Like the British, the Continental Army had their 29-hole cartridge boxes with and without tin trays. The version without a tin tray was known as a single box, and the version with a tin tray was known as a double box. The Continental Army "New Construction" cartridge boxes are nearly identical to the British 29-hole cartridge pouches in overall appearance.
No further orders are being accepted until I catch up with existing orders. I will update this page when that happens. No, I don't know when that will be.
This 29-hole box is copied from an original in the C. Craig Nannos collection
(formerly in the Troiani Collection). It has a combination of features
that make it a fine example of American ingenuity. I believe the American
articifers seen the British pouch and made their versions even better.
For a Continental Army impression from 1778 to 1783 this would be a good
box to use.
The block is screwed to the sides and nailed to the front of the leather box (similar to British pouches). Affixed to the block is a thin leather inner flap which is held to the pocket flap with small brass buttons. Access to the space beneath the block is through the gusseted pocket flap (identical to the British pouches).
The box is held closed by means of a leather strap sewn to the flap with an iron pivoting stud riveted to the bottom of the pouch. Sometimes a matching female iron slot was riveted to the leather strap. These pivoting studs have been found in the Morristown and Hudson Highland campsites. Some New Construction boxes used the brass catch & hook instead of the iron pivoting stud. Two hand-forged iron buckles on the bottom of the box, and a wide carriage keeper on the back, holds the shoulder carriage. (Shoulder carriage sold separately.) This pouch is pictured in Collectors Illustrated on page 67 #12.
Continental Army,
29-hole Single Cartridge Box
A) with iron stud closure (with female iron slot on request)
B) with brass catch & hook
Boxes correctly stamped "UNITED STATES" upon request at no additional
cost.
Continental
Army "double box" C) Iron Stud, D) with
Brass Catch
This box is known as a "double box" because it has both a wood
block and partitioned tin tray underneath the block. The 29-hole block
can be easily removed for access to the tray containing additional cartridges,
tools, etc. The simple front pocket flap holds spare flints and tow but
does not allow access to the tin tray.
Tin tray Brass
catch & hook
The box is held closed by means of a brass hook on the flap and brass catch on the bottom of the pouch or iron stud closure. Two hand-forged iron buckles on the bottom of the box, and a wide carriage keeper on the back, holds the shoulder carriage. (Shoulder carriage sold separately.) This box is reproduced from an original in the Nannos Collection at the U.S. Army Center of Military History. A second example is in the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (N.Y.) collection. The original boxes are stamped "UNITED STATES" and "HAWES". Hawes was a Captain of artillery artificers in Springfield, Mass. during 1782-1783.
Boxes correctly stamped
"UNITED STATES" upon request at no additional cost.
