May 17, 2022 Early Arms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/17/2022
An exceedingly well-made American military canteen of the Federal-early Republic period, probably made for an elite volunteer corps. Rather than being of stave or “cheesebox" construction, the rim is lathe-turned from one piece of wood, with recessed channels on each edge for the addition of iron or copper alloy bands (now missing), with circular faces or sides set into grooved recess near the outer edges of the rim’s interior. A simple mouthpiece is drilled into the top of the canteen, flanked on each side by two cast-brass loops (one missing) which secured the suspension cord (probably of hemp). The canteen has an exterior diameter of 7 -1/2" with a depth of 3 - 1/16" and is painted a uniform, medium blue (probably Prussian blue and white lead mixed). An identical example is illustrated and described on p. 43 of O’Donnell’s US Army & Militia Canteens, 1775-1910 (2008). CONDITION: Very good, except as noted above.