Antiques Roadshow

GUEST

We were digging with a backhoe when I was in high school, and this came up, and I picked it up tried to find out what it was. Never could really find anything out about it. I seen one that was similar like it and... down in Gettysburg, and they said it was a flare gun, there wasn't many made, but no one seemed to know any value, so I put it away.

APPRAISER

What it is, it's a wonderful example of a Civil War signal gun. It's a model 1862 flare gun. It's made by William Marston in New York City. They're perfectly... This one's perfectly marked on the bottom of the gun. It's got the 1862 date. The AJM is the inspector mark. Most of them would burn your hand with such a short barrel. They put a small flare charge, but it's a wonderful piece. For an excavated item, it's just beautiful. We have a green patina, perfect markings, serial number 492. They only made a thousand. I've had a customer that's been looking for one for seven years, and I've never been able to find him one. Today, this gun, in this condition, which is pristine for an excavated piece, would probably bring about $2,000.

GUEST

( chuckles ) It's been sitting underneath my bed.

APPRAISER

I bet you a dollar it's a whole lot more than you made that summer digging those ditches.