1861 Pattern ,58 Caliber Boyd & Son Cartridge Box & Cap Box Combo
1861 Pattern ,58 Caliber Boyd & Sons - Boston Cartridge Box & Cap Box Combo
The Pattern 1861 Boyd & Sons .58 Caliber Rifle Musket Cartridge Box is a wartime contract box with riveted waist belt loops but were also designed to be used with a Cartridge Box Shoulder Belt. Each Cartridge Box had a tool pouch on the front to hold a cleaning kit and removable tins to hold and protect the black powder and paper cartridges used in the rifled muskets.
The flap of the tool pouch on the Boyd & Sons Cartridge Box has the large distinctive makers mark Boyd & Sons Boston stamped on it. The leather backing on the brass U. S. Oval Belt Plate is also stamped with a simpler version of the Boyd & Sons makers mark.
The Cap Box is the New York Arsenal style with the closing tab not sewn on but made as a continuation of the leather flap that fastens over a brass finial to keep the Cap Box closed. The Cap Box is lined with lambs wool to help keep the percussion caps inside. Each box also has a standard issue piece of spring steel inside which can be used for removing debris stuck inside the percussion nipple