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1881 MILLS SECOND PATTERN MCKEEVER CARTRIDGE BOX –
EXCELLENT CONDITION: Of the standard pattern
and construction of the familiar McKeever Cartridge
boxes issued to the Indian War era Infantry, this Mills
McKeever Box was set apart from the others by the use of
a set of web bellows manufactured by the Mills Woven
Belt Company, incorporating the integral, woven
cartridge loops that were featured as part of the Mills
Cartridge Belts. These two sections of woven loops, one
fastened into the body and the other into the cover of
the McKeever Box, are each affixed with a rectangular
brass tag bearing the Mills Company patent information,
“ANSON MILLS, PAT. DEC 28, 80”. In excellent condition,
this box features a bright smooth overall finish to the
leather, with no crazing or flaking. The cover retains
both brass reinforcing corner staples and has a bright
legible embossed “US” in the oval. The closing tab is
present and intact, to include the brass escutcheon
plate, shows no sign of heavy wear or damage, and is
legibly stamped “Watervliet Arsenal”. The interior of
the side pieces of the box body are stamped “A.R.
Smith”, the arsenal inspector, and “T.M.”, likely the
initials of the arsenal piece worker. The woven loops
are all present and intact, showing little evidence of
use and no wear or fraying, and both sets have the
leather end-edging still intact. All of the seams are
intact, as are both belt loops which are in excellent
condition. As discussed on page 71, in Indian War
Cartridge Pouches, Boxes and Carbine Boots by
Dorsey, this particular pattern of McKeever box that
incorporated the Mills Woven Loop sections were in
effect army trial boxes, manufactured and issued on a
fairly limited basis, resulting in these Mills McKeever
boxes being found today in relatively few numbers and
are therefore a very desirable addition to an Indian War
accoutrement and Trapdoor Rifle collection. $295
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