M1858 Canteen American Civil War Water Bottle Union Sky Blue

The Model 1858 canteen was the standard canteen issued by the Northern (Union) Army throughout the American Civil War, a version was introduced in 1862 which is referred to as the "bulls eye" canteen but the seams split easier on this model so it was withdraw and the Army carried on making the M1858 Canteen until after the war finished.

The M1858 canteen was a very good design and proved very popular with the both the Northern and Southern troops (southern troops where always on the look out for better kit after a battle).

One of the classic items of the civil war, the M1858 canteen (water bottle) was made from basically two dish like sides soldiered together to form as some described is as squashed cannonball. The canteen was then covered in wool to help stop the sun heating up the water too much. The first canteens where made with a sky blue cover, like these ones we have for sale, later ones where made with dark blue, grey and even tan covers.

The white cotton shoulder strap on the Union M1858 canteen is looped through 3 metal loops around the edge of the canteen. The total length of the white cotton canvas strap is 200cm (78"). The cork is secured by a chain which is fastened to one of the side loops that the white cotton shoulder strap is looped through. During the American Civil War the chain on the M1858 canteen was often issued with a white cotton cord instead to save money and resources.

The troops often heated up the M1858 canteen to melt the solder so they could make two frying pans from the two halves of the M1858 canteen.

Price is for one newly made replica Union M1858 Canteen with white cotton shoulder strap and sky blue wool cover, which is the correct type that would have been used in the ACW (American Civil War).

These are great for re-enactment or as part of an American Civil War Display