MODEL 1878 CANTEEN WITH THE EARLY ROCK ISLAND
ARSENAL NARROW LEATHER "US" STAMPED CANTEEN STRAP:
An original Indian War period US Army issue Model 1878
Canteen complete with the early pattern, narrow leather
shoulder strap manufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal.
The canteen is complete with both of the triangular
hangers that were attached as part of the modification
process the arsenal used to convert the Civil War
canteens to the Model 1878 Pattern. The “US” stencil is
clear and legible, and is of the desirable “large”
pattern characters, indicating that this is one of the
earlier stenciled covers. There is a carefully hand
applied numeral "9" drawn in ink above the "US",
probably a soldier's effort to identify his canteen, or
a company or regiment quartermaster sergeant's attempt
to adhere to the standard of marking the equipment to
the unit when he did not have the standard stamps
provided by the army.
The cover is solid and free from any wear points or
tears, and the seams are intact. The body of the
canteen holds it shape on the front and the rear
surfaces with no dents or other damage. The original
cork stopper and chain are intact and full form with no
loss to the cork.
The correct narrow leather strap is in very good
condition - full length with no weak points, complete
with both brass hooks and leather keepers, and the
leather is supple with no flexing or crazing to the
leather surface. The “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL” stamp is
barely legible on one “fold back” section of the sling,
between the brass sling adjustment hook and the brass
wire hook that attaches to the canteen’s triangular
hanger. The other “fold back” section on the other end
of the sling is legibly stamped “US”, a stamp that is
not often seen, and again may indicate this is an early
production sling. These narrow canteen slings have all
but disappeared from the market and are now quite
scarce.
This is the canteen issued to the regular army in the
west, with no National Guard or State Militia unit
marks, and it is a very solid specimen with the very
desirable and correct narrow canteen sling.
(0815) $275
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