CampSite Artifacts  ·

        NEW !

Here is a Fine Non-Dug US M1833 Dragoon Stirrup ! It’s the big heavy brass pattern with a cut out tread and a 1.35 inch opening in the strap loop at top, for the stirrup strap. When I first saw this, I thought it had an unusual mellow patina, but after handling it I saw that it actually has a coat of old gold paint on the outer surfaces, likely to be used for parades, years after military use was discontinued. Though it shows a lot of wear, I can still remnants of the unique triangle shaped stippling often seen on these, near both inside edges of the tread. These stirrups also fit the M1844 Ringgold saddle and were used into the Civil War. This one originated out of Kansas. A Fine Pre-War US Dragoon Stirrup !

        $150 plus shipping

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Here is an Excellent Civil War Period Civilian Spur, often recovered in Campsites ! It is a known pattern, with the scalloped arms on each side, and almost a bird’s head form to the end of the rowel. I have dug pieces of these with rectangular strap slots, and also round strap slots like this one. I think all the pieces, parts, and examples I have seen were recovered in Confederate Campsites, and that makes sense as nearly all Union Troopers had Army Issue spurs, usually the M1859. This spur shows a wonderful greenish/brown patina over the entire piece and still has some caked dirt in spots. The iron rowel has rusted away as is common with dug examples and part of the rowel neck is broken right out at the point or beak. It is a good sized spur measuring about 5.25 inches long and 3 inches across the arms. Though I have seen a few of these non-dug, it is very uncommon to find them intact in dug condition. A Great Looking Civil War Period Civilian Spur, that was more than Likely Worn by a Confederate Trooper. It was recovered at Cold Harbor, Virginia.

        $95 plus shipping

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Here is a Quite Unusual Civil War Period Hand Forged Bit ! It resembles some of the Confederate Copies of US Dragoon bits, but seems too large and heavy to be one of those. Like many military bits, it has loose reins rings, and a high port for better control. But this thing is Huge. It measures about 11.5 inches long, not including the reins rings, and is right at 5.75 inches wide. It is constructed of thick flat iron stock, hammered at the ring end, with a forged center bar. The side straps are ¼ inch thick, which really contributes to the weight of this bit. Overall, this is a big heavy bit, and would not have appealed to most cavalrymen, and would much more likely have been for draft animals, or possibly artillery horses. I have never seen one like it. It is definitely of the period or earlier, and an Unusual Large Hand Forged Bit that Displays Great !

        $75 plus shipping

Here is a Very Rare Confederate CS12 Cavalry Trooper’s Spur ! Even better yet, this is a non-dug example with an iron rowel that still spins. Except for being non-dug, it is identical to the example pictured in Howard Crouch's book, Historic American Spurs, at the top of page 57. He describes it as being “a rare specimen, and the only one noted to date.” [1998] It was found near Richmond, Virginia, in 1996. This one, has a wonderful golden brown patina on the entire piece, displaying a few minor casting flaws and a minimum of file finishing. The ten-point iron rowel is still present, though two of the points have broken tips, and still spins freely. Years ago I found a non-dug CS3 Confederate “Mississippi” Spur with the original pigskin strap in Oklahoma, but as a rule, many patterns of original Confederate Spurs are Extremely Uncommon in non-dug condition ! Here is a Superb Example of a Non-Dug Confederate CS12 Spur ! You might not see another in your lifetime.

        $350 plus shipping

Here is a Big Beautiful Dug CS4 Confederate Spur ! It’s noted as CS4 in Howard Crouch’s book, Historic American Spurs, on page 52. He notes that whoever produced them apparently did so with the idea of making them unbreakable, and they are quite large and sturdy. This one has a wonderful mostly smooth green patina with no bends, breaks, or damage of any sort, though the iron rowel has rusted away. The Confederate Trooper who wore this one may have been trying to either mark it as his property, or keep count of the horses he had been through when he carved three marks on the ends of both of the strap slots. This pattern has been recovered in all theaters but the only location I got with this one was Virginia. A Super Nice Example of a known Confederate Spur !

        $250 plus shipping

Here is a Nice Non-Dug Confederate Trooper’s Bridle Bit ! Except for the lack of a slobber bar, it is very similar to the “Trooper’s bit variation” shown on page 101, of Ken R. Knopp’s book, Confederate Saddles & Horse Equipment. This is a big, heavy bit measuring about 7 inches long, not including the reins rings, and about 5.75 inches wide. It is as heavy as the standard US M1859 Cavalry Bit. It is high port, in order to control a skiddish or undisciplined animal, and shows a crude or possibly blacksmith construction. When I got it, one of the reins rings had worn so much, it pulled thru the end of the bit, while the other side also shows heavy wear, but the ring had not pulled thru yet. I reinserted the reins ring in the end that was completely open, and then closed the end with J.B. Weld, matching the patina of the non-dug iron as well as I could, [ See 5th Photo] leaving the other side as it was. I have seen these bits in good dug condition for as much as $300, but here is a great displaying non dug example priced with the repair in mind, for much less. A Fine Example of the Confederate Trooper’s Bridle Bit!

        $175 plus shipping

Here is a Neat Dug Civil War Period Iron Spur ! It’s a civilian pattern nearly identical to spur CV29 in Howard Crouch’s book, Historic American Spurs, except for being smaller and made of iron instead of brass. Crouch says that the pattern was very popular with military men. This one is small, being only 4.5 inches long, and 3 inches wide at the strap slots. The iron rowel is still present but frozen in place, and the iron body, though moderately pitted is still strong. All this really needs is a good coat of rust neutralizer and it is ready to display. A Small yet Fine Displaying Period Civilian Spur !

         $50 plus shipping

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Here is another Nice Civil War Period Horse Curry Comb ! It has the violin shaped top attachment for the handle frequently seen on early patterns, and a curved row of back teeth. The main teeth are still present in good order and could likely be used. The tang of the iron handle has been peened on the end to retain the wood grip. The comb measures approximately 8.125 inches long by about 4.5 inches wide. A Fine Civil War Period Curry Comb that Displays Great!

         $55 plus shipping

Here is a Fine Matched Pair of Brass Civil War Period “Box” Spurs ! Examples of these have been excavated in all theaters of the war, and a nearly identical spur is shown in Howard Crouch’s book, Historic American Spurs, on page 27, lower half of the page. Crouch notes that illustration as being from the 1864, Schuyler, Hartley, & Graham catalog. This pair is in excellent condition, with a nice even non dug patina, and fancy brass rowels that still spin. One of them shows heavy green patina on the bottom of the rowel neck, and both show the maker’s mark there of, “Maxwell.” On the iron stems centered between the arms, the top of one shows, “Right” and the other “Left”. The bottom of that stem on both spurs shows Maxwell’s address of “161 Piccadilly, London.” Though Maxwell had been in business since the 1750s, they occupied the Piccadilly address as early as 1852. A Nice Pair of Non-dug Civilian “Box Spurs” often recovered in Civil War Period Sites !

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Here is a Beautiful Lead Solder filled, U.S. Bridle Rosette ! It is the very small pattern at only about 1.15 inches in diameter, and thought to be a pre-war dragoon item, as they are sometimes recovered in Mexican War era sites. This one is a really slick dark brown, darker than it appears in my picture but just as slick, with no damage evident at all. The reverse shows most of the lead solder fill still present in good condition, with impressions where the attachment loops once were. Recovered near Savannah, Georgia. A Superb Displaying U.S. Bridle Rosette !

                            SOLD

Here is a Beautiful Dug CS2 Confederate “Brandy Spur !” This pattern is noted as CS2 in Howard Crouches’ book, Historic American Spurs. It has a smooth mostly dark green patina over the entire spur, and no breaks or cracks anywhere. The iron rowel has rusted away as is common, and both sides are tilted in near the strap slots, likely to fit the individual troopers’ boot. I got this from Sanford Potts at the Franklin, Tennessee, show, and anybody who has ever attended that show, or the old Memphis show, will remember his super collection of 4 or 5 tables of mostly Confederate Spurs. The white label on the inside of the heel band was his identifier for this particular spur, and he always keeps good records of every one of his spurs. Surprisingly, when he went to the books to see where this one was recovered, it came from the Fort Donelson area. A Super Nice Dug Confederate Brandy Spur !

                                SOLD

Here is a Fine Relic Condition US M1863 Cavalry Bridle Bit ! Though I’m almost sure it’s not excavated, it has a very nice look and most likely resided in a barn or outbuilding for years. All the iron shows even moderate pitting but nothing heavy like a dug piece. Both brass bit bosses are still attached and have a nice green/brown patina. They are the pattern with the letters US on a relief swirled field and peened to the bit with brass pins. This is a high port pattern intended for more control of a horse. A Fine Civil War US M1863 Cavalry Bridle Bit that Displays Great !

                           SOLD