The Blakeslee cartridge box was designed by Erastus Blakeslee of the 1st Connecticut Volunteer Cavalry. He received U.S. patent number 45,469 for the cartridge box on December 20, 1864. With this cartridge box, a soldier could quickly load his Spencer carbine or rifle by taking a tube out of the box and pouring the seven cartridges into the butt stock magazine of the firearm.

The tall hexagonal cartridge box has a black leather exterior wrapped over a wooden block. This block is drilled out to hold ten tubes, each of which held seven Spencer cartridges. The “lid” utilizes a brass, spring hinge. The hinge remains in good order. The leather closing tab is missing and the corresponding brass finial is now only loosely attached.

The leather exterior has moderate wear and some scrapes but is in good shape overall with all stitching tight and unbroken. The patent and maker’s stamp are worn and hard to see on the front surface. “E. GAYLORD / CHICKOPEE / MASS” is the most visible portion of the stamping. The original rings are mounted on the sides and the “belt loop” is still firmly in place on the back. The wood interior is in fine shape but none of the cartridge tubes are present.

This scarce ammunition box is in good condition and would compliment any Spencer display.  [jet]

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