Offered here is a shipping crate for early Colt "skin" cartridges. The crate is made of pine and is marked "FROM/WATERVLIET/ARSENAL" on one of the long sides with "600 BALL CART,S/COLTS NAVY/BELT. PISTOL 1864." The short ends are unmarked. Inside is three compartments which would have originally held the ammunition. These were an early form of waterproof cartridge that were popular during the Civil War for Colt revolvers made by drying animal intestines to create a protective seal from the wet conditions of the battlefield. Watervliet Arsenal was the main manufacturer of cartridges for the Union during the Civil War, and remains the oldest continually active arsenal in the United States. Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection

Very good, showing wear from standing the test of time. Most all of the original nails remains, a portion of the lid is absent and the edges are rounded, but the markings on the body remains crisp. This is an incredible rare accessory missing from even the most advanced Colt collections!