A very interesting web site -
http://www.horsesoldier.com/catalog/c0052.html - that has information on the Ten Tube "Quickloader". Check it out for information about other Civil War artifacts.
Regarding the Blakeslee Quickloader:
Presented here is a wonderfully fine, original specimen of a seldom seen Federal cavalry ammunition carrier, commonly referred to as the Blakeslee carbine cartridge box. This rare artifact of leather and wood is referred to as the Blakeslee "Quickloader", the name christened by the Union cavalrymen for this customized carbine cartridge box. Invented in the Fall of 1864 by Erastus Blakeslee, Colonel of the First Connecticut Cavalry Regiment, this device perfectly complimented and enhanced the firepower of the renowned 'Spencer' seven-shot repeating firearm. The 1st Connecticut Cavalry regiment, as well as selected other Federal horse units, was armed with the new Spencer 7-shot repeating carbines, and in the hands of these horse soldiers the 'Spencer' carbine soon acquired an outstanding reputation for firepower, ruggedness and reliability. However, when reloading the weapon while mounted, the troopers found it difficult to coordinate the handling of the heavy carbine, a loose magazine tube, a handful of rimfire cartridges, and the reins of their horse at the same time. Colonel Blakeslee, a proven combat leader during the War, solved this dilemma when he designed a unique cartridge box for his men. Unfortunately, production and distribution of these accoutrements took until late 1864 / early 1865 and few, if any of the 32,000 boxes made, ever saw action in the Civil War.
According to U.S. Ordnance records, Blakeslee called for his cartridge box to be constructed of 'the best oak-tanned leather, wood block to be of well-seasoned poplar, bored with ten longitudinal holes to hold ten tin tubes.' The wood block was wrapped in smooth black bridle leather with a hinged leather lid to protect the open tops of the tin tubes from the elements. A leather shoulder strap attached to the box held the device close to the trooper's left side. This arrangement allowed the soldier to reach across with his right hand, flip open the 'Quickloader' box lid, draw out a single magazine tube filled with seven cartridges and insert the bullets into the stock of the Spencer weapon.
This fine, 10-tube, cartridge box specimen measures 12½" high x 4" wide and is wonderfully complete except for the original shoulder strap, now missing. A 22½" long section of period leather belt with an attached brass hook was used as a replacement. The six-sided wooden block exhibits ten cylindrical holes, each 5/8" in diameter by 11" deep, arrayed in three horizontal rows. The top row holds three magazine tubes while the second row four, and the last row three tubes. When each tin tube was fully loaded with seven cartridges, the trooper had seventy rounds available in the box, not including the eight rounds in his loaded Spencer. Hence, he carried an awesome source of sustained firepower to the fight. The upper end of the wood block was wrapped with a metal band for strength and the box lid was secured by metal hinge riveted to the box backside. On this specimen, the lid hinge is tight and strong but the six-sided, leather lid shows a weak seam with broken stitching along the backside. Lid is missing its original, leather closure tab with only a ½" square piece still sewn and riveted to the front edge. The dark brown, almost black leather cover on the exterior is in very good condition, still tightly wrapped about the wood block and shows remarkably strong seam stitching overall with no seam separation. Just a few areas of crazing and scuffing are visible. Embossed on the front face of the box is the maker's stamp that reads "BLAKESLEE'S CARTRDIGE BOX / U.S. / Pat'd DEC 20, 1864 / E. GAYLORD / CHICOPEE / MASS." Leather surface is slightly pocked and scuffed at the left side of the stamping but letters are clearly discernable. Located on the front of the box above the stamp is the brass, pear-shaped finial that secured the lid closure tab. Stitched to the cartridge box leather exterior are two brass loops, one a "D" ring located a few inches below the lid and a rectangular loop located below the maker's stamping. The ring and loop served to hold and secure the shoulder strap worn over the left shoulder of the trooper.
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Topic: Blakeslee quick loader (Read 25572 times)