CampSite Artifacts  ·

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Here is the Best “Relic” Condition U.S. M1859 Cavalry Bridle Bit I’ve owned ! I’m actually not sure if it is a dug example recovered years ago, or a barn or outbuilding recovery, though it does have a dug look to it. Both brass bit bosses are still intact and tight, and are the pattern with a swirled background. The slobber bar is still intact, and even the curb chain and attachments are still present. The bit has not been bent out of shape, and it still completely tight except for one end of the curb chain which can be detached and reattached. It has a #4 high port crossbar for animals that are a bit difficult to control. Just a Super Displaying Example of the M1859 Bridle Bit that was on most Federal Cavalry Horses, and probably a few Confederate ones, for the first half of the war !

        $250 plus shipping

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Here is a Fine Non-dug Civil War or Pre-Civil War Period Brass Civilian Spur, w/Most of its original leather strap intact. It is a small pattern just about 4 inches long by 2.75 inches across the strap slots, and like many period civilian spurs, it has the round strap slots instead of rectangular. The little 10-point iron rowel is still intact also, but is frozen in place. It looks like the full length of the strap is there but the strap buckle is missing. I have personally dug broken examples of these spurs in both camp and battle sites, and once owned a complete example that was dug near Shiloh, Tennessee.

A Fine Displaying & Often Dug Civil War Period Civilian Spur !

        $75 plus shipping

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Here is a Fine Non-dug W5 or Huge Western Pattern Iron Spur, that Howard Crouch notes in his book, Historic American Spurs, as “An American made “Spanish” style spur, ca. 1840-1870.” Crouch goes on to say, “This style was popular in the Southwest. This is a very large, heavy, and well made example.” Indeed it is too, with this one measuring about 6 inches long by 3.5 inches across the strap slots, and having a rowel diameter of 2 inches. The original wide leather strap is still present, and incredibly this one has a Federal General Service Eagle Coat Button on the strap that looks like it has been there since the period of use. It is secured with a small leather strip thru the shank of the button. The big iron rowel still spins freely and there are a couple of small pieces of chain attached to the loop on the side of rowel neck. Mr. Crouch notes that the one pictured in the book was part of a “pair that came from an estate sale in Northern Virginia along with a Civil War period saber and belt,” and values the pair at $1200 ! However, I got this one very reasonable and can pass along the savings. A Fine and Unusual Spur that almost assuredly has a Military Connection !

        $150 plus shipping

Here is a Nice Civil War or Pre-Civil War Period Iron Civilian Bridle Bit ! These bits and pieces of them are often excavated in Civil War Campsites, usually Confederate. They are also very similar to the dozens of civilian bridle bits recovered from the 1856, wreck of the Steamboat Arabia. This one is in fine “barn” condition, with considerable surface rust and pitting, but still tight and strong enough to be used if cleaned up. It measures about 6.75 inches long by 5 inches wide. A Fine Civil War Period Civilian Bridle Bit, often seen Recovered in Campsites, that Displays Great !

        $55 plus shipping

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 !

        $65 plus shipping

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

Here is a Very Fine Civil War Period Variant of the Standard US M1859 Spur ! It is in excellent non-dug condition, with iron rowel still present and spinning freely. You can see by the segmented rowel that it looks very much like the “Schuyler, Hartley, Graham, spur often seen in period catalogs, and some of the dug relic books. This one is very fine, with a completely intact iron rowel, and remnants of the original leather strap still there. It measures about 3.5 inched wide across the strap slots and around 4.5 inches long. An Excellent Non-dug Civil War Period Spur !

        $85 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 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

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 !

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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 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.

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