Tin Lined Leather Pouch Help:

[hemiman2]

Recently purchased a 1861 dated portable officers desk....and inside were a few items. One was a leather tin lined pouch...I originally thought it might be a ammunition pouch..but read somewhere, that the metal lined might be for "fuses" and fairly rare. Also of interest, is that the usual dual leather back side straps are not evident..and the back has a sewn riveted leather strap where a strap or belt would slide into. I also have read that this style of leather pouch without the dual straps were used by Confederate soldiers? I am enclosed photos for help....thanks for all your interest..Hemi

 

[hemiman2]

I forgot to also ask..Should the M1851 buckles have a serial on the backside...and should this serial also be originally serialed to the "keeper"? Were the serial numbers issue or inventory number? or mfg. number? and if so..is there also a letter suffix..i.e. #633 P...is this some state or unit designation? appreciate any and all help (again)..but trying to learn..Hemi

 

[hemiman2]

Here are photos of the desk.

 

[Billw12280]

Welcome! Nice pick ups. I think you have a fuse pouch, whether Union or Confederate I cannot confirm. The 1851 sword plate was individually finished and benchmarked by the manufacturer on both the belt and keeper to keep the pieces together. Somebody that is more knowledgeable than I should be along to give you more information.

 

[1867crete]

Man great finds congrats and thanks for sharing! I can't add much to this conversation but am interested to see some responses!

 

[hemiman2]

Please notice that the wide leather sewn piece on the back of the fuse pouch is made for belt application....and not the usual dual straps sewn in place used by Union troops. I thought I read somewhere, that this style was used by Confederate troops? appreciate someone showing their similar fuse pouch for comparison..best Hemi

 

[UCVRelics]

The pouch is a Union Artillery Friction primer pouch. It should have some markings on the inner flap such as the one below. On the Eagle plate as @Billw12280 stated they are bench marks that were used to keep the keeper and plate id'ed to each other so that after they came out of the tumbler they knew which were which. They are not a serial# that can be traced.

 

[hemiman2]

any chance of seeing a photo of the leather belt strap sewn to the back of your pouch? thanks again and again for all your interest...hemi

 

[zburkett]

Thanks for showing.

 

[UCVRelics]

any chance of seeing a photo of the leather belt strap sewn to the back of your pouch? thanks again and again for all your interest...hemi

Here you go.

 

[Package4]

I forgot to also ask..Should the M1851 buckles have a serial on the backside...and should this serial also be originally serialed to the "keeper"? Were the serial numbers issue or inventory number? or mfg. number? and if so..is there also a letter suffix..i.e. #633 P...is this some state or unit designation? appreciate any and all help (again)..but trying to learn..Hemi

These were not issue numbers, they are bench marks to enable pairing to the keeper. There were no records that would have indicated issue since the numbers were for mating only.

 

[Package4]

Recently purchased a 1861 dated portable officers desk....and inside were a few items. One was a leather tin lined pouch...I originally thought it might be a ammunition pouch..but read somewhere, that the metal lined might be for "fuses" and fairly rare. Also of interest, is that the usual dual leather back side straps are not evident..and the back has a sewn riveted leather strap where a strap or belt would slide into. I also have read that this style of leather pouch without the dual straps were used by Confederate soldiers? I am enclosed photos for help....thanks for all your interest..Hemi

Yes, as UCV has stated, this is an artillery friction primer pouch most likely for volunteer light field artillery, of note, you will not normally see rivets on southern pieces, as the metal was needed for percussion caps. I am not referring to the rivets on the straps, they are post manufacture, but the rivet on the closing strap. The finial appears to be a replacement and is considered a carriage finial, so the story could be that this was of northern manufacture and then captured or picked up and refurbed at some juncture for subsequent (Southern) use. Is there evidence that there was stitching of the strap to the body?