Description

Standard type 1857-61 tin smoothside canteen which has been japanned and gold powder coat stenciled with the regulation “U.S.” in center.  Based upon originals in both private and public museum collections, this one thought to be either a militia canteen, an experimental army trial, or simply a private purchase canteen. (commercially produced copy of the M1857 without the tin spout collar, of which some 50,000 were estimated to have been acquired by states in the early war effort and subsequently available for private purchase as well) We have gone a few extra miles and done something quite special with this one as it sports a rubber stopple and a hard rubber chain. Yes!, hard rubber chain in this size and link are documented in Woshner’s to the period, and we have handled several different artifacts which utilized it in different applications. Here it also serves to protect the canteen body and japanning from wear where the chain hits it. Rubber stopples are well documented for over a decade before the war. The threaded shank and eyelet are blackened steel. We are excited to offer you this unique feature! Regulation type black leather strap as pictured. This is just the ticket for the well heeled soldier or to smartly finish off the officer’s kit! Japanning of canteens both prior to covering and left uncovered, plain and decoratively stenciled, are well documented in the CW and pre-war period. A common early practice, intended to be an inhibitor to rust on tin, and, under represented in living history genres, japanning often took on a more decorative result. While the coating’s long term effectiveness at inhibiting rust was dubious, since it scratched off, it was still a prevalent period practice. Please remember that while we utilized as robust a period japanning method as possible and overcoat these canteens once they are stenciled – the japanning will scratch and wear as seen on all original japanned tinware that has seen any use. (do NOT scrub it) It is not intended to stay pristine, nor did the originals. The canteen body itself will hold up to normal field use just the same as any uncovered one would, while the finish develops more great character. Just the ticket for the officer or soldier who wishes to make a statement. Another strikingly handsome canteen – we are happy to have been able to again produce some of these beautiful jappanned canteens for you!