The price can be as low as $200 for a parts gun upwards of $2000 for one in reasonably good condition. Pristine condition is rare and can cost, well, a lot! There is an 1816 available at one site for just under $1000 but it's been converted to percussion, pitted from rust, and needs some TLC to preserve it better.
It would be a good idea not to take this one out and shoot it.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.