Civil War Officers Leather Haversack, complete with full strap (SOLD)

This is a rare item being offered and part of a 20-year Civil War collection. It is an original Civil War Officers Leather Haversack, complete with its original carrying strap. It is made of soft black leather and measures approximately 12” x 12” x 3” and the complete strap measures approximately 36”. The carrying strap has two iron “O” rings attached with crude copper rivets along with small swivel hooks, similar to the type used on the Civil War carbine slings.

Haversacks were standard issue for Civil War soldiers, but as like many other items, the officer had to provide his own. The basic haversack design would include a single strong strap and a covering flap which could be flipped back to access the contents. Similar examples can be seen in Time/Life's "Echoes of Glory", Arms and Equipment of the Union and Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy.

Soldiers carried a small amount of food in their haversacks, along with other vitally important supplies. The officer might carry the same, along with maps, documents, and perhaps binoculars. Surviving examples of Civil War haversacks are very rare, and those that do show up are usually in terrible condition and almost never with the complete strap.

This one remains in very nice condition, showing typical signs of use, but not abused. The leather remains mostly pliable and soft, as well as the carrying strap. There is a small worn through hole, about 1” long, but not a distraction. This is a rare opportunity for a serious collector to acquire a great piece, at an even greater price….far below want I seen others priced at, and nowhere near this condition. These officer haversacks are very hard to find now.