SW canteen

[Doug Ford]

Never even had one in my hands before so I could not pass this one up. What research I did (only way I learn) was to find out this probably was a surplus Civil War, rearsenaled and then used during the Spanish American War. If the US was "thinner" it would have been a rarer canteen.

I have not really looked up the 50th yet but it could be the 50th IOWA. The case is magnetic sensitive and the neck is not. Possibily zinc or pewter. Brass holder for the stopper chain. Strap was possibly made shorter by the soldier so that the canteen did not flop around. Possibly, also, horse mounted use.

Not sure about neck tag yet!!

[5MadFarmers]

They finally ran out of the CW canteens during the SpanAm war. After finding the last significant stash at either Indianapolis or Frankford; forgot which. They ordered presses to make new ones. Easiest way to identify the newer ones is they have concave backs.

No canteens were made from 1865 to 1898 - just recovering and reclaiming old ones. Per Blunt at RIA in 1898.

[Doug Ford]

Thanks. Mine has a flat spot on the back.

[Johnny P]

This is a round back with the leather strap by Rock Island, but can't make out the date.

[John Sukey]

I hve one from the Boer war that is about the same shape. To be proper, one would call it a water bottle instead of a canteen.

[Dan Shapiro]

The neck tag appears to refer to A Company, 50th Regt, Pennsylvania Volunteers. If so that would be a Civil War unit. The Pa Volunteers of the Spanish American War had different numerical designations.