Bullet-struck Civil War Sword and Letter | Staff Pick | ANTIQUES ROADSHOW | PBS

[@danfinger]

"Can it be fixed?" Bless her heart [pats head]

[@antonioporras5161]

Could it be fixed? Hahahahaha funny 😝

[@ViaticalTree]

True Irony Ignorance is bliss doesn’t really fit the situation. Ignorance could have cost her thousands of dollars. That’s not bliss.

[@greezm60]

She wants to spray paint the Mona Lisa😝

[@hokeypokeyalso1783]

I stated laughing when she said that. That is a real treasure.

[@Thom176]

Great return from the appraiser

[@michaeltom6413]

"That'd be like spray paintin' a Mona Lisa," favorite line EVER.

[@Backroad_Junkie]

Didja ever see that video of the mythbuster guys painting the Mona Lisa in 80 milliseconds? Lol....

[@johncucinski3092]

What a great appraiser.

[@steveford8999]

"Like spray painting the Mona Lisa" One of the funniest comment I've ever heard.

[@PlanetRockJesus]

I know! I was a bit surprised she even asked. Isn't she a Roadshow fan?!!

[@Weave.seen.this.b4]

Same !

[@Researcher83]

@True Irony she's only asking. Calm down.

[@someotherdude]

You should see her parallel parking.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Got the message across though - loud & clear!

[@petert3355]

Insured for $5000, but let's be honest here. That sword is essentially priceless. It's a true one of a kind.

[@alabamadirtdigger8216]

Ill give her $6,000 Without hesitantation..Its one of those items that is worth what a collector will pay..

[@havok9001]

@@alabamadirtdigger8216 have it in a museum for everyone to see since it history item

[@KennethMachnica-vj3hf]

​@@alabamadirtdigger8216I wonder what happened to Stonewall's sword.

[@timrobinson5731]

@@alabamadirtdigger8216 yet

[@iansmith4642]

Truth

[@Black_Jesus3005]

That sword has an amazing story. Excellent piece of history.

[@richardlangdon712]

What a family heirloom! I imagine museums would love to have this on exhibit. I hope she and her family display it with pride.

[@PaulNurse1]

I love that appraisers come back to her comment of ‘can it be fixed’. Classic.

[@rbu2136]

Lol. Good thing she asked him. Who knows what the family might have done years later.

[@PeterOkeefe54]

FINALLY!!! an actual combat damaged artifact!!! He actually got it all correct!! AND thats a cannister round that hit that sword..not a bullet...he was leading from the front..god bless him

[@TheBockbock1]

It truly looks like a musket ball strike. It looks like it was a glancing blow, from the deformations that resemble gas check rings to the "pushed up" appearance on the opposite side of the strike. At 01:30 it does the close up that makes think this could be the case.

[@acousticshadow4032]

If it was cannister, he would been hit by other rounds from same shot. That's a musket ball strike.

[@muddyhotdog4103]

​@@acousticshadow4032 not necessarily, each ball would spread pretty dramatically if far enough on a field. Though I think it's a musket ball that just mushroomed/flattened.

[@1079walter]

Rafael Eledge is a sure-anuff hoot! I love his appraisals. "Fixed? That'd be like spray paintin' the Mona Lisa!"

[@THOMMGB]

The good news is that no one in her family tried to "fix" the sword years ago. That would've killed its specialness and value.

[@dennismaxfield4936]

THOMMGB When I was I middle school my teacher brought in a sword he found in one of the caves on okinawa when he was stationed there during Vietnam. Me and a couple classmates took the sword out of the teachers locker and took it in the woods and chopped trees with it and sharpened it on a rock. We put it back in the locker. I still feel bad to this day that we ruined a piece of history.

[@mzimm460]

For a measly 5 thousand bucks it’s worth it to pull it apart.

[@chrislockard1922]

@@dennismaxfield4936 literally the definition of something a no good disrespectful kid does. Im actually shocked you probably ruined the blade

[@hoasjhdfiadsf]

@@dennismaxfield4936 imagine a teacher bringing a sword in to school today! they'd immediately get the police called on them and shot

[@SubaruLove]

He just finishes explaining how it's worth more with the dent, but she asks "can it be fixed?" What is she the Highlander and needs it for battle?

[@brycesolomon9933]

Subaru Love there can be only one

[@cabbyhubby]

She looks immortal!

[@Researcher83]

She's only asking. Calm down.

[@moegerms]

@@Researcher83 - she's an imbecile. She must be humiliated.

[@RestingBeachFace721]

Women,,,,f***** listen. 🙄

[@jamesjoseph1249]

I agree with a lot of others here...$5,000 is a low number. What's you're paying for here is the uniqueness and the story. The sword being struck, engraved at the spot, being backwards, having the letter (and thereby knowing all the history of the sword)...it should be valued at a significantly higher number. There's a big market for an item like this.

[@eligebrown8998]

I'd bet at least a couple hundred grand at auction

[@justwondering1967]

It is a piece of American history.

[@jaymass1178]

​@@eligebrown8998 A couple hundred grand? Haha you are ridiculous. Grants sword would not even come close to that.

[@joconnell8145]

As with anything collectible it is only worth what someone will pay for it.

[@nychris2258]

​@@eligebrown8998is that how much youre offering?

[@Ray19888]

That seems like a low estimate

[@growforit8736]

No Doubt I know a man who would pay much more me.

[@ViaticalTree]

grow forit Exactly how much you is that sword worth?

[@davids.9834]

I agree. Im thinking that sword would go for at least 10k at auction and that's being conservative. Honestly that's one of those items that only going to go up in value.

[@Pulsonar]

Same thoughts here, the sword has a great and beautifully researched history worth far more than that cautious estimate.

[@Historyfreak-f7o]

That’s about right as far as the estimate goes, the sword didn’t belong to anyone noteworthy in as far as the Civil War history goes. If the sword belonged to Joe Hooker or US Grant say for instance, you’d really have something.

[@alale923]

What an incredible and one of a kind piece of American history!

[@savedbygodsgrace.9058]

That sword saved his leg and possibly his life. . "Can it be fixed "the lady asks? Whoosh! ..in one ear and out of the other.

[@someotherdude]

She clearly appreciates what her ancestor went through. Not.

[@haydnbrewer5031]

That’s women for you

[@kachi2782]

I couldn't care less about the civil war but i could listen to that man all day. His knowledge and enthusiasm are infectious !

[@MrPdccru]

5k is a lot of money but I thought it would be worth way more with the provenance attached to it...Such a great piece of history!

[@eligebrown8998]

He low balled the crap out of that. It has so much going on, it's worth way more

[@jaymass1178]

​@@eligebrown8998 Not really.

[@ShaggyRogers1]

@@eligebrown8998 Not really. Civil war weapons are all over the country, and not being attached to any significant name means that the collector market for the item is incredibly limited. Millions of men fought in the Civil War, so there were millions of weapons to be found. The only real collector draw comes from the proven battlefield use and that it is connected to one of the companies that were fewer in number, but notable due to geographical location. Indiana was relatively untouched by the Civil War itself and had no direct ties to either the industrialized North East or the heavy labor slave friendly South, so Indiana sending regiments was a boost of morale to the Union. Therefore, the only two collector types interested in this sword would be general battle use collectors(which have a LOT to choose from) and Indiana military history buffs, which are very few in number. If this sword was owned by a Union general instead of a generic foot lieutenant, than the value would be 10x at minimum.

[@nunyabidness7463]

if the sword belonged to someone well known, I imagine it would be worth a fortune

[@NemeanLion-]

I think she was a little stunned being on TV and didn’t listen to his original explanation of why the sword was valuable.

[@heroedeleyenda05]

I think she misunderstood him. Because the way he said it, it kinda sounded like he meant that if it didnt have the bullet hole in it, it would be worth more. I think thats why she asked about fixing it. Then he clarified himself after that.

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

We need more history. Great show. Well done.

[@Pius-XI]

You have bags of it. Just don't be ignorant of it

[@JamesJones-cx5pk]

@@Pius-XI You are so pius.

[@abdiver12]

Pretty cool to think that had that sword not been there to stop that bullet, there's a good chance that woman would never have been born. She literally owes that sword her life!

[@lejeuvideo]

Appraisal guy: "Like spray painting the Mona Lisa" Banksy: "Hold my beer"

[@iattrekker2400]

Rafael is one of the foremost experts on Civil War artifacts. If he says $5k it’s probably close.

[@thorman1089]

Robert Hanson does he have a big lipper in?(chew)

[@davidc8560]

He probably was hoping to buy it for cheap so he said it was worth 5k. 😂

[@longsleevethong1457]

He’s got a nice Rolex on….prolly a $30k watch

[@labla8940]

Maybe in artifacts his appraisal is not respected. I think there are a 100 people on this forum alone who would pay 5000 I would buy it in an instant for that

[@Damonh234]

Says this is from 2010. Values have increased at least 3-4x since then

[@Pius-XI]

Now that's American history!!!

[@umyes4944]

I think the value is much greater. I'm thinking it would fetch about $25K at auction. You'd never find another.

[@michaelbone1066]

I agree...25 grand for sure.

[@jasonmichael3676]

Contact the show and give her $12,500.

[@umyes4944]

@@jasonmichael3676 I'm not a collector but if I was I sure would be interested in scooping it up cheap. That is just the kind of uniqueness I like.

[@drinny26]

Yay a bunch of new uploads. Now I have something to do for the next 30min while quarantining. Keep em coming!

[@VillPom]

Wow what an amazing piece of history. I can’t even imagine having the letter.

[@jude8223]

Years ago when I went to Colorado, I was told that people are great savers of paraphernalia from the Indian wars and the Civil War. She said when someone dies in the house is cleaned out they find all kinds of goodies. Either they’re donated to the museum, or the family continues to save this family artifact. I found that so amazing these all documents and letters are kept in the family home to this day. I think this is more a southern sedition, this doesn’t happen in the north that I know of.

[@herethere2518]

"like spray-painting the Mona Lisa" - good stuff!

[@roccoroth7749]

"Could it be fixed" Wtf?? Does she not understand why it's valuable??

[@davidclark5351]

Obviously not lol

[@carlaclarke6650]

Putting glitter on a turd x

[@vivians9392]

No, I honestly don't think she has a clue!

[@silverstar4289]

Her question answers yours

[@moredistractions]

I like that he put it in backwards, presumably in the heat of battle and then the ball forever transfixed it in that position. My guess for the price was $20,000 but like someone else said, it may very well be worth more now. While there is a plethora of war artifacts on the market, it's very rare to have this level of documentation and an interesting story accompanying a piece.

[@felixcat9318]

What a fascinating history there is in this lifesaving sword scabbard! This brave Volunteer literally risked his life and had the sword not been in the scabbard when the bullet struck it, it would in all likelihood have passed straight through both sides of the scabbard and into the man wearing it! The high grade steel sword blade and steel scabbard formed an improvised, layered body armour, which worked very well! The letter brings to life the entire incident, and the surviving Volunteers would have looked at that scabbard as a heaven sent blessing for saving the wearer from death or very serious injury. I hope this man lived long enough to see peace.

[@Vnachi8]

$5,000? That sword is priceless.

[@elsey1976]

"I can probably go $125, but I'm taking all the risk. I'll have to have it mounted, framed, authenticity certified by a guy I know." Rick probably ...

[@MW-yh9tm]

🤣🤣🤣

[@user-dy2xu3uv8k]

Calls in expert.. Expert: .....worth about 5k. Rick: Ok, I'll go up to $250....you know auction fees are crazy.

[@paulorchard7960]

The repair would be in the thousands!

[@Knight192]

Or American Pickers......"I could probably go 8 bucks with the letter"

[@jasonmichael3676]

You people should open a pawn shop that pays full auction prices.

[@JohnDoe-pe1em]

The good Lord was looking over him that day

[@BillyN31]

John Doe yes sir

[@fabiankellquist4630]

🤦or maybe he was just lucky😂

[@bill2001]

@Boy Wonder right. if only god would have been lookin over the other 618,221 men and women that died in the civil war.

[@thginKxelA]

actually it was the scabbard, as you can see in the video.

[@lindagardenlady]

"Can it be fixed???... That would be like spray painting the Mona Lisa!!!" 🤣🤣 Right on Sir!!

[@Scottyyy777]

I think the estimate might be low, since it's a backwards sword, struck by a musketball most likely, and is a one of a kind piece. I think it's worth 10k.

[@pawpatrolnews]

You should offer to buy it from her.

[@douglaskeeling6974]

Catch a couple wealthy extreme Civil War collectors and it's possible...

[@denis77777777]

Scottyyy777 I Agree.

[@harrycurrie9664]

@Anti-Federalist 1776 I'm thinking perhaps the sword was out of the sheath when it was struck, at some point he has tried to put the sword back in and it has jammed, and since the whole item is steel rust has done the rest.

[@natashabegley1346]

Don't be silly it's worth $2k at most I've seen way more important swords from Europe sell for $5k and this is nothing in comparison many swords have bullet dents in them.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

Like spray painting the Mona Lisa. Hilarious. Cool a$$ sword! Raccoon mountain Ga eh? I need to look that up. The Civil War sights here in Georgia are AWESOME!!

[@Pulsonar]

The estimated $ value seems pretty low for a sword with a great and well researched history. Maybe with all the artefacts (letter, photo, etc... ) as a bundle it would be worth far more.

[@john-paulsilke893]

Keep it in your family and don’t fix it ever. Such a story is possibly worth even more then $5,000.

[@hellohello2711]

I fixed it already. The dent was really bothering me

[@godbluffvdgg]

Sell it on craigslist...People don't care about history today...

[@AnotherOne0322]

Priceless

[@ricter29]

I wish my grandfather had cool stuff like this. He only had rum and cigarettes

[@TheJoyfulEye]

"like spray-painting the Mona Lisa!" :)

[@JS-zb1vv]

Priceless American history!

[@cristianromanoschi6963]

I think it is worth much more. I have looked at a lot of civil war appraisals and nobody has such a good provenance including the original letter and picture. Usually most they got is "it looks right to be from civil war era, but no guarantee it was used in battle ". You can see the sword is 10 years before the war without the letter and stuff no guarantee it was used in battle. I doubt there is a lot of items with this story out there and there are a lot of civil war collectors

[@mcfcguvnors]

totally

[@mikesmith223]

I’ll buy that right now

[@24kRobot]

The scabbard is not that wide, either! Wow!! What an amazing piece of history. I always wonder how much things like this from WW1, WW2 and the Korean War have survived, but the civil war? Wow! That’s nuts…

[@davidclark5351]

Yes let’s straighten this sword out and ruin this amazing story! 🙈🤣🤣

[@KingBRAZIE23]

Who cares what it's worth everybody?... The fact that she has a proven piece of family history that bestows honor and maybe the moment a life was saved is priceless.

[@nychris2258]

Asking if it can be fixed shows how well she was paying attention.. sheesh

[@joshuaharuni5546]

That would be like spray painting the Mona Lisa…brilliant

[@daviddoss1104]

That’s one of the most iconic things I’ve ever seen on the antiques roadshow. Even though it’s not one of the objects that was worth the most. In my opinion worth way more than $5000 for that. It’s awesome.

[@vanylla1433]

Pass that down the family cuz thats priceless

[@errk25]

What a great family heirloom. Very cool!

[@bohhica1]

Awesome show, we watch it every Monday night for 2hours,great videos.👍👍👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@hellohello2711]

Hi world. That is me in this video!! We had the sword fixed so everything is in great shape now and you can take it out if the holder too. Much better this way instead of having weird dent holes in it

[@theexperiment8498]

God bless her for thinking it needed to be fixed.

[@thelastjohnwayne]

Rumor has is it that she just bought several priceless works of Art and several cases of spray paint

[@samparkerSAM]

My Ancestors Served with this man in the 9th Indian Volunteers, My Ancestor was from Wayne's County

[@Kane-ib5sn]

that sword is priceless w/ the story, and the great-great-great grand-daughter. it belongs in a museum, ownership rights retained. insured by museum for free. i'd rather have this than a bag full of roman coins. and, the original owner, kept the sword in backwards, in case he needed it most - in winter; where it would stick in the scabbard; you want quick release, if your life depends on it. so...the story is unique to history. i think at auction, this sword, the story, the conversation these two had on PBS - could easily fetch $20,000+ depending on how well displayed the sword is...hence, the museum.

[@peterdefabio9470]

I agree with you...that belongs in a museum with her ownership rights kept. It is an amazing piece in every regard.

[@brianpeck4035]

backwards on purpose...thx

[@jintonix9791]

This is amazing. It's super rare, one of a kind. You cannot find these today. It's incredible. I'll give you 20 bucks for it. That or a slap in the face.

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

$5000? Seems pretty cheap. I'd value it at least $50,000, it's unique.

[@bradcarter2088]

5000 Sounds way undervalued

[@Prince-jb7pv]

so go buy it and make a profit

[@XoVoX]

when she asks can it be fixed, my mouth hit the floor...glad someone told her not to fix it before she tried having it fixed.

[@jericobiermann1504]

If I was a kid and found that in the attic, I would have raided the tool shed to get that thing out of the sheath so I could go out and play with it. Probably taken it to some shrubs like a machete.

[@AD-wx5nz]

That southern accent . Love it. The way they Ws and Hs make that sound.

[@tesoro7788]

And after fixing it we could perhaps use it to curve brisket for bbq’s. Brilliant

[@englishrose4388]

“That would be like spray painting the Mona Lisa.” 🤣

[@filippians413]

Spray painting the Mona Lisa lol

[@CollectorChronicles]

As soon as the ol’ boy started talking I knew it was the guy from Shiloh Relics. Some of my best pieces came from him.

[@stefanr9943]

That still must've hurt so much

[@dlighted8861]

That would depend if the sword was touching his leg at the time.

[@unavailableusername9694]

I found a sword handle like that while metal detecting in the woods behind my grandmother's house in VA.

[@johnbaldock6353]

Hello, I'm watching from England, I Love the Accents!!

[@grovermarchand5537]

As someone from NEW England (Yankee x 2) I also dig them. We also enjoy the one's around your way too. A British accent can sell us just about anything!

[@grovermarchand5537]

@True Irony "watch what this chamois can do Mike!"

[@apancher]

@Gary York Hahahahahahaha right.

[@vincea2996]

I collect stuff from ww2, but the documented history on that sword is awesome. How can we get a hold of those people. I’ll give that lady 4K for it .

[@RUdigitized]

This dude has the best accent I’ve ever heard.

[@elyanae9588]

Oh good, I'm glad it's got a steel blade rather than a plastic one.

[@ScreaminEmu]

“Can it be fixed?” “No ma’am, you can’t fix stupid.”

[@MrNick-]

Enemy “I shot him in the leg, he’s down!” Other enemy “so why’s he still running!?”

[@BillyN31]

Lookout mountain!!! Chattanooga Tn. Love that area.

[@kelsey6556]

Raccon Mountain, Georgia Lol

[@richardposna3223]

That’s a nice guy. God bless him

[@myjunkertravels6897]

"thad be like spray paintin the Mona Lisa." Said like a southern boy.

[@drewstone5076]

Shout out Chattanooga, Tn Lookout Mountain

[@billbrooks9088]

It's worth more than money!!!!

[@millerjohn619]

She then takes it to Gold and Silver Pawn and speaks with the owner, Rick. After going over the story of the sword, it's engraving, and the letter, Rick calls a friend. "I just don't know enough about this. I know a guy who knows these kinds of things. Do you mind if I give him a call and have him take a look?" Rick's expert finishes his appraisal. Rick asks, "How much is this worth?" Expert: "Given this sword being hit by a ball (bullet) during the Battle of Lookout Mountain, thus saving the owner's leg and possibly life, I estimate the sword and letter to be worth anywhere between $8,000 to $10,000." Rick: Thanks!" "So you originally wanted $5,000. Even though it's worth twice that, the best I can offer is $1,250, and I'm taking all the risk. Civil War memorabilia isn't selling as well as it used to."

[@kauaihawaii5836]

Its worth way more than that!

[@dukeman7595]

God was watching out for this man that day... Amazing, had that projectile hit his flesh he no doubt would have probably died from the trauma, blood lose or infection. This sword belongs in a museum.

[@alabamadirtdigger8216]

FIXED...😂..He about feel out when she said that

[@kaprantil]

I love antique road show!

[@Jay_Bird]

"Fixed?!?!" (I think his is the original Pikachu surprise face!) LOL

[@Unique377]

Wow what an incredible story!

[@chazjanousek2602]

It sure seemed she wasn't listening wholeheartedly to the expert, no excitement from her until the estimated value was mentioned. I would bet the price of the sword, even though to her it should be priceless, that she sold it to go on vacation! One of a kind item with the documents and story, it should be kept in the family!

[@Slithey7433]

That’s a wonderful heirloom.

[@LoneWolf-hk4yn]

Amazing story

[@SH-kn7ut]

An item like that - with the story and the documentation to back it up - should be worth a lot more than just $5000.

[@darklordojeda]

2005 Honda Civic $5000. Civil war sword used in battle and an extremely unique feature with provenance...insurance value $5000.........

[@mr16325]

You should never sell a family heirloom like this. This has been a cherished item in the family and many other family members would love to have it, not to be sold to a random person

[@jamespradel7918]

Lets face it it would probably just end up in the attic or in the garage. Probably after a few years and it'll be put in the trash can. Better sold it and be useful.

[@mr16325]

@@jamespradel7918 many family members who care about genealogy and family history love things like this. Give it to someone in the family who will preserve it

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Most so-called "families" aren't really family-like at all. They may show up at family-type gatherings, but then they act like strangers to each other. And, whoa!! when anything of value is in dispute, the arguments begin!!!

[@joehartmann9353]

Belongs in a museum.

[@deanhoward4128]

I would like to get Raphel's address/ information, I have some family history during the Civil war,War, I need more information on!

[@mariaferreras5411]

I’d love to own that piece of history

[@jamessoltis5407]

...whoever can remove the sword from the scabbard shall be named King of the Flea Market.

[@furenaef]

Rick be like “Best I can do is $500 bucks and I’m taking all the risk, I have to get it framed and that cost money. I’m a small business”

[@brenttaylordotus]

"Could it be fixed" cuzzzz you need to ride into battle?

[@vivians9392]

She probably wants to pull the sword out to take a look. No way, Lady.....