Hello everyone!
I have been collecting Civil War artifacts since I was about 10 years old, but only recently have I been able to acquire weapons. I wanted to ask some of your opinions on what I should pursue, what I should look for, etc.
General Collecting Goals:
While I would love to own every single type of longarm, sidearm, and saber that was made, I know that's not possible. Therefore, I was hoping to get the more commonly used weapons to have what an "average" (Union mostly) soldier might have had first. Then, if the budget allows, I would expand and get other pieces. I understand this will take years, and I'm not expecting to have a collection overnight. This is the long-term goal.
Muskets Owned:
1861 Springfield (first Civil War weapon I've ever gotten and still technically the only one I have)
I recently met with a elderly gentleman that is slowly selling off his collection. Through those conversations, I will soon be acquiring:
1863 Springfield
1861 William Mason Taunton contract musket dated 1864
Muskets Desired:
Enfield maybe
Musket Questions:
I definitely want to keep my 1861 Springfield, and I'm planning on having the 1863 with it, but should I keep the contract 1864 model? Or should I parlay it towards something else? Should I get an Enfield? A Lorenz?
Rifles Owned:
None
Rifles Desired:
Spencer Repeating Rifle
Rifle Questions:
I'm really only thinking about getting a Spencer. Is there is another rifle I should consider?
Carbines Owned:
None
Carbines Desired:
Sharps 1859 or 1863
Carbine Questions:
There are a lot of carbines out there. I thought the Sharps because they were the most common. Am I being short-sighting? Should I consider a Joselyn? A Burnside? A Maynard? Something else?
Pistols Owned:
None.
Pistols Desired:
Colt 1851 Navy
Colt 1861 Army
Pistol Questions:
Obviously, I have the Colts because I think they're the most common/what the "average" soldier would have. Should I consider a Remington? A Smith and Wesson? An Adams? A Starr? Something else? If I only get one, what should that be?
Sabers Owned:
None
Sabers Desired:
M1840 or M1860 cavalry saber
Saber Questions:
I'm currently only thinking about cavalry sabers at the moment as opposed to navy cutlasses or field officer swords. Should I get both an 1840 and an 1860? If I only got one, which should it be? Is there another type of saber I'm missing?
Final Thoughts and Questions:
I realize this is a lot that I am thinking about, and I appreciate your willingness to read, answer questions, and discuss. Again, I am hoping to, at least at the start, build a collection of what a typical soldier would have. I am thinking of a collection like this (in an ideal world--who knows if I'll actually get there):
2 muskets (1861 and 1863 Springfields)
1 rifle (Spencer)
1 carbine (Sharps)
2 pistols (1851 and 1861 Colts)
1-2 sabers (1840 and/or 1860 cavalry saber)
Am I off the mark? Am I missing something or have something that wouldn't be normal for a soldier to have? Is there something I should be pursuing more than something else (e.g. find a Sharps carbine first, then go for the Colts)? Suggestions for good shops, shows, etc. to find these items?
Again, thank you so much for your time in reading and responding. I appreciate you helping a fellow collector out!
I have been collecting Civil War artifacts since I was about 10 years old, but only recently have I been able to acquire weapons. I wanted to ask some of your opinions on what I should pursue, what I should look for, etc.
General Collecting Goals:
While I would love to own every single type of longarm, sidearm, and saber that was made, I know that's not possible. Therefore, I was hoping to get the more commonly used weapons to have what an "average" (Union mostly) soldier might have had first. Then, if the budget allows, I would expand and get other pieces. I understand this will take years, and I'm not expecting to have a collection overnight. This is the long-term goal.
Muskets Owned:
1861 Springfield (first Civil War weapon I've ever gotten and still technically the only one I have)
I recently met with a elderly gentleman that is slowly selling off his collection. Through those conversations, I will soon be acquiring:
1863 Springfield
1861 William Mason Taunton contract musket dated 1864
Muskets Desired:
Enfield maybe
Musket Questions:
I definitely want to keep my 1861 Springfield, and I'm planning on having the 1863 with it, but should I keep the contract 1864 model? Or should I parlay it towards something else? Should I get an Enfield? A Lorenz?
Rifles Owned:
None
Rifles Desired:
Spencer Repeating Rifle
Rifle Questions:
I'm really only thinking about getting a Spencer. Is there is another rifle I should consider?
Carbines Owned:
None
Carbines Desired:
Sharps 1859 or 1863
Carbine Questions:
There are a lot of carbines out there. I thought the Sharps because they were the most common. Am I being short-sighting? Should I consider a Joselyn? A Burnside? A Maynard? Something else?
Pistols Owned:
None.
Pistols Desired:
Colt 1851 Navy
Colt 1861 Army
Pistol Questions:
Obviously, I have the Colts because I think they're the most common/what the "average" soldier would have. Should I consider a Remington? A Smith and Wesson? An Adams? A Starr? Something else? If I only get one, what should that be?
Sabers Owned:
None
Sabers Desired:
M1840 or M1860 cavalry saber
Saber Questions:
I'm currently only thinking about cavalry sabers at the moment as opposed to navy cutlasses or field officer swords. Should I get both an 1840 and an 1860? If I only got one, which should it be? Is there another type of saber I'm missing?
Final Thoughts and Questions:
I realize this is a lot that I am thinking about, and I appreciate your willingness to read, answer questions, and discuss. Again, I am hoping to, at least at the start, build a collection of what a typical soldier would have. I am thinking of a collection like this (in an ideal world--who knows if I'll actually get there):
2 muskets (1861 and 1863 Springfields)
1 rifle (Spencer)
1 carbine (Sharps)
2 pistols (1851 and 1861 Colts)
1-2 sabers (1840 and/or 1860 cavalry saber)
Am I off the mark? Am I missing something or have something that wouldn't be normal for a soldier to have? Is there something I should be pursuing more than something else (e.g. find a Sharps carbine first, then go for the Colts)? Suggestions for good shops, shows, etc. to find these items?
Again, thank you so much for your time in reading and responding. I appreciate you helping a fellow collector out!