antique keg barrel wood canteen 7.5 inch water rum whiskey 18th 19th original

About this barrel

At just 7.5 inches, this antique wooden keg barrel canteen is small. Its title describes it as original and from the 18th to 19th century, made to carry water, rum or whiskey. An independent eBay seller lists it used at $495.

How can you tell if an antique wooden canteen is really 18th or 19th century?

The date comes from the seller, so ask what it's based on: how it was made, its ownership history, or a past appraisal.

• Look in the close-up photos for hand-tool marks and the style of the hoops.
• Ask about the stopper and any strap or carrying loops.
• Check for cracks, since old small staves can be brittle.
• Keep it as a display piece rather than a working canteen.

A small cask like this fits well in an early Americana or frontier-era collection. It's covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee.