Possible Confederate Cedar Wood Canteen SOLD

A well constructed accoutrement, atypical in size to most Confederate canteens.

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Description

Possible Confederate Cedar Wood Canteen.

Here is a canteen that has so many elements from the Revolutionary War period up through the American Civil War.

The wood used appears to be cedar wood. Not being an expert on all woods, I do believe this to be cedar; however, I have to leave the definitive answer to the experts. It is certainly not maple or cherry predominantly used in the New England states, or heavy grained woods, such as apple, ash, chestnut, or oak.

Construction is typical for a wide span of time using iron banding, holding together the multi-piece side panels and staves. The banding is very thin and uniform in thickness and width, not like what you would expect to find on earlier 18th century canteens, showing an unevenness that comes from wrought working process. Three iron sling guides with squared slots for a sling are placed symmetrically on the side.

Atypical for Confederate canteens is the width being just under 3 ¾ inches. The diameter is a hair short of 8 ¾ inches. The diameter is a bit over the average, but the width is an earlier characteristic.

The nicely proportioned spout is 1¼ inches, having an octagon base with a round lipped spout, fashioned from the same wood.

A remnant of the leather sling remains, showing a good deal of use and age. One end of this strap has 4 copper rivets joining the two original ends. The rivet heads show no uniformity and all are out of round, suggesting these are not commercially made types used during the Civil War and after. Riveting was used in the 18th Century, and all the way up to the mid 19th where it saw common usage by armies and navies, but very seldom, if ever seen used on slings of canteen or other military equipment prior to the Civil War.

Hot iron stamped on either side of the lower sling guide is the apparent makers name, “W.H. STITES.” Another set of neatly carved initials appears on one side, “C.D.” (underlined), this probably being the owner. As you may have guessed, no information with the name came up in a search on the net. It does appear to be an uncommon name, with only a half dozen or so appear on Civil War Data sites, both Confederate and Union from various states.

Condition overall is fine, all staves tightly in place; a few typical age cracks in the side panels. Some slight wear where the leather has rubbed against the wood.

Without making a definitive claim for the canteen’s period of use, I certainly feel strongly that its was constructed much closer to the American Civil War, than in the later 18th to early 19th centuries.

 

USPS Priority $18.00

Additional information

Weight 6 lbs