Boer War Water Bottle Value?

myenfield

myenfield

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I just ran into an Oliver Pattern water bottle and leather carrier. I know this isn't a firearm, but is is still pretty cool as a milsurp item. These were issued to Canadian soldiers during the Boer war in South Africa. Apparently the delicacy and capacity of the glass bottle didn't impress the troops too much, so they smashed the majority of them the first chance they had once they arrived on shore so they could get them replaced by the larger British pattern. Does anyone out there have an idea what would be a fair value to pay for one of these? I have included photos that GrantR posted on another forum discussing Victorian era equipment. Thanks.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/GrantRCanada/Oliver%20Equipment/th_Oliverequipmen####erbottleandcarrie.jpg
 
Hard to say for a rare item like that you could get an insane amount if you find a collector that is looking for the item or you could get 20 bucks from someone that thinks "its cool"

Personally I would donate it to a military museum. (but thats me ;) )
 
The bottle itself was just a common commercial soda water bottle. The idea was that they would be cheap to get and easy to replace when (inevitably) broken. No idea of the value though.
 
The Oliver P1898 equipment was unique to Canada and was disliked. It was modified during WWI P1915 & 16 but was replaced in Cdn service by British P1908 web gear.
 
Alright, here are some better photos.

side.jpg
front.jpg
bottle%20and%20case.jpg


bottom%20of%20case.jpg

As you can see, the bottom is marked with what appears to be 37 over 58. No broad arrow (makes sense, not British), no M&D, no DC, no C/I\, no makers marks. It is all in good condition save for the missing stopper on the bottle. I find it hard to imagine anyone would go to the bother to fake one of these, since barely anyone has ever seen them. I don't collect water bottles, but it is pretty cool.
 
John Sukey said:
Odd, I have a Boer war canteen, but it looks like a boy scout one in the shape. Probably the later pattern,
Click to expand...

What you probably have is a British Mk.IV bottle that Canadians carried in the Boer war like this one. The leather/soda bottle is a Canadian Oliver pattern bottle and carrier that was the standard equipment issued with that pattern of equipment. From what I've read, Canadians used their own equipment but it proved so poor they were re-quipped with British stuff rather quickly.

WE21.jpg
 
John Sukey said:
Odd, I have a Boer war canteen, but it looks like a boy scout one in the shape. Probably the later pattern,
Click to expand...

I'm a little shocked, John. I figured you would jump in and say that you had a crate full of these you bought in the 1980's and they still had the original water in them. :dancingbanana:
 
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