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Canteen Leather Slings Starting at $20.00 (SLG001)

$22.00
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SLG001

Period sling from 1858 to 1862 pattern with Japanned roller buckle and 2 keepers (a small leather ring that was used to secure the strap). Protective flap sewn into back of buckle. Sides of strap are grooved and the edges are dyed. The keeper is hand stitched onto strap. Made of 5-6 oz. leather 5/8", 3/4", 1" or 1-1/4" in width and is 6 feet in length.  Lengths are adjustable and can be made longer by special request.

Historical Citation:

Canteen

The following is a survey done by “The Watchdog” which represents the percentage of canteen covers and slings that reside in museums.

Canteen Covering
Brown Jean — 20
Grey Jean — 6
No Cover — 6
Federal Blue — 5
Kersey Blue — 3
Federal Issue Blanket — 2
Burlap — 1
Leather — 1
Wool Sock — 1

Sling
White or off-white — 25
Leather — 8
No sling — 6
Suspenders — 1
Red cloth — 1
Vulcanized Gutta Percha — 1
Rubber with a cloth cover — 1
Cloth & leather — 1

Cork Attachment
Tin — 15
No chain — 14
Twine — 11
Brass — 4
Leather shoe lace — 2

This survey not only allows us to see what has survived the war, but gives us some ideas on how to improve the impressions of Civil War reenacting units. Usually the term “authentic” in the reenacting community translates into “expensive.” This is one aspect of every reenactor’s impression that can be improved inexpensively. The author’s suggestion: Buy two square feet of jean or coarse woolen material, use the old cover as a pattern, and recover your canteen. When your cork chain rusts through. Find some twine. ATTACHMENT: to the loop of the cork wire and one of the loops of the canteen, should be a strong piece of cotton or linen twine, made with 4 threads, hard twisted. 20 inches long and doubled together to prevent the loss of the cork.

COVERING: A coarse cheap woolen or woolen and cotton fabric.

SLING: to be of leather with a buckle, 3/4" wide and 6 feet long.

— The Watchdog, Vol. 2 #2; Vol. 1 #4; Vol. 4 #4; Vol. 5 #3

*NOTE: These are the sources that the Watchdog used in writing this article.

  1. Rebels & Yankees: Fighting Men of the Civil War, William C. Davis, page 136-7

  2. Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union, Alexandria, page 198, 206-208

  3. Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy, page 208.

  4. Letters of the Quartermaster General's Office 1861-1865, Unpublished documents, National Archives, Record Group 92. National Park Service collection at Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

  5. Quartermaster's Manual, Unpublished manuscript, National Archives. Record Group 92. Revised U.S. Army Rules and Regulations:  1863. Government Printing Office. Washington D.C., 1863

  6. Smithsonian Museum Collection: Museum of American History, Washington, D.C.

  7. Civil War Canteens, Steven W. Sylvia and Michael J. O'Donnel, page 100-136


The Civil War Issue Canteen; patterns of 1858 and 1862

"Between 1861 and 1865 virtually every Union soldier received and carried a tin canteen, making it one of the most readily identifiable artifacts of the American Civil War.  This universal issue also accounts for the numerous examples (available on today's collector market).  At first glance the canteens may all appear to be exactly the same. Certainly size and shape vary so little from a standard that the casual observer may notice no difference. But, important differences do exist, and it is the purpose of this article to detail, date and where possible, explain the variations which may be encountered. FIG 1. Leather straps 5/8 to 1 inch wide had been used by the U. S. Army since at least the War of 1812. However, they would be discontinued by the winter of 1862/63. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the U. S. Army Quartermaster Department (QMD) had decades of experience in the manufacture and procurement of uniforms and equipage. This was a thoroughly professional organization that knew what it wanted, and usually got it. They were no strangers to innovation, and often experimented with new products from the civilian market. They set high standards for items to be issued by them to the Regular Army. They also knew that, in an emergency, substitution and deviation from the standard was often necessary. As long as the end product met the needs of the soldier, set standards would at times have to take a back seat to necessity. The tin canteens procured and issued by the QMD's Office of Clothing & Equipage between 1861 and 1865 would be the embodiment of all of the above. The tin-plated, oblate spheroid canteen was the result of a long series of tests and experiments with various designs and materials. The most extensive material tested was tin-plated sheet iron. Tin had replaced cedar as the material of choice for canteens in the 1840's." 

  1. Military Collector & Historian JOURNAL OF THE COMPANY OF MILITARY HISTORIANS,  Vol. XLVII, No. 3, 1995

 

 

8 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews

  • 5
    Great quality as always

    Posted by GREGORY LYNES on Oct 14th 2023

    excellent fit

  • 5
    Excellent quality!

    Posted by Michael Bartholomew on Nov 20th 2022

    Excellent quality, top notch canteen sling/strap. Super fast shipping too!

  • 5
    Slings

    Posted by Ethan on Sep 23rd 2022

    Tremendous!

  • 5
    Best on the market!

    Posted by David Lamb on Sep 6th 2022

    I size and re-purpose these outstanding leather straps to make sporran belts for highland attire! Work great and give years of service.

  • 5
    Quality

    Posted by Jason Palmer on May 1st 2022

    Beautiful color and expert craftsmanship. Excellent upgrade to your canteen.

  • 5
    Excellent from start to finish:

    Posted by J. Aaron Dunn on Mar 13th 2022

    I purchased this strap & it was greatly worth it! From excellent customer service (both email and phone communication) to the quality product, and fast shipping - I would highly recommend with two thumbs way up for Dell's Leather Works,

  • 5
    Leather canteen strap

    Posted by Steve Tullo on Sep 7th 2021

    Needed long term replacement strap for wornout canvas one. Added leather conditioning to soften Experience with Dells products in past proved reliable & authentic

  • 5
    Received product at a very quick delivery.

    Posted by Dennis Burke on Aug 18th 2021

    Product was received in perfect condition and a very quality product.