Possible Civil War leather and wood box I found in the water... any thoughts?

[aquachigger]

Hey everyone... I recently found this leather and wood carrying case in the river buried in the mud. I was digging a lot of Civil War items there and have a suspicion that this could possibly date to the war. I took it to my relic club meeting last night, and one member seemed to think it was an issued item in the Cavalry. Notice the small piece of a curved leather handle. Can anyone out there help me with this or know someone that could? My research so far hasn't lead me to much in the way of CW leather gear. I really appreciate any help you can toss this way. Thanks...

 

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[creskol]

Can you post some good clear photos of any rivets it might have, as well as any stitching. Also a good close up of the wood looking at its edge.
Some shots of the hardware from different angles might be helpful as well.
Thanks.

 

[aquachigger]

Can you post some good clear photos of any rivets it might have, as well as any stitching. Also a good close up of the wood looking at its edge.
Some shots of the hardware from different angles might be helpful as well.
Thanks.

Here are some close ups of the different parts. I'm hoping it's ACW, but realize it very well may not be. Thanks for the interest...

 

[traderoftreasures]

Looks pretty old possibly cw era

 

[creskol]

Based on the rivets and what appears to be a pressed leather design in the 6th photo down, I am going to guess that it is post war .. more towards the turn of the century. I may be wrong, and if so, I hope that somebody will chime in and correct me. Very cool find, though!

CannonballGuy .. what say ye?

 

[njguy]

Can't say for sure, but look at this pic, does it seem to this general size and shape?

 

[Dano Sverige]

Can't see wood and leather lasting in water from the CW myself.With the little "handle" i'd guess at a ladies "box" purse/handbag, or a small box they tend to use for keeping makeup in etc.

 

[aquachigger]

Can't see wood and leather lasting in water from the CW myself.With the little "handle" i'd guess at a ladies "box" purse/handbag, or a small box they tend to use for keeping makeup in etc.

Thanks for helping me try to figure this out. But, I have found ACW leather and wood items that are very well preserved. If they are buried, especially in mud, they can come out in remarkable condition. If you get American Digger magazine, check out my article coming up in the next issue. I'm tending to agree that this box is post war, though I haven't given up yet

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I recognize the brass corner piece used on chests and steamer trunks. Maybe you could clean up the other metal piece that looks like a latch and look for some markings.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Dano--how about a small leather covered box with a handle for keeping important papers, files and briefs in? Perhaps we could call it a filecase. Naw........

Also, if it is not civil war, I don't think it is any less important that if it is Indian war or even 1890's peace support. History didn't stop in 1865. I have even stopped on I-80 to walk out to Ft. Fred Steele that was closed in the 1890's(?). There are still US Soldiers buried there. This stuff is all soaked in history. Someday, I would like to go to the Arizona desert where some WWII tank general trained and left .50 cal casings and bullets all around. Putting a few of those back together could be important to some of those tankers. Patton just oozes romantic military history.

 

[Dano Sverige]

I just think there's not enough of it to guess (and that's all we're doing here) what it was, never mind what era it came from.

 

[aquachigger]

I just think there's not enough of it to guess (and that's all we're doing here) what it was, never mind what era it came from.

I think you guys are probably right. I was just hoping that there was something particular about this piece that could positively id it. Oh well... Thanks for helping me with it.... Beau

 

[High Plains Digger]

Dano--you are right about that. It is like an anthropologist finding a 100,000 year old arm bone and being able to determine from it what he ate and how he worshiped, and his favorite color. They really stretch things through speculations. This could have been one of Grant's hat boxes that fell off the wagon one more time than Grant did.

 

[rjs123]

Can't see wood and leather lasting in water from the CW myself.With the little "handle" i'd guess at a ladies "box" purse/handbag, or a small box they tend to use for keeping makeup in etc.

Ive have found Civil War shoes and a cartridge box in a muddy creek in remarkable condition.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I still wonder if cleaning up that latch may provide a clue or if the corners could provide any clue.
Dovetailed corners? Plywood or solid? Brass tacks?

 

[High Plains Digger]

I have one slightly better than that, except it isn't mine. I have a friend who found Medieval shoes when they were digging up old London for new buildings. 400-500 year old shoes preserved by anerobic conditions. Read that: mud.

 

[Breezie]

I have an idea about this box, but have some questions first:
#1 What are the dimensions?
#2 Is it hand or machine stitched?
#3 Is the wood one solid piece or several pieces? If more than one piece how wide is it? How thick is the wood?
#4 Are all the rivets brass?
#5 Is that a lock/latch? If so, is it brass? Have you tried to clean the lock to see if there is any script?
#6 Is it leather or pleather?
#7 Was the handle on the narrow edge like a suitcase or the top like a hat box?
#8 What's your phone number? LOL; just kidding!

What bothers me most about your case is the brass corner; it looks modern to me, but the jury is still out.

Breezie

 

[Breezie]

I must have scared him away with question #8.

 

[traderoftreasures]

I must have scared him away with question #8.

 

[aquachigger]

I have an idea about this box, but have some questions first:
#1 What are the dimensions?
#2 Is it hand or machine stitched?
#3 Is the wood one solid piece or several pieces? If more than one piece how wide is it? How thick is the wood?
#4 Are all the rivets brass?
#5 Is that a lock/latch? If so, is it brass? Have you tried to clean the lock to see if there is any script?
#6 Is it leather or pleather?
#7 Was the handle on the narrow edge like a suitcase or the top like a hat box?
#8 What's your phone number? LOL; just kidding!

What bothers me most about your case is the brass corner; it looks modern to me, but the jury is still out.

Breezie

Hi Breezie... I have been watching you sleuth for years here and I know if you REALLY wanted my phone number, you'd have it in minutes! I've been busy digging, and didn't get back to this post until now. Per your requests, I was examining the case and cleaned up the lock. D'OH! I guess that should have been my first step. Looks like I missed out on the Civil War dates, but maybe not by much! Or maybe by a century. What do you think about the Patent date stamp? I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to my inquiry. Hope to see you around!