December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
A very nice example of an American light dragoon's cartridge box that conforms to the specifications laid out by the Continental Board of War in 1778 which described a waist-mounted box of tanned leather, in which are affixed 12 tin tubes for containing cartridges. The use of tin tubes not only lightened the weight of such a box, but allowed for better flexibility of movement to mounted soldiers. The well-constructed example is far superior in construction to most militia examples from the late 18th and early 19th century, that it appears a likely candidate to be either one intended for a regular from the Continental Light Dragoons and the Federal period, when contracts were let for 12-round boxes with tinned iron tubes for the light dragoons of the U.S Legion. The body of the box is 10x 3 1/2 x 1 inches (length measured on curve); tubes are 3/4-inch diameter and the flap is 4 1/2 inches deep at center. Ex.collection, Robert Oswald. CONDITION: overall very good, the tins in excellent condition, but the blackened leather has stiffened and shrunk with the passage of time, especially the flap; belt loops missing. An old dealer's tag conveys with the box.