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 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.
|