It's been ages since I have had one of these little gems. These brass match safes were mass-produced for use by both soldiers and civilians during the war. The patriotic motif was a small way of showing support for the Union. Some of these have been excavated at Civil War battle and camp sites -- though this specimen is non-excavated. I've shown front and back so you can see that some of the original brass is showing, mostly on the back. I'm not sure if that's nickel plating or some other sort of silver.

The eagle design is well-struck and relatively crisp. Some of these were poorly stamped but this one came out of production well. The lid is still hinged and it still snaps open and shut.

A match keeper like this is an essential component to any display of a soldier or sailor's personal effects. One in this condition would be particularly desirable for the discriminating collector.

All firearms sold are pre-1898 and historic collectibles. They are not meant to be fired. Jim Stanley & Associates (cwartifax.com) will not be liable for injury incurred due to any weapon or artifact purchased from this site. All artillery projectiles sold by Jim Stanley & Associates are absolutely safe and have been professionally and safely de-activated.