Reenactors love leather canteen slings, usually when they are least appropriate and on canteens that never had them.  They most commonly were provided on the "smoothside" canteens produced for Philadelphia's Schuylkill Arsenal in 1861 and into the summer of 1862.  Additionally, the canteens they were put on were finished particularly consistently with purpose-woven grey satinette "canteen cloth" covers and a long straight stopper.  Our Group Buy reproductions will be spot on copies of this type of canteen that works particularly well for an 1862 Army of the Potomac impression.  While we suggest that you get the New York canteen in another listing on this site if this is your first authentic canteen purchase, for those who already have a New York canteen, this is a great way to really tailor your impression to 1862.