The reason I ask is that there are a few nice ACW shops in VA. Ones that you can visit are rapidly going the way of the Web, but there are a few walk-ins still around. CSArms in Upperville, Perry Adams, Petersburg and JS Mosby Antiques in Orange
Thanks, I will try checking those places out. I live not far from Fredericksburg, near Fort Walker (AP Hill).
Don't forget the Picket Post in Fredericksburg. Great shop with good prices and can score a few deals.
Don't forget your local gun shops, many times they do not know what they have, just a basic idea of what it is when it walks in the door. Buddy of mine found an incredible 1855 Harper's Ferry rifled musket that was identified as one of the first put togethers assembled in Richmond, Davies had identified only 3 in his seminal book and this was the 4th. He picked it up for 25% of its actual value in a gun shop Easton, MD.
Wow. Good for him. My family lost a handful of old long guns that were supposed to have been CW era. They had belonged to my great grandmother's side who all fought with Virginia units (Amherst, Nelson Counties). They were given away as "payments" for landscaping and handy-man work that was done. I believe my grandmother just about lost her mind when she found out. Needless to say, my Dad, brother and I were all really upset when we learned. This was quite awhile ago, but I always stress to others to ensure conversations and arrangements are had earlier than later concerning family heirlooms. No fault of my step great grandfather either. He lived to be 86 and we learned about the loss of CW guns months after they were gone. Just one of those unfortunate things and I'm sure the gentlemen who rec'd them as payment knew exactly what he was being paid 'gold' for the work he was doing.
Yup ole Aunt Elanor that I never meet sold my GG Grandfathers CW Cavalry sword to a junk dealer called Tinkers I believe.
Yes I keep a thick file on every item and what I paid for it. Having Daughters not sure what will become of it when I depart
I've told my two girls, if they or none of my grandchildren wish to keep any of my CW related items or library, to please donate it to a historical group - Central Va Battlefield Trust, Shenandoah Battlefields, etc (they'll know what to do with it)
Sounds good for the most part but....Others here have more experience on that matter. Some Museums have so much inventory it sits stacked in a basement or other location. I heard Gettysburg has a massive amount of inventory never displayed. If the Museum goes under they sell it off or sell some inventory to stay afloat. Case in point Fort Ticonderoga in New York sold off inventory to help funding. I have 2 polearms from that sell off. If I had more money at the time I'd try to grab more. Daughters told me they might be interested in some of the items but not all. So sell it (the wife would sell it all if she could
).
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