This is a very good example of the tin (tinned iron) drum canteen made with one side flat and the other convex. In this case the convex side has an additional step up, making it just a tad more decorative, but also strengthening the side. See O’Donnell, Canteens, Chapter 2 for details on this and similar patterns. The construction is still very simple, employing a single band around the periphery joining the face and back, which have crimped edges, with a short tin spout and three brackets for a carrying strap, in this case wide, suggesting use of a web strap, with the shoulder brackets set low, and all seams and joints soldered.

The were commercial products, mirroring in some ways the older US M1836 tin canteens, and were widely used by militia companies at the beginning of the war. O’Donnell notes, page 75, “The same raised center design was copied by a number of southern tinsmiths,” and has a photo of a Confederate infantryman posed wearing one.

The condition is excellent, with no dings or dents, the body showing gray with some brown mixed in, and the solder showing a muted silver gray. As an essential piece of field gear carried by virtually every soldier on both sides of the conflict, canteens are a great collecting category with lots of variations showing art and ingenuity combined with soldier identifications and personal touches.  [sr][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!