About Relics & Rifles

Relics & Rifles is a curated micro-history archive dedicated to documenting individual firearms, field gear, ammunition, and soldier artifacts from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The goal is simple: preserve the story behind the object alongside the object itself.

What you will find here

The site is organized as a growing library of item-level profiles. Each profile is designed to support collectors and researchers through clear photography, identification notes, historical context, and where available, provenance and restoration history.

How the research is done

• Item-first documentation: Physical observation comes first. Markings, construction, materials, and condition are recorded before interpretation.
• Source validation: Reference material is cross-checked against specialist and primary sources when available. Conflicting information is noted rather than resolved artificially.
• Restoration transparency: Conservation or restoration work is documented so readers can distinguish original features from later intervention.
• Collector usefulness: Profiles emphasize practical identification and historical grounding over speculation.

Editorial independence

Relics & Rifles is independently produced. Research conclusions are not influenced by advertisers, sellers, or outside organizations. Where uncertainty exists, it is stated plainly.

Advertising and affiliate disclosure

To support hosting and development costs, the site may display limited advertising and may use affiliate links for recommended books or research references. Advertising is kept visually separate from editorial content and does not influence research outcomes.

Contact

For research requests, collaboration, or site inquiries, please use the Resources & Contact page.

Lawrence E. Zier, Jr., IPC
Historical Arms Researcher & Compiler
Resources & Contact