1880 canteen

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy Pards
I am looking for a canteen that would be correct for the 1880's , I have a Civil War canteen but it's to small for a Hot day . I would like to have one that would hold a1/2 gallon of water .

[Major 2]

As you have discovered the CW issue canteens hold about 1Qt. and the reason was portablity.
There was a larger Hospital canteen (normally tranported by wagon) for water.
 The Signal Corps Canteen held about a gal. ( of Turpentine or other flamable liquid )

Both were made of copper, I don't think either are reproduced today but either could be, and either made for water.
see Lord's Encyclopedias for the discriptions.

There is also the early wood keg style, I think Jas Townsend carries these
http://jas-townsend.com/index.php?cPath=31

[St. George]

As a general rule, the cowboy of the era didn't carry a canteen, as is so often seen on the Silver Screen.

There was a water barrel on the wagon if he needed a drink, and there were streams and creeks that criss-crossed the region that have long since dried up that were his mainstay.

They didn't feel any pressing need to 'stay hydrated' as today's folks do.

'If' there was a canteen - the likelihood of it being ex-military would be high, since they were the cheapest thing to buy.

Cowboys often carried  a few 'airtights' in their saddlebags - chiefly canned tomatoes - to provide both drink and sustenance (that is, if he wasn't afraid of tomatoes, since many folks called them 'love apples' and thought them to be poisonous).

If you need more water - and have a way to transport it - you could use a stone jug.

Or - you could seek out a 'canteen gourd' and make your own canteen, as was done in the Southwest by the Vaqueros.
(A 'canteen gourd' is an actual type of gourd - large and sort of 'canteen-shaped', and well-suited to the task.)

They'd hollow out said gourd and let it dry, while they'd fashion a harness and strap to attach to the pommel, then fit it with a cork or whittled wooden plug, and they were in business.

Were I to do that, I'd make certain that the insides were scraped as clean as possible, re-scrape to make sure, then I'd coat the interior with beeswax.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Advertising]

[River City John]

www.fortwestern.com/store/product.php?productid=409627&cat=215&page=1

These are modern plastic lined but leather-covered. Probably just what you're looking for, Rowdy.

As has been hinted, unless you're hanging them on your guncart, there's a reason Pards don't carry large capacity canteens at shoots. If you fill 'em up in expectation of a whole day's need, then they are ungodly heavy to tote around. About mid-morning you're thinking to yourself, "Now why the heck did I get such a large canteen?"
Keep your smaller CW one and just refill the sucker if needed from the water source most every range provides for keeping their people hydrated.

[Books OToole]

For my "buffalo camp wrangler" character I am portraying next weekend I will have three canteens in camp.

1 gord canteen (alluded to by St. George)
1 Civil war cloth covered canteen
1 older (& smaller) drum style tin canteen.

However, St. George is correct, they were not generally carried unless crossing a "Jornada" or desert.

Books

[Tjackstephens]

Rowdy, a 1/2 gal. would be about right. I've been several places that did not provide water and something like that wold be good. Last year at the Eastern Regional there was no water and it was warm for Oct. I have seen the gord canteen out in Texas and they are really good. However they don't hold much water. If water is provide, then they look good. If no water , they are not enough. Of course if water is provided, a correct cup is all you need. If you had a 1/2 gal. you could sat it by the gun racks and move it along as you go, (if no gun cart).
If you come up with one, I would like to see it. TJ

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Rowdy...

A small wooden barrel would do you just right! You can get them to hold about a gallon or up to five gallons of water...and if you are doing a cowboy persona the barrel would be more correct. Just hang your cup on it and post a 'keep out' sign and your ready to go!! I'm gonna start carring one in my primitive camp gear as well.

OCB....to the rescue....

[Major 2]

I mentioned Jas Townsend
Here is another http://www.ushist.com/set-dressing/barrels_boxes_crates_kegs_jugs.htm
take note of the 1/2 gal. Jugs 

[Dutch Limbach]

I like the stoneware jugs. I've got one of the quart size jugs. I had a 5 gallon barrel that I bought off Jas. Townsend & Sons so long ago that the price was only about $40. I eventually went to a tin bucket with a ladle. It was smaller, lighter, and I didn't have to soak it in water for a couple of days prior to using it. I did cover the top of the bucket with a piece of homespun to keep out undesireable objects.

Here is a container from 1869 that might be an option:



There was an antique 1/2 gallon Ball jar that reecently was on ebay for $9.99. I suspect that these containers could be used to store more than water.

BTW- I use one of the CW style canteens myself, but I transport the water to the shoot in a 1/2 gallon Thermos (and I'll confess that there is usually some ice in the Thermos). If I run out of water, which I've very seldom done, I'll go refill the canteen during a break in the action.

[St. George]

Typing in 'gourd canteen' on your search engine will turn up a number of interesting sites dealing with canteen gourds and what you can make with them.

The smaller ones were used for carrying tobacco - the larger for other purposes.

If you don't feel like making your own gourd canteen - you can buy one already prepped for drinking from Crazy Crow.

Take a look at - www.crazycrow.com - they offer a very authentic type, fitted with a wooden spout and a cork stopper.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Will Ketchum]

I use an empty whiskey bottle with a cork.  I use to fill it with ice tea but I thought it might give the public the wrong impression so I just put plain water in it now   If it's real hot I wrap the bottle in a piece of wool blanket and wet it down.  That helps keep it cool.

Will Ketchum

[Dr. Bob]

Are ya sure Will??  Gin & Vodka & Rum are all clear liquds!   You shoot too good to be drinkin alcohol!!

[O.T. Buchannan]

He probably shoots real good after draining half a bottle of his 'who hit john'...  At least it worked for Lee Marvin in 'The Comancheros'.  "It's soothingness"......

As to canteens, I prefer the goard, myself, but a wood, and even a military canteen would all be appropriate. 

[Deadeye Don]

Once the gourd is sealed with bees wax, is it permanent or do you have to reapply at some point?  I am assuming you dont want to put hot water in it.   

[Major 2]

Or leave it empty in the sun or hot car ...
I used beewax to line tin CW canteens, or you drank rust or rusty water.
I have Rev War wood drum style I bees waxed, never have had to do again,
as long as there is water in it or it's left in a cooler place empty. 

[O.T. Buchannan]

Of wood, tin, and the gourd, the gourd seemed to be the most problem free for me.  With all of them, the beeswax had to be re-applied at some point, but it's extremely easy.

For Colonial, I use a glass bottle canteen, covered with leather.  That's the easiest of all to maintain.  My Old West canteen is a gourd, but most of the time I simply have a big, period correct tin cup, and fill it up as I need to.

Since I don't use any kind of guncart, the amount of stuff I carry starts to be an issue, so I've found that simply hanging the tin cup off of my saddle bags cuts down on the amount of weight and bulk that I have to transport on foot....

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy Pards
I want to thank everyone for the Great input . I had thought about the gourd canteen but didn't know how they would hold up and if they would taste funny . I have a gallon canteen that I like but it's plastic with a  metal band  and blanket covered . I guess I am looking for that perfect canteen . When I had my Mustang I found that putting a canteen on a horse requires a little thought and tie it down TIGHT you don't want any flopping . Question when did the screw on lids come out on canteens ?

[Don101]

You could try here  http://www.vrcmercantile.com/indianwars.html

[Don101]

I dont know what the quality is like on the above link i posted but i do have a repro made from a guy over here in germany he hase made probably around 60 or so by now its a copy of the 1880s type mil canteen it is made from stainles steel and silver solded so it doesnt rust ive hade it for a good few years now and had no problems with it, Don

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I dont know what the quality is like on the above link i posted but i do have a repro made from a guy over here in germany he hase made probably around 60 or so by now its a copy of the 1880s type mil canteen it is made from stainles steel and silver solded so it doesnt rust ive hade it for a good few years now and had no problems with it, Don

Guten Tag, Don!

That VRC site link you provided sure looks good ... and with VERY reasonable prices.  Makes a person wish they made more items.

Spaeter ... (Sorry - I don't have an umlaut [sp?]  on my computer.