Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Federal Issue Carbine Cartridge Box in good complete & altered condition. This box is a nice example of the “universal” style of carbine box that became standard, with a removable wood block that could be changed to fit a variety of different cartridges. The box has the typical mid-war style of attaching the latch tab by the means of a rivet and semi-circle of stitching, but still conforms to older specifications in having a long horizontal belt loop and bottom buckles for use on a shoulder sling that was rarely employed. The securing strap is still entirely intact, as are both buckles and the securing knob! The horizontal belt loop appears to have been added to, and this example has a period-attached US Cartridge box plate.

This is an very good example of a Civil War “Universal” Carbine Cartridge Box that has great color and finish. Both buckles are in place, as is an interior wood block bored out for twenty carbine cartridges. The cover shows some minor crazing from flexing and the reverse shows some handling marks. The tabs and inner flap show a deep luster. This example was manufactured by H.G. Haedrich of Philadelphia as embossed on the front flap.

Haedrich had been a harness maker and saddler in Philadelphia before the war and  obtained U.S. government contracts for thousands of accouterments in 1862 and 1863. In 1864 he received a contract for 20,000 sets of infantry accouterments to be delivered to the Frankford Arsenal under a July 4 call for proposals. Although the government was experimenting with a version of the box eliminating the inner flap, Haedrich is noted as supplying the March 1864 pattern.

The cartridge box plate is attached via old wire which does have verdigris. The extra leather in the belt loops appears period-added with two rivets visible behind the wooden block that look added during the period to secure the extra leather.

A great period-altered box with a plate, ready for display!