The Confederate manufactured Cartridge Box shown here is easily distinguishable from its Yankee counterpart. The most obvious differences are the horseshoe shaped cast iron sling keeper buckles, a very crudely lathe turned brass finial and a russet leather closing tab. The three of which are all distinctive Confederate manufacturing characteristics.

The box has both tin liners intact. The box was manufactured with waist belt loops, and buckles for an over the shoulder sling all of which are strong and supple as is the entire box. The box is 100% complete, but the left end section has been restitched and the ear is loose. It is a nice C S Box in its own right, but it is attached to something truly spectacular - - its own original Confederate manufactured painted cloth over the shoulder sling! How many have you ever seen? This one is in very, very good condition and I consider it a privilege and rare opportunity to handle and study it.

It is made of woven linen, three and one half inches wide, folded double and stitched length-wise with four equa-distant straight rows. Rather than using leather rangers at the ends like most, the last seven inches of the painted canvas of each end is folded in order to taper down to a one-inch width to pass through the buckles. There are two whipped eyelets in each end. After a massive amount of labor was expended in fabricating this strap it was painted in order to protect it from the elements and thus extend its short lifespan.

The South was short of everything; but patriotism and necessity bred innovation. Companies such as William Brand & Co. and N. Crown of Columbus, Georgia made belts and slings and even whole cartridge and cap boxes from painted cloth. Such are the exigencies of war.

The Richmond Armory produced a small number of Painted Cloth Pistol Belts with sewn on leather ends. There is also a belt and sling manufactured of painted cloth with leather ends that is believed to have been made in North Carolina. These can be recognized by their figure eight stitching.

All of the known examples of Painted Cloth Boxes, Belts and Slings without leather rangers are believed to have been made in the deep South, the only ones positively identified were made in Georgia. They were issued in some quantity to Infantry serving in the Army of Tennessee.

Because of their fragile nature, they must have deteriorated fast in service and would have decayed fast in a moist environment in the years after.

Very few examples survive in any condition. This is the very best!

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