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HAGNER No. 1 CARTRIDGE BOX, .50-70 – INTERESTING
VARIANT IN VERY NICE CONDITION: This is a very
interesting variant of the Hagner No. 1 Cartridge Box in
very nice condition, and still in the original,
unmodified configuration for the .50 calibre rifle
cartridges. This box was manufactured with only the “V”
shaped belt loop strapping unique to the Hagner No. 1’s,
and without the standard cross strap that is normally
seen riveted over the “V” strap which serve to limit the
position of the box on the soldier’s belt. Perhaps this
particular box was manufactured during the early trial
and error attempts at the arsenal to design the
eventual, and more familiar, strap arrangement that is
normally seen on these Hagner No. 1 boxes. Whatever the
reason, the additional cross strap was omitted from the
back of this particular box, which is conforms in every
other feature to the standard pattern of the Hagner
No.1. I think it is worth noting that this variant is
sufficiently unusual that it was apparently not
available to be included in
Indian War Cartridge
Pouches, Boxes and Carbine Boots
, by Dorsey along with the
many rare trial and modified boxes he documents in that
volume.
The leather surface of this box is overall smooth and
shiny to include the closing tab, and the feel of the
leather still retains the firm character of an unissued
piece. There are some minor nicks to the surface of the
leather on the front flap as the result of handling and
storage, but nothing that detracts from overall
appearance of the box. The “US” embossed on the front
flap is very definite, the “No. 1” is legible on the
reverse, and the closing tab is stamped with the arsenal
worker’s initials, “STM”. All of the cartridge loops
are intact, without showing any wear or fraying.
An interesting variant of one of the more important
cartridge boxes used during the early Indian Wars, this
Hagner No. 1 may well be one of the “missing links” in
the development of the pattern. (037) $325
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