Smoky Mountain Relic Room, along with the Smokey Mountain Knife Works, is led by longtime fossil and artifact collector Chase Pipes and spans a wide-ranging collection of various minerals and gemstones. Among the unique pieces housed at the Smoky Mountain Relic Room are Civil War bullets lodged in tree wood.

For bullet collectors, the Civil War represents a treasure trove, as standardized ammunition had not yet been implemented and there were more than a thousand types of bullets in use. These reflected local manufacturers of bullets during the era. The 1860s were also a transition point, with the round musket balls used in the American Revolution giving way to the elongated shapes common today.

Another aspect of Civil War bullets that fascinates is the direct connection they provide to major battles in history. An example is a Union three-ringer mini ball that collided mid-air with a buck-and-ball Confederate bullet. Epitomizing the phrase of the era that “the air was filled with lead,” this Shiloh battlefield artifact viscerally depicts the savage power of war.

Other interesting finds of the period include .36 Colt pistol skin cartridges, complete with bullets. These cartridge were made using the guts of animals such as sheep and cattle, which when stretched, treated, and dried created seamless cases ideal for storing gunpowder. The cases were treated with potassium nitrate, a combustible chemical that burned easily during ignition (and left minimal residue in the gun chamber), as well a shellac varnish for water resistance.