Mckeever
Moderator: 45govt
Re: Mckeever
If you want to make a road trip, the Arizona Historical Society in Tucson has a Kings Box in their collection, also a Dyer Box and most of the other oddball cartridge boxes. Last time I was there (2016) they were in the basement, not on display. Call ahead and they will probably take you down to see them.
Re: Mckeever
45Govt,
Here's a bit of a rarity for you,...not the box itself, it's just a run of the mill 2nd pattern McKeever of Watervliet manufacture. However, it is unit marked to a cavalry unit. If you recall, McKeevers were originally intended to be worn in pairs with the M1874 Palmer Infantry brace equipments. Cavalry units were using the Dyer pouches and the belt slides for both field and dress wear. They were all mostly hated by both infantry and cavalry troops, who substituted home made or saddler made leather cartridge belts whose own deficiencies led to the adaption of the M1876 Prairie Belts and the Mills woven cartridge belts. The McKeevers and the Dyers ultimately were utilized for dress wear by the infantry and cavalry, respectively. The Dyers in the cavalry units finally gave way to the McKeever boxes in dress wear because of their much neater appearance and availability(the Dyers' manufacture having been discontinued in 1877-78). Although the Dyers were still seen among cavalry units as dress wear in the early 1880s, the McKeever was "The Box" for dress formations. Attached are photos of a 2nd Pattern McKeever that was used by Co. L. 5th Cav'y, and is so stamped on the rear face of the box. Of interest in showing that it was just a "dress" box, there is no sign in the interior of the box that there was EVER a cartridge inserted in the loops of the box. Most of the McKeevers that one examines will be seen to have bullet smudges, and often a little brass/copper corrosion stain in the loops, along with indentations from the cartridges. This one is pristine on the inside.
As an aside, my good friend, Ken McPheeters, has photos of a cut-loop Dyer pouch he had sold, that has the exact same unit stamp on the back of it as well, confirming the use of the stamp by Company L of the 5th Cavalry.
Here's a bit of a rarity for you,...not the box itself, it's just a run of the mill 2nd pattern McKeever of Watervliet manufacture. However, it is unit marked to a cavalry unit. If you recall, McKeevers were originally intended to be worn in pairs with the M1874 Palmer Infantry brace equipments. Cavalry units were using the Dyer pouches and the belt slides for both field and dress wear. They were all mostly hated by both infantry and cavalry troops, who substituted home made or saddler made leather cartridge belts whose own deficiencies led to the adaption of the M1876 Prairie Belts and the Mills woven cartridge belts. The McKeevers and the Dyers ultimately were utilized for dress wear by the infantry and cavalry, respectively. The Dyers in the cavalry units finally gave way to the McKeever boxes in dress wear because of their much neater appearance and availability(the Dyers' manufacture having been discontinued in 1877-78). Although the Dyers were still seen among cavalry units as dress wear in the early 1880s, the McKeever was "The Box" for dress formations. Attached are photos of a 2nd Pattern McKeever that was used by Co. L. 5th Cav'y, and is so stamped on the rear face of the box. Of interest in showing that it was just a "dress" box, there is no sign in the interior of the box that there was EVER a cartridge inserted in the loops of the box. Most of the McKeevers that one examines will be seen to have bullet smudges, and often a little brass/copper corrosion stain in the loops, along with indentations from the cartridges. This one is pristine on the inside.
As an aside, my good friend, Ken McPheeters, has photos of a cut-loop Dyer pouch he had sold, that has the exact same unit stamp on the back of it as well, confirming the use of the stamp by Company L of the 5th Cavalry.
- IMG_4669.jpg (143.75 KiB) Viewed 1193 times
- IMG_4667.jpg (124.95 KiB) Viewed 1193 times
- IMG_4668.jpg (112.65 KiB) Viewed 1193 times
Re: Mckeever
Hello Throck3I think posting items on this and other forums for people to get involved and post some of their stuff and thoughts would further the knowledge better than me writing a book
Very nice rare box
This is what I was referring to in the quote above, great to see other collectors posting their items to further the discussions
Thank You
Don
45govt
Don
45govt