Gardner Canteen Strap?

[Texian]

I just received a beautifully crafted Gardner canteen from CJ Daley, but it does not come with a strap. Considering there are no old threads to search as of yet, what is the appropriate strap for such a canteen and where can it be procured? Also, are there any nuances related to theatre and time of the war that are pertinent?
Thanks,
Ed Hagins

[Jimmayo]

Got one on this page

http://angelfire.com/ma4/j_mayo/cscanteen.html

There are several CS canteens with straps show in addition to the one you are looking for. Any of the cotton web straps should be correct.

Jim Mayo

[Thumper]

Texian,

The book "Civil War Canteens" by Silvia and O'Donnell (SP?) shows Gardner Pattern canteens with a variety of different straps. The straps shown are made of leather, linen, cotton ticking, suspender webbing and the H, P and S webbing. I would think personal preference could guide your choice unless you can document a particular sling type to your theater of operation or unit.

I have two Gardner pattern canteens (one very authentic and one I defarbed with the help of Sam Doolin). The authentic canteen has a strap made from suspender webbing from Family Heirloom Weavers and purchased from Trans-Mississippi Depot. The other canteen has a red ticking strap I made myself using a TMD linen haversack strap for a pattern.

I hope this helps.

Tom Glaze/Thumper

[JCbluegrassrifles]

The original wooden canteens in EoG show three different straps. One is of cotton webbing, one is of russet leather, and the third is striped suspender strap. You would be best to make your own unless you want to go with leather. The leather strap is not shown in great detail, but what is visible resembles an early war federal canteen strap.

Cotton Webbing www.familyheirloomweavers.com www.woodedhamlet.com/ The cotton webbing was used for suspenders and straps. If you run into this material online, it may be listed as suspender material. This is fine, be sure to buy the 1" width.

Federal Early War Strap www.ldhaning.com

Suspender Strap www.skilletlicker.com See if he offers the blue and white striped strap (suspender material). Nick ************ had civilian suspenders available on this site out of that exact material. Track it down and see if Jersey Joe can hook you up.

[Greg Renault]

Dell's Leather Works carries the leather strap for the Gardiner canteen. Fit mine perfectly.
http://www.dellsleatherworks.com/canteensling.htm

Greg Renault

[Bill]

Ed,

The majority of canteen straps I have viewed in person, or in pictures, have some type of mechanical fastener, such as a button, roller buckle, or even a suspender buckle. One of the more interesting straps is nothing but a strip of leather with a button cut into one end, and a button hole in the other. I have seen two different canteens with this type of strap. I would agree that leather, webbing, or folded cotton/linen cloth were all used. In most cases, Confederate folded straps are only sewn along one edge.

[Yellowhammer]

In addition to the canteens on Jim's site, Old South Military Antiques has a Gardner with particularly interesting strap. I posted these pics before but it must have been lost in the shuffle.

This strap is made from a CS tarred canvas box sling:





There are a couple sources for these reproduction slings if you want to go that route.

Here is a Gardner for sale on the Hendershott site. According to the accompanying text, it has a cotton sling with a bone button.



Not a Gardner, but a unique CS sling. This canteen is id'd to Lt. R. Welch of the 18th VA Cav.



Wooded Hamlet often has some webbings similar to this. Last time I saw their wares, they had some red and blue woven webbing that was consistent with the weave and pattern of this one.

I hope these give you some ideas.

[Sam Doolin]

Check with Family Heirloom Weavers. They sell items made by Don Smith of TMD. He makes 6-7 different Confederate canteen slings all based on originals. They incorporate buttons, trowser buckles, or iron roller buckles as means of fastening ends together. Materials include folded cotton cloth, cotton web, osnaburg and others. Any of these would be great choices.

Sam Doolin
The Old Rebel Workshop

[rebelfirefighter07]

Ed,

The majority of canteen straps I have viewed in person, or in pictures, have some type of mechanical fastener, such as a button, roller buckle, or even a suspender buckle. One of the more interesting straps is nothing but a strip of leather with a button cut into one end, and a button hole in the other. I have seen two different canteens with this type of strap. I would agree that leather, webbing, or folded cotton/linen cloth were all used. In most cases, Confederate folded straps are only sewn along one edge.

Do you have any pictures of any of these straps. I've never seen or heard this and its peeked my interest.

[Bill]

Do you have any pictures of any of these straps. I've never seen or heard this and its peeked my interest.

I assume you are talking about the strap with a button cut into one end and a button hole cut into the other end. I'm afraid I don't have any photos. I was able to measure two of these straps. One was 5/8" wide. the other was 3/4" wide. My guess is both were wider when new. Leather stretches. Both were stained black.

These straps are simple to make. I used a 3/4" X 6' strap to make mine. Just cut a "button" in one end of the strap. Cut two notches, a little less than a quarter inch deep on each edge of your strap and then round off the corners of your "button". On the two originals I viewed, one "button" was cut round. The other was cut much like a modified "Ace of Spades". That will leave about 5/16" or 3/8" between the "button" and the rest of the strap. On the other end of the strap, punch a 1/4" hole and make a 1/2" slit behind the hole.

Put the strap on your canteen, then force the "button" through the button hole. Last, but not least, slide the strap around until the "button" rides against the side sling keeper on your canteen.