Can anyone identify this Blakeslee Box?

[Logangrimnar]

I just got this with my rifle. I can't find a similar one with the patent info

[Arizona Trooper]

It looks like one Jim Kenner made in Tucson. He had the patent marking dies made after the first run. Mine looks just like that, but it's the prototype without markings. 

[Logangrimnar]

I was thinking it looked like the one they currently sell st coon creek because it looks like the patent info is the same but the pictures on the website are hard to make out

[Arizona Trooper]

Jim Kenner made them for Buck before he passed a few years ago.

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I will have to dig out my reproduction Blakeslee Box and compare it with yours.

[Blair]

I have a 6-tube box that came out of Tucson, Az. I don't remember who the maker was, and there are no makers makes on it.
It has stainless steel tubes in it and has the (what I believe is the earlier) leather strap hinge on the top cover (slightly later variations used a brass hinge).
I believe this box falls within the same time period as does Arizona Troopers box does. (My guess would be around 2003 or 4?)
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

[Arizona Trooper]

Blair, mine is about 10 years earlier. In '91-'92 Jim and I went over to the Az Historical Society, which has an amazing collection of cartridge boxes, and documented the ones Jim figured he could make. My Blakeslee is his first one. I made the blocks and tubes for his early ones with the leather hinges. The tubes are 4130 thin wall aircraft tubing. He was also making several versions of the 58 and 69 caliber infantry boxes, as well as Smith, Burnside, Sharps/Spencer (the biggest sellers in the carbine line) and Merrills. In the IW boxes, he made some Kings and Dyers, as well as some of the CW boxes converted for breechloader ammo. When I graduated that was it for my access to the U of Az machine shop, so Jim found someone else to make blocks. The carbine boxes were easy, but it took a while for him to find a block/tube maker for the 6 and 10 tube Blakeslees.

[Jim W]

Is the one from Coon Creek the only one available now? Is there a "best" one currently being offered anywhere?

[El Supremo]

Hello:

Great info.
My Coon Creek box was a masterpiece with no runout in the block holes.
That was stunning to me. 
I left two phone msg's on Coon Creek Old West's answering service two weeks ago.
No response.
El Supremo/Kevin Tinny

[Jim W]

Based on this thread, I called and got right thru to Leta and ordered one. She was friendly and helpful on the phone and it arrived promptly.  I figured I'd post photos in this thread, with a "review" of sorts.

First, here's the photo from the Coon Creek website:



Overall, the box was not as nice as I'd hoped, thin leather, so much black polish that the thread was very dark stained. It has the smell and feel of "overseas" leather.



The big brass hinge seems out of place, I think just a leather hinge would have been more accurate and maybe cheaper, and the leather hinge is in the single photo at the website. There's also a single rivet above it in the lid that serves no function that I see.



The strap is very thin, and not really an attempt to look like buff or bridle leather to me, just like split cowhide; and a lot of the dye/polish coming off on your hands as you handle it. The construction at the "big hook" end seems poorly done, not just folded back and stitched but a second piece added, The stitching pattern is pretty poor as well IMHO. This looks very different than the photo on the website.




The "small hook" end, I thought it would be done more like I've seen musket slings, folded over and stitched with the rivets thru both thicknesses of leather instead of this



An interesting method of making the wooden block, gluing up many layers of pre drilled blocks.



All in all, I'm debating whether or not to leave it in my display. It adds a nice bit of detail, helping to "match" the painting above it, but in ways it's really poorly executed.

[El Supremo]

Thanks, JimW:

Great news.

It would be nice to know who is now making them for Coon Creek.  If you know, please include that when post photo's. Tx much.
Kevin Tinny/El Supremo

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I have a Blakeslee Box, but I can't remember where I got it.  It has not markings on it at all.

[Logangrimnar]

Mine definitely doesn't have that giant brass hinge on it.

[Two Flints]

Not to take away from the OP, but this was a shocker for me . . .

https://www.icollector.com/Excellent-and-Original-Prototype-Blakeslee-Patent-6-Tube-Spencer-Carbine-Cartridge-Box_i11405655

To see other Blakeslee Boxes try this search -

Blakeslee Cartridge box at rock island auction

I read that a Blakeslee Box sold for $21,000.00