3355 RARE CIVIL WAR 10-TUBE BLAKESLEE "QUICK LOADER"

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Nov 08 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,000.00 USD
Estimated at 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
SPENCER CARTRIDGE BOX FOR CAVALRY.Dubbed "Quick Loader" by the soldiers, this cartridge box was an invention of Col. of Erastus Blakeslee, commander of the 1st Connecticut Cavalry, a unit who was armed with Spencer carbines in early 1864. He recognized the need to enhance the effectiveness of this weapon while on horseback. The box, which was carried on a strap over the shoulder, contained 10 removable tin tubes, each of which held 7 .56-50 Spencer cartridges. The 7 tubed cartridges could be inserted into the magazine about as quickly as a single round. This provided the cavalryman with awesome firepower of 77 rapid-fire rounds for the additional weight of only 7 pounds. This is one of 32,000 boxes produced in 1864-65 by Emerson Gaylord of Chicopee, Massachusetts under army ordnance contracts. Over 20,000 of these were sold as surplus to the French government at the time of the Franco-Prussian war, most survivors are in poor condition, this fine cartridge box is an original and authentic complete example that would be difficult to upgrade. CONDITION: about as nice as you will find a Civil War leather accoutrement, fine markings, leather retaining most of its original black dyed surface with scuffing on edges, closure tab is broken off, all 10 removable tin tubes, & its original strap are intact. PROVENANCE: David Berenson estate collection. (02-27317/JS). NON-GUN. $4,000-6,000.