REVOLUTIONARY WAR AMERICAN RIFLEMAN’S BULLET BOX OR POUCH

Wood block, curved to the body and drilled with 24 holes to contain paper cartridges. Encased in hand stitched leather with belt loops cut to the back, thus worn as a “belly box” as opposed to a belt box which was slung over the shoulder. This form was preferred by American riflemen as the bullets were more conveniently located and the box stabilized by attachment to the belt. Fine uniform age character and patina with the leather surface crazed, but only minor flaking. The block cracked near the end and the leather tab of the underside of the top flap lacking. These boxed were used during the Revolution and on to the War of1812. See Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Revolutionary War, Neumann, p.72-76 for several examples of variations of these bullet boxes.