Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is an extremely nice, rare condition example of a complete and service-used Model 1858 “Bullseye” Canteen from the American Civil War. Prior to 1858 canteens were made of wood or tin and came in a variety of forms and sizes. The two most prominent being the "barrel-type" made of wood with side slats like a barrel, and the "cheesebox-type" made of wood with a single wrap around side. Tin water bottles, similar to that used by the British Army, were also used, particularly towards the end of the 18th century.
This example is complete with its original cloth cover and extremely scarce cloth carrying strap. The canteen is marked on the throat HADDEN, PORTER, & BOOTH PHILA for the makers of that name in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Next to this marking are the canteen owner’s initials, S.W..
The front of the cloth cover has a partial yellow star badge which could either be a XII Corps badge or a possible Texas badge, the stitching of which has worn away, with an 1890s period “City Party” pin being used to affix the badge. This was likely done by the veteran after wearing the canteen to countless veterans events during the 1870s and 1880s. We are unsure of the exact nature of the badge, but it is certainly original to the canteen and is a great personal touch that we do not see often.
The included cloth strap is in service-worn condition with some tearing, but it is still well-retained, a very scarce accessory to a very scarce canteen.
In 1858, a new standardized canteen was authorized and the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot contracted with Albert Dorft of Philadelphia to produce the new item. The canteen was made of tinned iron, covered in sky-blue wool kersey, with a white linen shoulder sling. Coinciding with the start of the Civil War (April 1861), an improved version of the canteen was introduced. Known as the "bull's-eye" canteen, it had concentric circles embossed in the sides to add additional strength. Both patterns were produced for the Army throughout the war.
To find a complete bullseye canteen like this is scarce in its own right, but the corps badge is a great personal touch that gives this example a ton of character. There is more than enough information to warrant further research, making this a great project for someone. Comes ready for further research and display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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