The answer to our first Mystery Lot is C: a U.S. Army McKeever cartridge box, stamped Rock Island Arsenal 1903 and made for the .30 caliber Krag rifle.
What is a McKeever cartridge box?
It is a hinged leather box that a soldier wore on his belt to carry rifle cartridges. The body opens like a clamshell on a brass rod along the bottom. Each half holds ten rounds in canvas loops, twenty in all. A leather tab on top fastens over a brass stud to keep it shut. That stud was Friday’s photo.
The design goes back to the 1870s, when it was made for the Army’s .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield rifle. When the Army moved to the Krag-Jorgensen rifle in the 1890s, the box was resized for the smaller .30 caliber cartridge. By then it was mostly a garrison and dress item, not field gear.
How to identify one
- The front: the letters US inside an oval, pressed into the flap.
- The back: the arsenal name and year, often with an inspector’s initials. This one reads ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL 1903.
- The belt loops: two narrow leather loops, sewn and riveted to the back.
- The hardware: a brass hinge rod along the bottom and a brass stud on top.
- The inside: two rows of canvas loops, ten per side.
- The size: about six inches wide, in russet brown leather.
Why Rock Island Arsenal and 1903 matter
Rock Island Arsenal sits on an island in the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa, and it has made equipment for the U.S. Army since the 1860s. The year matters too. In 1903 the Wright brothers made their first flight, and the Army adopted the Model 1903 Springfield rifle to replace the Krag. This box was made right at that handoff, near the end of the line for the McKeever pattern.
The hints, explained
- Friday’s photo: the brass stud and the leather closing tab.
- Hint #1, the back view: the two belt loops, and the clue that it was issued to whoever wore it, not bought.
- Hint #2, the date: the 1903 stamp on the back, under the Rock Island Arsenal name.
- The teddy bear post: a nudge toward the Theodore Roosevelt years.
Bid on it: Lot 163
This cartridge box is Lot 163 in our October 8 Online Consignment Auction in Amelia, Virginia. One brass casing is included. Bidding closes Thursday, October 8 at 10:00 AM.
New game: guess the hammer price
What will Lot 163 sell for? Closest guess without going over wins bragging rights. Post your guess on our Facebook page.
Have military collectibles or antiques to sell?
Pieces like this turn up in attics, footlockers, and estates all over central Virginia. Cardinal Auction Services runs online estate and consignment auctions for families and collectors across Greater Richmond. If you have military items, antiques, or a whole house to settle, tell us what you have.
See how consigning works, send us a message, or call 804-677-6281.
Quick answers
How many rounds does a McKeever cartridge box hold?
Twenty. Each half of the box holds ten cartridges in canvas loops.
What rifle was this box made for?
This one was made for the .30-40 Krag cartridge. Earlier McKeever boxes were made for the .45-70 Trapdoor Springfield.
How was it worn?
On the belt. Two leather loops on the back slide over it.
What does the stamp on the back mean?
It gives the arsenal that made the box and the year it was made. Inspector’s initials are often stamped beside it.
