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Will & Lynn Gorges Civil War Battleground Antiques Inc. dba CivilWarShop.com |
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ABOUT US
Battleground Antiques, Inc.,
formerly Will Gorges Civil War Antiques, is one of the most established walk-in
militaria businesses in the United States. Beginning as T&G Edged Weapons
with partner John Thomas, the business originated in Westboro, Massachusetts, in
early 1981.
In 1986, Will and his family moved to New Bern, N.C., and later established a 1,600 square foot
walk-in business in 1987 at 308 Simmons Street. In 1989, Will and Dr. Harold
Vandersea founded New Bern Civil War Museum at 301 Metcalf Street, ½ block from
Tryon Palace (the colonial governor's palace) in downtown historic New Bern. The
displays won numerous displays in the next seven years, including the coveted
"Best of Show" at Gettysburg. The museum, unfortunately, was dissolved in 1996,
with many of the artifacts establishing the core of the collection of Pamplin
Park near Petersburg, Virginia.
We at Battleground Antiques, Inc., are pleased to offer the
largest active inventory of authentic Civil War memorabilia in the South
by mail order catalog, on-line internet shopping, or the old fashioned walk-in
tradition, By Appointment Only! From minie balls to Confederate Battle Flags, we handle it all. We buy, sell and trade and offer appraisal and documentation services as well as
textile conservation and restoration. Don't look for us in a post office box; we
don't have one! Bank and Chamber of Commerce references are always available –
if you are a serious collector, we urge you to check us out! You will not be
disappointed with our selection of inventory or the quality of your investments.
- Federal Firearms Licensed Dealer
Will, an enthusiast since the late 1950's when his father first
showed him two family Civil War swords, met John while employed as a Quality
Assurance Engineer in the Pharmaceutical Industry. John, likewise, had a passion
for historical artifacts since his childhood, complimented by a tour of duty in
Viet Nam. Both became fascinated with the array of historical weapons and
artifacts on display at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts,
which led them to many arms fair and gun show trips across New England in search
of military collectibles. In time, as the collections out grew the space they
lived in, both began to sell the duplicates and eventually began a part-time
mail order and gun show business. They separated ways in 1984 and Will formed
Nor'East Militaria, specializing in Civil War artifacts.
In 1993, the business moved to a larger 2,200
square foot facility at 2100 Trent Boulevard. By 1997, due to the expanding
nature of the walk-in trade, Battleground Antiques, Inc., was established in an
existing 5,000 square foot building located at 3910 US Highway 70 East of New
Bern, square in the center of the line of the Battle of New Bern of March 14,
1862! By 1998, an additional 6,000 square feet was added in order to accommodate
a full Textile Conservation and Restoration Facility, and the Civil War book
inventory of Bill Mason Books, an established business from Michigan which
closed in 1999.
In Loving Memory
Avis Gorges
1911-2003
Click Here for a map of our location.
"Buy with
confidence when you buy from us!
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