your collections

[UCVRelics]

As an avid CW Relic Hunter for 45 years I have to wade in on this one. I started digging when I was 14 and I only collected the things I dug. Back in the "early days" it was not uncommon to dig 3 -5 US plates, 100s of buttons, and bullets out the wazoo in one day even down here in Deep Southern battlefields and camps. I broke my teeth at Spanish Fort and Blakley where we would find tons of artillery shells and fragments. I found a 100 mortar ball one day took we 2 hours to get it out of the ground then I had to leave it as I was 2 miles from the truck. Anyway I rambling, My point is that now days there is a LOT more info out there than there was back then, I would find items and didn't know what they were until I would see them at the various CW shows. As I got older, wiser and made more money I started buy items I knew I would never dig up and bought my first CS sword from an old collector that I knew in Corinth, still have it. My first marriage almost ended when I cleaned out the saving account to buy a ID Confederate Cavalry Majors frock coat, again bought from a collector.
Collecting CW relics, artifacts etc is just like collecting anything else DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

I agree that dealing with a reputably dealer or the digger is one of the keys but KNOWLEDGE is KING. Ive know all the boys listed here and a few of them have been caught with the hand in the cookie jar in the past. In 1882 I dug 2 CS 2 piece buckles in one day, really by 10 that morning. At the next Memphis CW show back when it was in Memphis at the Fairgrounds I had one of the SO Called dealer experts tell me that one of them was fake, so I turned to my hunting buddy "who was there when I dug them" See Rodney even the Confederates had fake buckles and walked off. On the Ebay issue, when I decided to start thinning the heard and selling off some yankee stuff I used ebay and still do from time to time and yes there are a lot of uneducated idiots that sell, try to sell, pass off or other wise deceive the buyer. Go to any CW show and you will find a few of them as well. Once again KNOWLEDGE is KING.

 

[UCVRelics]

Mine started with the desire to own one Civil War artillery shell and it kind of took on a mind of its own after that.
Decide what you wish to collect and go from there, buy from reputable people who stand behind their sales, know what you can spend, keep good records and don't think that you are ever going to get rich with your collection. Do it for your own personal enjoyment and research is the key to any purchase. Good luck and happy collecting.

You can never have just 1 arty shell, PS: "BEWARE OF THE IRON MAIDEN" Its addictive.

 

[Michael W.]

This used to be good advice, but even at the shows there are many disreputable individuals who just want to turn a buck or do not have the knowledge of what they are selling. I have seen several reproductions just this year sitting on dealer tables purporting to be authentic, others are misrepresented as being ACW, but have been altered from Indian war.

My advice, is to find a trusted dealer, those mentioned above are A++++ and I would add a few more, Will Gorges of Battleground Antiques, Cliff Sophia, CSArms, Wes Small, The Horse Soldier and Tim Prince, College Hill Arsenal. Once you become a customer of some of these individuals you may then ask them at the various shows, their opinion of a particular piece. They will not typically volunteer information unless they are familiar with you, the hobby can get nasty when one dealer trashes another dealer's wares.

Also find a collector who collects within your interest and learn, learn learn, be polite and unassuming, become a sponge. This is a wonderful hobby, but it takes time to get to know the people who may be able to help you the most. I have been very lucky to have met some of the most knowledgeable people, but also some of the best and generous people within this hobby. Amassing a quality collection takes time, patience, research and above all modesty, never denigrate another's good fortune in a find. Conversely never be "in your face" about your own good fortune. You will see that there are many many great individuals in the ACW collecting realm.

Good luck

IMO, CW Shows are a good place to start. Look at what is offered, but don't run off and start buying things. It is a great educational experience to look at the artifacts up close and learn. As was stated, find reputable dealers and deal through them. All mentioned by Package4 and myself are knowledgeable, trustworthy and can be personable once they get to know you.

 

[ntsb]

Thanks all. There seems to be two common themes. Reputable sources and knowledge. Reputable sources can be identified, as many of you have done in this thread. Usable knowledge is tough to obtain. Looking on the web helps, but seeing items in person is probably best. I went to a show once, and saw so much stuff I wasn't sure what was authentic and what was not. Asking a seller if their stuff is authentic did not seem like a good idea - insulting? Perhaps I will run across one of the dealers mentioned here at the Gettysburg show this fall.

 

[Civilwarnut]

First of all, welcome to the addiction. Once collecting gets into your blood, IT WILL NOT GO AWAY. TRUST ME.
Now, that being said, let me reply to your post, which has multiple questions.
First, you ask how we got started in collecting. I started in 1998. I had joined a CW re-enacting group based here in the Indianapolis area that year, and I was asked to help set up a recruiting booth at the State Fairgrounds for the annual fall Civil War Relics Show (now defunct). I was puzzled and asked, "What is a CW relics show?" I was stunned when it was explained to me that actual artifacts were privately owned and if you had some serious cash, you could buy your very own stuff. I was 29 years old at the time and I had never known this before. I thought all CW artifacts were in museums or locked up in vaults by the government (which is not far off). So that fall I experienced my very first CW show. I was immediately hooked. I bought my first relic there, an early pickup Antietam Battlefield Union foot officer's sword. And it just got worse from there.
Now I want to share some advice. The first thing you need to do before you buy ANYTHING is to educate yourself, as others here already mentioned. Research books, magazines, developing personal relationships with fellow collectors and professional dealers. My best tip to you is, before you even buy research material, take some time to sit down, and give serious consideration to: 1. What type of artifacts you want, and 2. What you can afford. Once you figure out what you can afford, then begin to educate yourself. Along with this, I also suggest that your collection have a "theme". What do you want? Buttons? Bullets? Weapons? Accoutrements? Uniforms? Artillery? Infantry? Cavalry? Navy? Union? Confederate? The list goes on and on. Formulate a theme for your collection and stick to it. Don't make the mistake that I and many others have made over the years. I wanted "everything". I bought weapons, accouterments, canteens, cartridge boxes, all kinds of stuff. And then after 10 years of collecting, I looked around and realized my collection had no rhyme nor reason. So I sold most of it and basically started over. I developed an intense interest of the Union Navy's role in the CW, and I also love Indiana identified artifacts, so now I only collect items related to those two categories.
As far as investing in artifacts, remember that you are not doing this as a financial investment, you do it because you love it. That being said, you should never pay more for something than what it is worth. Don't buy on impulse, sit back and think about it first. (Even though many of us don't..lol). The only time I do that anymore is if I came across a rare artifact that I have been looking for, and knowing it might be years (or never) until I find another one.
Authenticity. Since you are new to the game, my advice is DO NOT BUY FROM EBAY. Only after you gain experience and knowledge can you somewhat safely traverse that field. I tend not to buy on ebay, unless I find something I want and know the difference if it is the real deal or not.
If you want to be safe, and treated fairly, the best thing to do is go to CW artifact shows. If you live in Virginia, there surely must be reputable dealers out there. The two largest annual shows and my favorites are: The Ohio CW Relics Show in Mansfield, OH, and the Middle Tennessee CW Show in Franklin, TN. Those are safe venues for acquiring authentic, fine CW artifacts.
I tend to do most of my business with 4 principle CW artifact dealers: Dave Taylor in Toledo, OH, John Spicer of Champion Hills Relics in Mississippi, Larry Hicklin of Yesteryear Artifacts in Murfreesboro, TN, and Rafael Eldridge of Shiloh Relics, also TN. These are well known, long time established dealers that know their stuff, and guarantee their artifacts. I sincerely hopes this helps.

I have bought from rafeal but I like Tom from stones river trading in murfreesboro. I would like to buy from Yesteryear but his store hours never jives with my work schedule. My bosses hobby is work and he thinks mine is too.

 

[Civilwarnut]

Great example of a current eBay fake, Dave Taylor, once told me never to buy a buckle on ebay unless you are paying what a repro would cost you. Once you have enough knowledge then you can do so, but only with an inspection period.

Sorry for posting twice in a row but a few years ago I had a bad habit of calling people out on eBay about their fake artifacts. I got several different responses. Some ignored me, some would respond that they didn't know anything about it they were just needing some extra money. Some even told me to go @#$% myself and one guy apologized and took item off auction saying he wouldn't intentionally rip someone off.

 

[zburkett]

A few years ago I was at the Gettysburg show and saw a hobo knife I wanted (spoon & knife blades). There were two similar knives on different tables. I picked the one I felt was the best deal and just as I bought it a lady came up to purchase it as a gift for her husband's Civil War collection. After being told I had already bought this one she said she would get the other one. Because of the maker I knew the knife was post war and asked if she knew. She thanked me and said she would pick something else. I looked back at the dealer who has just sold me the knife. He was white as a sheet, apologized, offered to buy the knife back at a profit to me. Even my explaining I had known what I was buying and thought I had paid a fair price still left him very concerned. The point is, even reputable dealers can be mistaken. It is up to you to know you are buying.

 

[Michael W.]

I have bought from rafeal but I like Tom from stones river trading in murfreesboro. I would like to buy from Yesteryear but his store hours never jives with my work schedule. My bosses hobby is work and he thinks mine is too.

Larry's store is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. He is open the rest of the week through the weekend. But he does close up shop around 4 or 5.