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.

 

Will, an enthusiast since the late 1950's when his father gave 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, gun show trips and auctions 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 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 the 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.

 

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 as well as the Civil War book inventory of Bill Mason Books, an established business from Michigan which closed in 1999.

 

Client, Bank and Chamber of Commerce references are always available – if you are a serious collector or investor, we urge you to check us out! You will not be disappointed with our selection of inventory or the quality of what we can offer.

 

- Will & Lynn Gorges