ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

[rick35ovi]

Found this image on cowans auction sight, Read the description and see what you think, Also what do you think of the canteen it looks postwar to me.

http://www.cowanauctions.com/upcoming_dates_view_item.asp?ItemId=44492

[Rob Weaver]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

I think I'm with you. That canteen looks Spanish-American War to me. When did they start stencilling US on canteens? I disremember the date, but I know it was after 1865.
Notice in the photo that he's got the collar on his coat turned up, giving the lowly fatigue coat a distinctly military appearance. You don't see many people doin that nowadays.

[crabby]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

rick 35ovi

You need to sign your name to all your posts. If you go to your user cp you can set it up quite easily.

[rick35ovi]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

Sorry About the signature thing, This was my first post. Does anybody know what kind of pistol he has in his belt?

[Rob Weaver]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

It's got a pretty sleek silhouette. I guessing a Colt's army or maybe a pocket police model.

[Bob McDonald]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

The canteen is without question a Span-Am period "retread" of an ACW piece, the bottom sling retainer being removed, while the two upper ones were modified with triagular iron sling hooks. The original ACW covers were removed and discarded, the stenciled canvas covers being added at that late date.

These retread canteens were available in large quantities in the 1960s, and could be bought for about $1 a piece; even then, original and untouched Civil War period canteens were much tougher to find and priced accordingly. These stenciled canvas gems were so common at the time that they are frequently seen in mid-20th century Civil War and western cavalry Hollywood films. (What the well-kitted Audie Murphy's "Henry Fleming" would sport!)

The revolver appears to be a '49 Pocket Model, whether a Colt or competitor copy, but it would really need be seen in close-up for verification.


Cheers,

Bob McDonald

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

Hallo!

I am a bit rusty (no pun intended), but...

The "Model 1872" canteen replaced the "Model 1858." It was basically the same "smoothside" but the major difference was a tin not pewter spout and two pivoting triangular sling loops for the three flat strip loops of the "1858." And a tan canvas cover marked "U.S." replaced the "old" brown jean, or gray, or blue, etc. covers
In some instances, the Quartermaster Department had "surplus" inventory of "1858" canteens, and they were "converted" to the M1872 specs by replacing the sling loops and covers.

These "Indian Wars" and Spam-Am canteens occassionally show up in images of veterans in later years, -particularly when they got "dressed up" in uniform for reunions or photographs.

IMHO, while they can be "true" and "provenanced or attributed," sometimes these "sets" or "assemblages" or "collections" of artifacts are nothing ore than dealer/seller "concoctions" of unrelated items designed to fetch higher prices.
And the other hand, they "could" be true to the actual veteran- his having brought back the Civil War era items and added the later canteen for an image he had taken at a Vet reunion in 1903.
Etc., etc.,

Others' mileage may vary,

Curt

[rick35ovi]

Re: ohio or Pennsylvania soldier?

There is also some good detailed images of some other items on this page

http://www.cowanauctions.com/upcoming_dates_lots.asp?page=27&SaleId=99&AuctionName=