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MODEL 1917 MOUNTED CANTEEN – 3RD CAVALRY ID’d
& DECORATED WITH SOLDIER ART: This very nice, complete
Model 1917 Mounted Canteen is unit identified with in
ink on the front of the cover, two sets of stamps the
top of the cap, and with soldier etched art on the face
of the canteen to the 3rd US Cavalry
Regiment.
The inked crossed sabres and “3” on the front of the
cover appear to have been done with a stencil hand cut
at the unit level, or drawn in ink by hand. I have seen
one other unit emblem done in this manner years ago. It
is extremely well done, with seraphs on the ends of the
“3” and extraordinary detail on the sabres to include
the swell of the hand guards that include the quillion,
and the swell of the drag at the end of the scabbard.
The cap is stamped in small characters “3 C 9” and in a
second stamping in larger characters it is partially
overstamped “3 C 37”, indicating a series of issues or
inventories in Troop C of the 3rd Cavalry.
The soldier art applied to the front of the canteen body
is by far the most compelling and interesting
identification on this canteen – a small etched image of
the company swallow tail guidon bearing a “3” in the
upper field and an “A” in the lower field. Immediately
below the spout on the same side of the canteen is an
etched panel that reads “Vic –Ted – C – 37”, evidently
the name of the soldier. On the reverse of the canteen
is another etched panel with some letters that are
difficult to decipher. The cup is also etched “Vic Ted”
immediately above the handle lock, evidence that this
set has been together since the days it was issued and
the these pieces are all original to each other. There
may sufficient information here to fully research this
soldier’s service record.
The cover is in very clean condition with no tears, wear
or other damage, and only some very minor stains on the
reverse. The lift the dot snaps are both complete,
function well and show no signs of tearing around the
snaps as is often the case. The right cover flap is
stenciled “R.I.A. 1918”, for Rock Island Arsenal. The
arsenal marking on the cover is a particularly nice
feature as so many of them were manufactured by civilian
contractors. The canteen and cup are both full form
with no significant dents and no cracks or other defects
and the handle on the cup functions properly. The
original leather suspension strap is full length,
complete with all the hardware, has a smooth bright
finish with no crazing or flaking, and has a nice even
caramel color.
This is really an exceptional example of the Model 1917
Mounted Canteen with the added value of the unit and
soldier identification. SOLD
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