Civil War Fife with Cheater in Soldier Made Wooden Box

Civil War Fife with Cheater in Soldier Made Wooden Box – Civil War period, 6-hole, Bb fife made of Grenadilla wood (African Blackwood); the two brass ferrules remain firmly in place. Affixed to the mouthpiece hole is a pewter “cheater” which allowed novice, young musicians an enhanced ability to play the fife. The fife remains in excellent condition; the “cheater” is missing its original tightening screw. Uniquely, the period, soldier owner of the fife crafted a “coffin style”, wooden box in which to carry his fife. The wood remains in great condition and the fife fits perfectly into the box; the latter once had homemade hinges and closure hooks – only remnants of these remain. There is a primitive, bent wire carrying handle, clinched to the top of the box. We have had many Civil War period fifes, but this example retains its rarely found cheater, as well as being housed in its own, soldier made box, to protect it during long marches.

During the Civil War, fifes, often paired with drums, were utilized to play patriotic songs at military ceremonies; they also took on an important field role being utilized to signal battle commands during the din of gunfire. Six-hole fifes were the most commonly utilized types during the war; they were constructed from a single piece of wood, usually rosewood, blackwood or grenadilla; in addition, maple and persimmon wood examples have been found. After the war, bugles would replace fifes as signaling modes; of note is that U.S. Marines would be the last American military entities to use fifes.

Measurements: Length of box: 17.5”; length of fife: 16.5”