The Civil War is widely regarded as the first “modern” war in history. Rifled muskets and breech-loading carbines replaced the old smoothbore muskets, giving them greater range and accuracy, and making them far more deadly. At first, agents were forced to purchase rifles wherever they could find them, often from Europe. There was no standard issue rifle until Sharps, Colt, Remington, and the U.S. armory at Springfield, Massachusetts could produce large numbers of them. In time, the Springfield rifle musket became the most widely used long range weapon. There was also some use of pistols during the Civil War. Colt produced the army issue 1860 pistol and sold over 200,000 units, mostly to the Union. Chief rival Remington released their own model when Colt’s patent expired, and continual improvements made them a highly prized Civil War pistol. Most Confederate pistols were made by Griswold and Gunnison, and the Confederacy purchased and issued far fewer of these weapons due to limited resources. Soldiers in the North were usually issued revolver pistols, but they often brought their own. As such, soldiers sometimes used unconventional, even antique-looking weapons like the Cogswell Pepperbox pistol. Because they were heavy, though, pistols were more commonly used by Union and Confederate officers and cavalrymen. Civil War officers and navy men on both sides also used a wide variety of blades in ceremonies and on the battlefield. Swords, sabres, and cutlasses were prized for their effectiveness in hand-to-hand combat and indication of rank and prestige. Our site offers a wide-ranging selection of faithfully reproduced civil war rifles, pistols, and collectible swords, any of which will make an invaluable addition to the enthusiast’s collection.