1060. Iron “canister” shot, Civil War period. 6 lb, 5" tall and 33/8" in diameter. Among the most effective anti-personnel ammunition during the Civil War was the “canister” shot, a cylindrical stack of about 28 small balls (grapeshot) with metal plates on either end, which, when shot from a cannon, would spread out and hit targets over a wide area (or not). These items are rare today, especially more or less intact like this one, with smooth balls coated black to prevent rusting, also one of the round endplates intact but the other replaced with a wooden facsimile and used as a bookend. Estimate: $750 $1,100
1061. Civil War bullet set in Riker display box. About 6-3/8" x 5¼”. Lead bullets from the Civil War are not rare items, but they are interesting, and these four have been attractively packaged with their exact technical descriptions printed above or below, with “Civil War Bullets / 1861 - 1865” printed at the bottom, all housed in a glass-topped display-case. Estimate: $25 - $40
1062. Victorian-era replica of a medieval jousting helmet. Evoking medieval times of kingly tournaments with battling and jousting knights, this late-1800s replica was well crafted from solid steel (hand-hammered and engraved, unlike the mass-produced, punched-out, cheap modern fakes from China), an acceptable museum alternative to an original, which would be quite rare and expensive indeed. It consists of three movable parts: A fixed collar (with rope banding and ornate detail) rising up to side rivets, to which are attached both an upswept pointed visor (with matching detail among six slots) in the front and a plain skullpiece in the back. Some assorted old dents and other signs of age serve to add character, but everything is solid and sound, with no heavy corrosion. The exterior was once preserved with a clear coat of lacquer(?), now with areas of light surface rust under the coating, all of which can be easily cleaned off and polished if so desired. The interior surfaces are original, with slightly rusty (but stable) patina. On the back at top there are two holes, the higher one for attaching to a stand (not included), and the lower one for securing a bezel to hold large feather plumes, as was the fashion. Wearable over an average-sized head, but probably more useful for display! Estimate: $400 - $600 1063. Knights Templar sword and scabbard (chain missing), late 1800s, unique handle. 2 lb, 36½” long, the blade 1" wide. Anyone who has seen the National Treasure or Indiana Jones movies knows about the Knights Templar, a medieval Christian order known not only for skill in combat but also for banking acumen, funding much of Christendom until the Knights were disbanded in the 1300s. A modern version (begun in the 1700s) with no direct link to the original but incorporating many of the same secret rites and accoutrement is known for charity work. Dating to the late 1800s, this Templar sword probably saw only ceremonial use, and is therefore in excellent condition, with owner’s name C.A. Merrill engraved on narrow, doubled-edged blade, ornate cross-guard, golden hued handle (wood?) with unique tattooed(?) design, pommel in the form of a knight’s helmet with ring to which a chain (missing) attached it to rings on the matching scabbard with similar designs. Excellent condition. Estimate: $250 - $375
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