 70 caliber, "trap door", Springfield rifle.  This rifle has a smooth, attic brown patina tip to tip and remains just as it has been for many, many years.  With the rifle, comes an original, triangular, socket bayonet complete with a partial leather scabbard.  This old trap door rifle remains absolutely untouched with tiny specks of paint where the rooms in which it was stored have been painted several times over the years.  This is an historic, old, untouched, Model 1873, Springfield trap door.--$850.

  34. This is a bullet mold that you seldom see offered for sale.  It is a "COLT" marked .28 cal. double cavity for the Colt "Root" revolver.  If you have a nice Colt Root - here is your chance to add a correct bullet mold to your display.  You won't see this one very often.--$350.

  35. Quite rare and in excellent condition, Wilmot patented musket tompion.  This tompion is marked, "Patented November 24, 1863" (155 years ago tomorrow).  These were actually issued and used as I have seen three or four recovered here.--$95.

  36. Single cavity iron bullet mold for a .36 cal. country rifle elongated "picket style bullet" of the exact type carried by many young Confederates as they first left their homes in the South for the Civil War.  The mold would have originally had two wooden handles which are not present, but could be easily replaced.--only $79.

  37. Very nice condition, original, non-excavated, 1864 date, Springfield musket lockplate and hammer assembly.  This lockplate retains beautiful crisp marks, and excellent action locking firmly into both half-cock and full-cock positions.  If you have an 1863 or 1864 Springfield musket that would be improved by a very nice lockplate and hammer assembly, here is your opportunity to get one.--$195.

  38. Quite rare to find, complete mid-1800's DOUBLE leather shot flask.  This shot flask has two completely separate compartments with two brass measuring devices so that you could have your choice of two different size lead shot depending on what you were hunting.  It remains completely intact with original brass buckle, and both measuring devices still have good springs and work perfectly.--$115.

  39. Nice condition, cast brass, folding, double cavity bullet mold for a .45 cal. picket country rifle.  These are bullets that we only recover from Confederate sites.  This mold remains in nice enough condition to mold bullets today.--$95.

  40. Perfect condition, non-excavated, musket tumbler punch.  It has lots of original bluing remaining and will make an excellent compliment to your Civil War musket display.--$65.

  41. Beautiful condition, non-excavated pair of .69 cal. bullet worms.  One of the worms is a long pattern, and the other a short pattern.  This display will make a wonderful compliment to display with your .69 cal. percussion muskets.--$95 for both worms.

  42. Attractive, framed display containing several original Frankford Arsenal musket percussion caps.  Nicely displayed and ready to hang.--$35.

  43. Excellent condition, original Civil War Cavalry carbine bore brush.  The leather thong is complete with no breaks or weak spots, and the bore hair brush has all bristles 100% intact.  This would be an excellent compliment to display with your Civil War Cavalry carbine.--$89.

  44. Group of 7 assorted musket parts that are either non-excavated or are early pick-ups or recoveries, and still remain in nice enough condition to use on a musket today.  There are {2} .58 cal. Springfield or contract musket breechplugs - one brass Mississippi trigger guard - {1} .58 cal. Springfield trigger guard - one cast brass Enfield nose cap {1} one .69 cal. Model 1816 musket buttplate and {1} cast brass trigger guard to an unknown musket.  A real bargain !!--$195. for all
   

Larry Hicklen
Shop:  (615) 893-3470
Email: larryhicklen@comcast.net