Collecting Civil War antiques is a great hobby that offers wonderful rewards. Some finds are extremely valuable. Others are just a way to get in touch with a piece of the past. However, you should be careful. There are plenty of imitation Civil War antiques out there. Whether they're being created to trick you, or the seller is just mistaken, these aren't authentic Civil War pieces.
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US $512.00
The best way to make sure you get real pieces is to deal only with other collectors or with retailers and auction creators who have a good reputation. The Internet has made it much easier to check up on a seller, so don't be afraid to do your homework. Searching for information on a dealer is now much simpler, which is a big help to the average Civil War antique collector.
If you prefer to find your Civil War antiques on your own, a metal detector can be a big help. Just take care - it's illegal to use one in a national park or a state park, such as the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania. If you use a metal detector here, you'll be fined significantly, and could even go to jail.
Does that mean you can't find a place to use your metal detector? No - just make sure you know where you are. The Internet can even help you find places to look. Check out information on small battles or little known skirmishes. If you do your own research, you may be able to find a site that hasn't been gone over by other collectors very often. For those who want to find great Civil War antiques without spending a lot, this could be a big help.
Research is important, too. Look up everything, and find out all you can about a battle before you head out to a site. You'll probably have to put in a lot of time and leg work, but you have increased chances of finding Civil War antiques of your own this way. Buttons, shells and more can be found in areas that are farms and fields right now. Always ask permission from the owner of the land before searching, so you don't run into trouble for trespassing.
Once you've found your very own Civil War antiques, don't try to clean them yourself, except with a soft bristled brush, warm water, and extremely dilute soap solution. Be extremely gentle, since even the smallest jolt can break some artifacts. If you're in doubt, have a professional do the cleaning, or leave the item dirty.
Between looking online for dealers you can trust, and doing your own searches, you'll have a good chance of finding great Civil War antiques. Just be sure to know everything you can about the source of your artifact, whether that's a dealer online, or a cornfield that used to be a battle site. The more you know, the better your chances are of finding and identifying wonderful Civil War antiques for your collection.