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 musket balls of the Revolution were being
replaced with bullets in the shape we are accustomed to.
While musket balls 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 re-enactor, 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 home sites
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. |
