By Jimmy Espy
Correspondent
DALTON, Ga. -- Garrett Holcombe, a captain in the 42nd Georgia Regiment, came to the Chickamauga Civil War Show and Sale on Saturday to recruit members to his Canton, Ga.-based re-enactors' unit. But he also came to shop.
"I'm looking for a sword," said Mr. Holcombe, who has been a re-enactor for five years. "I'd like to find something I can use."
This was his first Civil War show, he said.
"I am in awe of all the stuff they have here," he said.
More than 400 dealer tables jammed with merchandise greeted show visitors Saturday morning. The Civil War era was the main draw, but there also were tables featuring World War II items (including a propeller from a Japanese warplane), American Indian jewelry, old post cards and books.
Linda Barnes waited patiently while her husband, Kenneth, surveyed the dealer tables.
"My husband has a big collection of Civil War things," she said. "He's got a lot of different stuff."
The Barneses are from Wedowee, Ala. They came into Dalton on Friday night so they could be there when the show doors opened Saturday.
Mrs. Barnes said she enjoys traveling with her husband to the shows and likes looking at many of the items, but said her husband is the collector in the family.
"He got out of it for a while because he was too busy, but he's back into it now," Mrs. Barnes said.
For Al Duquette of Waxahatchie, Texas, the show was business. Mr. Duquette is a Civil War gun collector. By lunch on Saturday, he had already bought 20 guns from other dealers.
Mr. Duquette said he also buys guns from the general public, but it's easier to buy from dealers because they understand better what an item is worth.
"The public usually has an unrealistic view" of an item's value, he said. "They look on the Internet and see a top price for an item and think they have the same thing, worth the same thing. But a dealer will know more realistically what they have."
Mr. Duquette, who has been buying and selling items since 1999, said dealers often make a profit of about 20 percent on an item, then have to deduct their expenses from that.
"Ten percent is a more realistic profit margin," he said.
The biggest show of the year for him is the annual gathering in Nashville. He described Dalton as a good smaller show with "lots of good-quality items."
IF YOU GO* What: Chickamauga Civil War Show and Sale* When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today* Where: Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, Walnut Avenue exit in Dalton.* Admission: $8 adults, children 12 and under free
For Scott Pullen, of Summerville, Ga., this weekend's show was his first in Dalton.
"I had no idea they had this much stuff for sale here," he said.
Mr. Pullen also was surprised by the venue. It was his first time at the NorthWest Georgia Trade and Convention Center.
"I didn't know Dalton had a facility like this," he said.
Mr. Pullen rode over with a friend on Saturday morning. He was particularly interested in Civil War prints but was glad to take in the whole marketplace.
"I'm really impressed," he said. "There's a lot to look at, some really great stuff."