Revolutionary War Keg/Rundlet canteen, as in books and museums (SOLD)

This is another great piece being offered, it is a Revolutionary War Military Style Wooden Water Keg/ Rundlet (Canteen) from the New England area. It measures 7” x 4 ¼” x 5 ½” in the center. It has a staved body with four metal bands, original cork, and a bale-wire handle.

Revolutionary War Era Army and/or Militia Soldiers would be required to bring a portable water canteen when reporting for duty. This keg was made during the Revolutionary War and could have been used during the War of 1812, and even into the Civil War. I have some similar canteens in my collection and in my book “The Civil War Canteen – Third Edition (see pictures).

These small rundlets were used by many soldiers. There are examples in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann and Kravic (see pictures). There is also a very similar example of this canteen in "The Museum of the American Revolution" in Yorktown, VA (see pictures).

There is a “caricature drawing” done in 1777 of a Revolutionary War soldier carrying a similar keg (see pictures).This canteen is in very nice condition for its age – it is slightly swelled in the center, as seen in the pictures, but does not distract from the overall presentation. It would be the center piece of any collection.