CampSite Artifacts  ·

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Here is a Fine Displaying Excavated Civil War Period U.S. Cavalryman’s Picket Pin ! It is solid and looks like it has been out of the ground for some time. The figure -8 ring is frozen at the top, and the entire piece has a generous old clear coat, with no flaking or active rusting. The pin measures about 12 & ½ inches long. These were used to secure a troopers mount with a rope. When there were no trees, rocks, or other natural places to tie his horse, the trooper could drive this pin in the ground and then tie his horse to the ring at the top. This one was recovered at Chancellorsville, Virginia. A Great Displaying U.S. Civil War Troopers Picket Pin ! [ L.L. ]

         $200 plus shipping

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Here is a Fine Relic Condition, Blacksmith made, Confederate Cavalryman’s Picket Pin ! Recovered near Shiloh, Tennessee, it appears to have been made from a piece of wagon hardware. Constructed of iron, there is no flaking or active rust, possibly indicating it has been out of the ground for a while. It measures about 11 inches long with a ring thru the top, and displays great. A Fine Confederate Cavalryman’s Iron Picket Pin recovered at Shiloh, Tennessee ! [ L.L. ]

        $225 plus shipping

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Here is a Nice Dug Solder Filled Shield/Star Martingale Device ! These are believed to be Pre-War Militia items, though some people say they may also be associated with Texas or Mississippi. It is solder filled stamped brass or copper, that once had three iron attachment pins on the reverse. The pins have rusted away and the solder is looking a little rough but still mostly there. The front has a nice smooth greenish brown patina that displays very well. The device measures about 2.5 inches tall by 2 inches across. The top side points of the star are no longer connected to the shield but the piece is still strong and tight. Recovery location is unknown. A Fine Displaying Early Militia Shield/Star Martingale, often recovered in Civil War Campsites !

        $175 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 !

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Here is a Fine Dug Pair of Matching U.S. Model 1859 Cavalry Spurs ! Both have fairly close matching patina and show remnants of the rusted rowels. Each still retains its shape very well too, with no bends or breaks anywhere. They are both the pattern with the rounded corners on the strap slots and up swept curved rowel necks. These display great as a pair and I am nearly sure they were excavated at the same location, though that information has been lost. Still, A Great Displaying Pair of Dug U.S. Model 1859 Enlisted Cavalry Spurs ! [ L.L. ]

         $160 plus shipping

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Here is a Neat Civil War Farrier’s Knife Recovered at Brandy Station, Virginia ! It measures right at 8.5 inches long, with a 4 inch blade, and 4.5 inch long bone handle. The end of the blade is curled to clean horse hoofs. Still barely legible on the blade is the maker’s mark of, “Wostenholm & Son, Washington Works, Sheffield England,” and at the base of the blade “ I*XL.” A Fine Old Relic Picked up on The Brandy Station Battlefield Years Ago ! [ L.L. ]

        $125 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 Nice Excavated Civil War or Pre-Civil War Period, Iron Civilian Bridle Bit ! It is all there and has been wire brushed and given a light coat of rust neutralizer. The iron is still strong and the bit is tight with no flaking. These type bits or pieces of them are often excavated in Civil War Campsites, usually Confederate Camps, due to their being brought into service with troopers privately owned horses. Sometimes called “Mule Bits” they are also very similar to the pattern recovered from the 1856, wreck of the Steamboat “Arabia.” This one measures about 5.75 inches long by 5 inches wide. Recovered near the Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Battlefield. A Fine Civil War Period Civilian Bridle Bit often Dug in Civil War Campsites !

        $45 plus shipping

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

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.

        $75 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 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 !

        $50 plus shipping