Civil War Bullet Collecting: A Hobby that Honors
the Past
Did you know that during the Civil War, more than
1000 different types of bullets were used? This is one reason Civil
War bullet collecting has become a popular hobby. Another reason is
that the time of the Civil War saw changes taking place in the
development of firearms and ammunition. The old round musketballs of
the Revolution were being replaced with bullets in the shape we are
accustomed to. While musketballs are found on Civil War
battlefields, the most common type of bullet used was the
.58-caliber bullet with three rings around the base. Many bullets
found are splattered out of shape. If you've always been fascinated
by the Civil War and firearms, Civil War bullet collecting is a
hobby you will enjoy.
With the advent of Internet buying and selling, Civil War bullets
have become more collectible, and the prices have gone up quickly.
Not only this, sometimes sellers are not informed and ask more than
the bullet is worth. For these reasons, if you are just starting out
in Civil War bullet collecting, you will want to buy a good price
guide. You can even find a price guide online if that works better
for you.
Many Civil War bullet collectors also collect bullet molds and other
relics from the Civil War era. A real enthusiast might even
investigate the possibility of becoming a Civil War reenactor,
acting out battles with others in towns and fields across the
Southeast.
Civil War bullets can be collected by buying from other collectors,
or you can begin by going directly to the battlefields to dig and
search. A metal detector will make Civil War bullet collecting
easier. You may also find buttons from uniforms, bullet molds, belt
buckles, and other metal items from the battle. Some of the bullets
may be buried quite deep. You will need to wear a headset and pay
close attention to the changes in tone in your metal detector.
Hunting Civil War relics is prohibited on protected battlefields,
but there are still old homesites where battles were fought. Be sure
to get permission from the owner and fill any holes you dig.
Some people have the idea that hunting for bullets with a metal
detector indicates a lack of respect for the soldiers who died
there. They get this idea because sometimes bullet hunters find
bones along with the bullet. The fact is, however, that many of the
bullet hunters who have found bullets this way have chronicled and
mapped out there finds, resulting in many of the facts that we now
know about the Civil War.
The Civil War fascinates Americans because of everything it stands
for. While everyone agrees that slavery is a terrible blot on the
history of the U.S., there are some people who still discuss the
issue of states' rights versus a strong central government. Civil
War bullet collecting is an interesting hobby, though somewhat
sobering at times when considering the great number of casualties.
The memory of brother fighting against brother out in the cornfields
and pastures will never go away. Civil War bullet collecting is one
way to commemorate this monumental historical event. |
