This is a nicely preserved American military cartridge box and belt dating about 1790 to 1815 and perhaps on the early side of that. The belt follows an early form that does not use a large belt plate, but instead is fitted with a narrow interior billet that adjusts and fastens the belt by buckling into a small iron buckle stitched to the other end of the belt. The wider belt then passes over the small buckle, concealing it, and is retained by wide sliding loop. Billet, buckle, and loop are still present and excellent. The belt has a good surface with plainly visible decoration.

The belt has short lengths of top and bottom straps still attached, indicating it was fitted with a shoulder sling and sword slings, and shows a lightly tooled edge and diamond shaped decorative impressed stamps. These are repeated on the cover of the cartridge box that was found with the rig. The box is narrow, with a single flap and tombstone side panels, holding a 26-hole wood cartridge block. The two belt loops are firmly in place on the reverse, as is the sewn latch tab. The button fastener on the bottom of the box, however, is gone and took a narrow strip of the leather with it.

Neither belt nor box have had any leather dressing applied and are in good condition with a nice untouched look. The leather shows overall wear and scuffs, but generally has a nice blackish brown surface. The box has a just a couple of small holes on the front edge of the body and the small missing piece on the bottom. The belt is still flexible.

These display very well together. Both condition and the decorative leather work makes it clear they have been together forever.  This would be a nice addition to a collection of US Federal period military arms and gear.  [sr]

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

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

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!