RARE - Revolutionary War Officers Leather-covered water flask (SOLD)

This is another rare item being offered, it is a Revolutionary War officers flask. It is a hand-blown glass bottle covered in leather and has three sling loops. It stands 7 ½” high x 3 ½’ deep x 4 ¾” wide. Some might think this is a whiskey flask, but having sling loops for a cord or strap for carrying over the shoulder would negate this theory – whiskey would be more concealed.

These flasks were popular with officers because of the size, not having to carry the larger wooden canteens as common with the enlisted men. Sometimes they are referred to as saddle flasks, because the smaller size would be more practical when being on horseback.

In “U.S. Army & Militia Canteens 1775 – 1910” by Mike O’Donnell, he describes an example that was mentioned in a 1610 inventory of the Kendall estate in England which included “four leather bottles of glass”. On May 11, 1776, General Washington’s expense account was charged “for a pair of leather-covered canteens and kitchen bottles” purchased from a Philadelphia merchant.
This is an extremely hard to find item, and I only came across two within the past 30 years. I wish I had it when I published my book “The Civil War Canteen – Third Edition’, I begin this book with the very early pre-Civil War canteens. This flask is in great condition, it shows the overall age separation of the leather, but amazingly it is not flaking and very solid.

Revolutionary War artifacts have always been difficult to find. With the upcoming of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding next year, there will be a revitalized interest. Just about all Revolutionary War relics and artifacts will be in demand, which will only add to their scarcity and price. I am already seeing a substantial increase in sales.