REVOLUTIONARY WAR "RAWLE PATENT" POUCH WITH REVERSIBLE BLOCK.

A rare British pouch with reversible wooden block drilled with 14 holes for cartridges on both top and bottom. When the upper cartridges were expended, a soldier could remove the block while pulling on the inner flap of roan that secured the cartridges below from falling out pulling on both it and block, flip it over and access the remaining 14 of 28 rounds. This style of box is commonly called the "Rawle Patent" pouch by collectors; William Rawle was a noted English accoutrement maker and although he probably produced many thousands of pouches with reversible blocks, he did not invent the block, but rather incorporated this already-known form into his 1777 patent application in which he made additional improvements in methods of flap closure and other fastenings. The reversible block technique is known to have been used by some British regiments as early as the French & Indian War, modifying their boxes in the field to allow them to double the capacity of ammunition available in combat. Body dimensions approximately 8 in. L x 5 1/2 in. H x 2 in. D, with a flap 1/2 inch wider than pouch body, extending about 1 1/2 inches below bottom of pouch when closed. PROVENANCE: Purchased from Mike Kramer in 2002. CONDITION: Very good overall, the leather stiffened over time and the block tightly set in pouch (NOTE: future removal of pouch not advised, for risk of damaging seam stitching of pouch body); the inner flap of roan partly torn-off before acquisition, probably during period use.