Thanks for your input. I checked out google and basically only saw 2 types. A water bucket and a grease bucket. While this style was probably the most popular surely there were other types. What style did the south use. I have looked at some period photos and some of the buckets had lids but I did see some without. So I am not so quick to dismiss it based on the lack of a lid. Battlefield loss or etc. There were also a number of varities but none that matched mine. Some mighty close with the exception of the lip that turns out on the bottom of mine. . The walls on my bucket are in fact straight, the photo doesn't show it that way. I am also inclined to think this bucket was made to hold water , reason being that where the sides overlap it is riveted with a stagered bouble row of rivets about 1/2" on centers. However ,you may in fact be right. Whatever its use, it was built like a tank for hard service.

Regards

Larry