45th Annual Southeastern Civil War & Antique Gun Show News
By Jim Hammonds and Ed Travis · Originally published October 2023 · pp. 1–5
45th Annual Southeastern By Jim Hammonds and Ed Travis The North Georgia Relic Hunters Association held its 45th Annual Southeastern Civil War and Antique Gun Show on August 12 and 13. The show was held at the Cobb County Civic Center, in Marietta, Ga., just off Marietta Square. As the crowd arrived at the show on Saturday, they were greeted by a band playing Civil War period music for the enjoyment of those at the event. As a special tribute to those who have served our country and community, military personnel, veterans, and first responders were given free admission to the show. Proceeds from the show help support the club’s yearly operations and our annual charity donations to organizations such as the Marietta Confederate Cemetery, Marietta Parks and Recreation, Calvary Children’s Home, Wreaths Across America, to name a few. Dealers from around the country had a variety of items for sale; and while the listing were immense, they included dug relics, guns and swords, Civil
Civil War & Antique Gun Show News
War related books, frameable prints, metal detectors, artillery items, old currency, military accessories, images, and a host of other items.
Guest historian lectures on Saturday at the NGRHA Relic Show were: 10-11:15 – Michael Shafer discussed the 1,630 days accounts of the Civil War in Georgia in his book “Day by Day Through The Civil War in Georgia” 11:30-12:30 – Jeff Wright discussed the preservation of Civil War sites. 1:00-2:00 – Harper Harris shared his account of the Great Locomotive Chase, “The Andrews Raiders.” 2:15-3:15 – Brad Quinlin discussed the 15-year effort to award the two remaining Andrews Raiders the Medal of Honor. While the show is held near the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, items from dozens of Civil War sites around the country were available for purchase.
All of the show tables were packed full of artifacts, antique weapons, and memorabilia. Appraiser John Sexton provided free appraisals of items brought by visitors for identification and learning more about them. Although the show covered items up to and including World
War II, the show’s main theme related to the American Civil War. Dealers at the show reported that it was a great show and that they did very well with selling and, in many cases, buying items. Many said they had outstanding sales.
Several awards were given at the show:
On Saturday, the door was opened to the general public, and within a few minutes, there was a crowd of people eager to look over the extensive variety of merchandise.
Most Educational Award went to Tim Prince for his display of Civil War swords, bayonets, and gun tools. Excavated Relics Award went to Scott Riddle for his outstanding display of Confederate buckles and buttons. Many of his displayed items were related to the Georgia Military Academy (GMI), located in Marietta less than one mile from the show’s location. Judges Award went to Bill Blackman for his outstanding display of Confederate buckles
26 – Library of Congress 28 – The Graphic War 22 – The Source and plates that included many “one of a kind” buckles. It was certainly a very impressive display. The Bill Evans Award went to Roy Baker and Stan Wills for their extensive display of Civil War artifacts including Union and Confederate buckles, buttons, and artillery shells, that they have metal detected mainly from Georgia battlefields and campsites. Door prizes were also given out to folks who came to the show. These consisted of Civil War books and relics found in the vicinity of Kennesaw Mountain but found on private property with permission from the landowner. There was also a “treasure box” where children under 12 could pick out a free prize. These included shark teeth, arrowheads, bullets, shell fragments, books, and other similar prizes.
A show raffle was for a wooden display case containing eagle buttons, a US box plate, dropped .58 caliber bullets, dropped Spencer bullets, a Confederate banknote, Grand Army of the Republic buttons, and a Grand Army of the Republic reunion ribbon. The winner was Daniel Langley of Newman, Ga. Overall, everyone (dealers and participants) reported they felt the show was a great success. Overall attendance was good with numbers on par with “preCOVID” shows, sales reported by dealers) were plentiful, and all had a good time spending time with fellow enthusiasts; especially the dealers who we generally only see at this and other related relic shows.
The club’s 46th Annual show is in the planning stages; the dates are set for August 10 and 11, 2024, at the Cobb County Civic Center. For more information about the North Georgia Relic Hunters Association and their annual show for 2024, visit the club’s website at www.ngrha.com or the club’s Facebook page, “North Georgia Relic Hunters Association” which is open to the public. Since 1972, the North Georgia Relic Hunters Association has dedicated itself to the preservation of artifacts of the American past. Each member is a student of American history and collectively we strive to pass on the knowledge we have gained through school lecture programs, living history presentations, and relic shows—to mention a few.