A very nice, completely untouched brass self-closing cartridge box by Kittredge. The box is brass, with brass top having a rolled edge, and brass belt loops fixed to the reverse along with a flat, hooked iron spring that closes the top flap. Kittredge boxes are known with several different firm markings. This one is stamped in three parallel lines, “B. KITTREDGE & Co. / PATENTED JAN. 27 1863 / REIUSSED APL. 14. 1863.” Often associated with Henry rifles, these boxes held .44 caliber rimfire cartridges, but have an even stronger connection with the Wesson rifles marketed by Kittredge that were also carried by many western cavalry units, including Indiana, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as Kentucky and Ohio. They are scarce Civil War accouterments with good early west associations as well.

This one has minor dark age spotting, some small green specks, along with darker areas on the reverse and shallow crustiness to the iron spring, but overall the box rates excellent, with a nice coppery age patina that has never been polished up.  [sr]

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