Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely and very well-used Civil War cartridge box manufactured at the Watertown Arsenal in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1864. It features a cleanly embossed “US” on the outer flap and retains its original tins, though one is placed upside-down for some reason.

This cartridge box appears to have seen good service use, with some verdigris on every rivet. The cartridge box is "Pattern July 1864", Type II, "US" is embossed on the flap, Type II means there are two internal flaps. The July 1864 boxes discontinued use of the earlier ornamental brass box plate, replacing it with an oval "US" embossed on the flap. Type II pattern has inside flap covering the implements, plus a second flap covering the tins, this flap having been reinstated with Type II following elimination in the Type I design. This was the last cartridge box for the rifled musket, weapon development was moving to breech loaders of smaller caliber. The belt straps are centered, sewn and riveted on with heavy crazing. The latch tab is a period-replacement, riveted on instead of the normal stitching, but almost certainly done during the war. Rare to see.

The box is in overall great condition with all leather straps still retained, though as mentioned the closure tab is a period-replacement. The leather is however heavily cracked and crazed in many places, and shows heavy loss of surface material. The tin set inside is in great shape despite one being upside down. Overall this box is in fantastic shape, don’t miss out on this beautiful Civil War box.