Canteen help needed

[scooter748driver]

I know nothing about Civil War canteens other than what I have read here (although I do have a book, Civil War Canteens by Stephen Sylvia and Michael O'Donnell on the way). However, I am being offered this canteen. The price is TBD. I only have a couple of pictures of it but would like to know opinions on it.

What style is it (drum? cheesebox? other?)
Being that it is wooden, would it be Confederate or did the Union use wooden canteens too?
I've not seen one where the side are recessed so far - is this normal?
Finally, for some reason this seems to have a "home made" look to it - does it appear to be genuine or is it a homemade copy/project?

I appreciate any and all help and info you can provide. Thank you!

 

[johan_steele]

Wooden canteens have been in use for quite some time prior to and after the ACW. My opinion, so take it as you will, is that the canteen is post war. Quite possibly as late as the turn of the century. There is also the gut saying it is a reproduction. Repros have been being made since the buckskinner/fur trade hobby got going.

Honestly, the canteen, powder horn and sword all scream reproduction.

 

[Conquerordie]

Don't know about the sword, but I agree the canteen and horn are repros. The horn looks nicely done.

 

[UCVRelics]

I have to agree. The canteen isn't even close to a CW. Wooden canteens can be very tricky so your book from Mike & Steve will help some but the best way is to handle as many real ones as you can.

 

[scooter748driver]

Thank you all! There was something that just seemed off to me about it, and now I understand why.

 

[R. Porter]

The sword is a poor copy of a Spanish cavalry sword. WorthPoint has an illustration of one that it calls Spanish Cavalry Sword Toledo 1852. I'm not sure what the actual designation for these is but I think they show up after the fall of Napoleon and perhaps about the time the French were going to the more familiar looking brass hilt; maybe 1816 to 1826 or so. One thing that tips you off is that the branches end in blobs under the guard. I think this may have been a French thing at first but I'm not an expert so I wouldn't take my word for it. At any rate, I'm not familiar with that style of hilt being used in America but it's a popular style made in India or Packistan that is distressed and sold as an original from the Civil War.

Spanish Heavy Cavalry Sword TOLEDO 1852 | #130249241

Overall sword is in fine+ shape. Sword in scabbard is 42 inches. Blade is in fine shape with stamping, ARTILLERIA FABRICA DE TOLEDO ANO DE 1852 or 1857. Heavy brass hilting is in very nice shape. Unde

www.worthpoint.com

 

[bayonet]

The sword is a poor copy of a Spanish cavalry sword. WorthPoint has an illustration of one that it calls Spanish Cavalry Sword Toledo 1852. I'm not sure what the actual designation for these is but I think they show up after the fall of Napoleon and perhaps about the time the French were going to the more familiar looking brass hilt; maybe 1816 to 1826 or so. One thing that tips you off is that the branches end in blobs under the guard. I think this may have been a French thing at first but I'm not an expert so I wouldn't take my word for it. At any rate, I'm not familiar with that style of hilt being used in America but it's a popular style made in India or Packistan that is distressed and sold as an original from the Civil War.

Spanish Heavy Cavalry Sword TOLEDO 1852 | #130249241

Overall sword is in fine+ shape. Sword in scabbard is 42 inches. Blade is in fine shape with stamping, ARTILLERIA FABRICA DE TOLEDO ANO DE 1852 or 1857. Heavy brass hilting is in very nice shape. Unde

www.worthpoint.com

Yeah and no doubt someone filed off the "Made In India" marking.

 

[Gandycreek]

I found some similar canteens in this book.

 

[scooter748driver]

I found some similar canteens in this book.

View attachment 463928

Could you post pics off what you found?

 

[Conquerordie]

It's the thickness of the wood used on the canteen. Look at the wood on the cover of the book, then look at the one posted earlier. So much thinner on the original. At least the one on the cover.

 

[Gandycreek]

Could you post pics off what you found?

Could you post pics off what you found?

Like the last poster said, the wood on these are not near as thick as the one you posted. Except for the one called a keg canteen.

 

[Gandycreek]

The more I look at the canteen you posted. I think it's repo or fantasy. I have the book you ordered and the one I pictured. The one I pictured is more informative, but doesn't have CSA canteens in it.

 

[Conquerordie]

Gotta remember too, some canteens were meant to be carried on a shoulder strap, some just sat in a cart or wagon and were transported that way. Not all canteens were carried in a manner that the military did. So a larger canteen with thicker wood slats would be possible. Weight of the canteen and water would not be as big of a concern at that point.

 

[Package4]

Stay away, all in the picture are very bad reproductions……