This cap box has the very clear maker’s stamp of R. Nece on the lower edge of the inner flap and the sharp US inspector’s mark of R.A. Sniffen just above. Reuben Nece started out as a tailor and apparently got into the accoutrement business through his brother, a saddler. He ended up with army contracts for many thousands of accoutrements and accoutrement sets, both infantry and cavalry, as well as horse equipments, etc.

This is a nice untouched example of his work- a regulation cap box for the percussion cap primers used on the majority of Civil War weapons. This is the “shield front” style using and elongated outer flap to form a latch tab, rather than using a separate, sewn tab. The inner flap is in place with its side ears. Both belt loops are there and secure. The interior fleece is present, too, which is a rarity since it most often has been devoured by moths over the years, and the small wire vent pick, used to clear debris from the nipple and vent leading to the barrel chamber, is present as well.

There are just some minor scuffs to the leather and a little crackling to the inner flap from flexing. The only finish loss is a tiny chip off one belt loop near the rivet from flexing. Some of the leather has shaded to a lighter brown, likely from the use of oak tanned leather by the maker. See Paul Johnson’s excellent book on cartridge boxes for discussion of the leather types and US contracts for cartridge boxes and accoutrement sets. This is a nice untouched example of a regulation piece of Civil War gear that would have been instantly recognizable by any veteran.  [SR] [ph:m]

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