The front of the box is marked "BLAKESLEE'S CARTRIDGE BOX/U.S./PAT'D DEC 20. 1864/E. GAYLORD/CHICOPEE/MASS." "JM" is scratched on the back. Ten empty cartridge tubes are included. The Blakeslee cartridge box was designed to hold ten metal tubes each carrying seven Spencer cartridges. The tubes could be used to rapidly reload the seven-round Spencer carbine magazine. Although the Blakeslee cartridge boxes had the potential to provide a sustained high rate of fire for troopers armed with the Spencer carbine, the cartridge boxes were heavy and cumbersome, and the Civil War ended before significant numbers of Blakeslee cartridge boxes were delivered. After the war, they saw little use and many were discarded

Fine with nice leather surface, absent strap, mild rub wear, distinct marking, and mild aging.