Any Ideas on this Box

[J-dude]

Any ideas on this box? Was told its civil war but not sure? Any help would be awesome...thanks

 

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[HutSiteDigger]

I believe the Co H 8 Infantry box (possible ammo box/crate?) may be legit, the bands on the box are typical for the civil war period, being a civil war digger I can't count how many iron bands like what are on this box I have dug in camps from decomposition of the boxes .. I have seen a few CW boxes before and I recall seeing similar type company letters on the box.. Just my thoughts but i think it could be a legit box. There are quite a few 8th infantry company H's out there but - it may be from the South, the North tended to label their boxes (if i recall) more properly like with - 14th N.H Vols or had U.S. on it, lot of the supplies that came from the North were manufactured by bigger companies and the boxes were more kinda like massed produced, this box looks like it may have been like family store or locally made kinda box.. That is just my thoughts maybe more pictures of the box on the backside,inside,etc could help. I am no "civil war box" expert but to me it feels right..

Also pointing out to those looking @ it - the "HOLD" sticker is not part of the box but "HOLD" for a costumer... had to zoom in on that ; )

 

[J-dude]

Awesome....any ideas of the value?

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I think what is hurting the box the most is not knowing what 8th infantry regiment it belonged to.. I.e. on lot of CW Ammo Crates they have dates, location like Richmond, etc - which of course helps out a million times when trying to ID it. This box only had the regiment number and that is it, no dates or anything in that nature (unless the back is got something on it?) I don't know if this box was used for a ammo type crate box or not, but it probably would sell (if it is found to be 100% legit) at about the price of a Civil War ammo crate. I sell/trade CW relics here in Stafford all the time with a well known CW dealer and help out in the shop a-lot, I can say that I have never sold or traded for a ammo crate and rarely see them or any box like this labeled with a regiment on it, but I can find out a price maybe tomorrow for you - if someone else does not come along to help out.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

Actually looking @ that lettering more now, the "I" and possibly the "C" kinda doesn't fit in right with me.. I think there is a member here who is really good with lettering that i hope chips in.. but the box does look interesting...

 

[J-dude]

Thank you!!

 

[cheese]

That doesn't look 19th century to me. Looks like 1900's to 1930s to me.

 

[HutSiteDigger]

I just saw in a reference book i have - a cw artillery chest that looks very similar to this, but on the back it has regiment listed/state and year from the South. I tend to agree with Cheese that it is probably post civil war after looking more into it. If you have access to the box please take more pictures and if there is away you can examine any nails that will def. tell you.. good luck with it either way.

 

[J-dude]

Hut...thank you so much....I noticed in the picture near the top left corner there are some numbers but I can't make them out clearly...are you able to see them? Look familiar at all? I will try to get to the sale 1st thing this morning and get some more pics...anything specific I should look for regarding the nails? Straps? Inside etc? Thanks again for the help.

 

[J-dude]

More pics

 

[J-dude]

Nail head pic

 

[HutSiteDigger]

J-Dude - I hate to say this because like I posted before it looked like it could have been a legit cw box, looking closer at the good photos you provided I really do hate to say that it is looking more post war, perhaps more into the Spanish American War - WWI time frame.. I know a guy in town (Fredericksburg) who is a certified appraiser and deals with this kind of stuff all the time like furniture,chests, ammo crates ,etc.. I will print out some pictures and see what he say's about it in the next few days..