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“U.S.M.C.” 6mm LEE RIFLE THIRD PATTERN MCKEEVER CARTRIDGE BOX – VERY GOOD CONDITION:  Of the standard pattern and construction of the familiar Third Pattern McKeever Cartridge boxes issued to the Indian Wars era army, this United States Marine Corps McKeever Cartridge Box was manufactured with four leather retaining straps, each designed to hold a five-round clip of 6 mm ammunition for the Lee Rifle. 

The cover is legibly embossed with the “U. S. M. C.” in the oval, and the closing tab is present and intact.  The side of the box is stamped “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” with the inspector’s initials “W.T.G.”.  One of the interior retaining straps is stamped with the piece worker’s initials.  The retaining straps are all present and intact, showing little evidence of use, and no misshaping.   

The box is in overall very good condition, albeit showing the typical crazed surface that so many of these USMC McKeevers exhibit.  Either the exterior of the boxes were treated with a waterproofing agent to protect the cartridges when these boxes were worn during ship-board assignments which caused the crazing over time, or they were subjected to poor storage conditions.  Whatever the cause, many of these relatively scarce Marine Corps McKeevers have the same surface crazing seen on this box.  One upper corner of the cover has lost a few stitches where it was sewn to the side panel – something easily restored if you should desire – but it does not affect the integrity of the box.  The remainder of the seams and stitching are intact and both belt loops are intact and in excellent condition.   

A point worth noting is that the Marine Corps used two designs of the McKeever Box, one fitted with canvas loops to carry the .45-70 cartridge, and this design to carry the clips of 6 MM Remington Lee Rifle ammunition.  Both of these McKeevers were embossed “U.S.M.C.” and were made within the U.S. Army arsenal system.  During that same period, the arsenals manufactured McKeever boxes which were embossed “U.S.M.” which have been misidentified by some modern collectors as being intended for the Marine Corps.  The arsenals made a number of McKeevers with state militia specific embossing – “NGP” (PA), “NC”, “NG” (National Guard), “KSG” (Kentucky), and for New Jersey they manufactured a special box with an oval brass plate.  The “USM” embossed boxes, rather than being made for the Marine Corps, are believed to correctly read as “United States Militia” and were an effort by the arsenals to manufacture a generic militia box which could be used by any of the state militias without incurring the costs of a special run.   

As discussed on page 94, in Indian War Cartridge Pouches, Boxes and Carbine Boots by Dorsey, these USMC McKeever boxes for the 6 MM Lee Cartridges are relatively scarce and they are a very desirable and important addition to United States Marine Corps accoutrement and arms collection.  (0203)  $325  

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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