December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
An important and interesting example of an American Revolutionary War cartridge box of the pattern known to some collectors as the “Essex” box, due to a few identified examples either found in Essex County, Massachusetts or identified to Continental Army soldiers from Essex County. These boxes were copies of British light infantry/Highland type cartridge pouches, which were fitted with 18-hole wooden cartridge blocks, with a tinned-iron tray underneath for additional round, spare flints and cleaning supplies. This well-constructed and substantial example with slightly scalloped flap with edge-tooling, is probably an early-war version copied from those taken from Highland transports captured off Boston in 1776, as it closely mirrors the British-made pouches than most other known examples in terms of form and size. However, it displays some unique American American innovation due to wartime supply shortages--most notably to offset the lack of harness buckles on the underside with which to secure the shoulder belt. Instead, a pair leather knots were set-in and stitched on each side at the bottom, two for each belt end, which would have had slits cut in to receive them in lieu of a buckle tab; there was also a leather button on the center of the bottom, for securing to the flap's inner tab. All of the buttons are now missing, with only the remains of their thong ends visible. The pine cartridge block is 9 3/4 in. L x 3 in. H x 1 7/8 in., drilled with 2 3/4 in. deep holes of 13/16 in. diameter--capable of accepting cartridges made for larger-bore American, German and Dutch muskets, in addition to British and French arms; the tin of similar length and depth, but 2 inches H. CONDITION: Overall good; there is some from wear to back of the box on the left side directly below the cross-strap for retaining the shoulder belt; the implement pocket on the front of the box has some edge loss and being thin, is quite fragile.