Early Issue Civil War Knapsack

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Early Issue Civil War Knapsack – This knapsack is one of the very few that we have had or even seen that was issued at the onset of the war. Unlike the late war versions, most inspected and dated in 1864, this knapsack was constructed in a markedly more wear and weather resistant manner – the cotton canvas that composes the majority of the knapsack is decidedly thicker and heavier in welt than the 1864 iterations. The style of this knapsack is quite different than the late war issues – it has a double bag interior, but flap placement and construction, as well as closure, are much more substantial. All of the straps on this bag, to include the rarely encountered blanket straps, are riveted, not sewn, to the body of the bag. All binding roller buckles remain, as do all of the brass hooks. The bag proper remains in excellent condition, devoid of the usual tears and weak areas we encounter with the 1864 bags; there are some weak areas and finish loss in and on the leather straps, but they are in reasonably good condition and are all in place. This is only the second example of one of these early issue knapsacks we have encountered.