Early Manufactured (pre-war) MG34 Ammunition Tin

I was lucky enough while looking through a pile of MG34/42 ammo tins to spot this relatively early 1937 example amongst all the later WW2 produced ones. I believe that the apple green shade of paint indicates Russian capture/post war refurbishment rather than Yugo ownership which is a slightly different shade of green but I stand to be corrected. The are quite a few design/manufacturing differences to this early example when compared to later wartime produced ones. This is especially noticeable on the handles and other hardware of the tin but also the forming/bending of the tin differs a little from latter examples. The design was possibly changed a little to lend itself more to mass production.

It's not German F10. It is Czech See the manufacturers town is in Warsaw. This can is Possibly for the 7.92mm ZB 37 MMG.

See the folding side loops are not truly rectangular also. There is a small 'point' in the centre of them. German ones remain true to profile.
German Cans WOULD also be waffenampt stamped on the top. Under the handle area. Your can has none.

I see the name "Warszawa" (Warsaw) so would this be made in Poland for a contract for the Czech army and possibly then captured in Czechoslovakia by the Germans and then captured by the Russians from the Germans?

F10, As we will never know this cans particular history. It is impossible to say what had happened to it down the line? Anything MIGHT be possible/ Have happened to it?.......

A LOT of other countries took weapons & accessories into Service usage after capture.
To supplement their own logistic Weapons Needs. Germany was a VERY Big exponent of this route!

Your can appears to have been arsenal refurbished & put into war reserves stocks? :thup:

ZB 37 ammo cans have a ramp in the bottom of the can.....
They are unlike any other 8mm ammo can inside with the outward appearance of the German ammo can.

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Originally Posted by Warren

ZB 37 ammo cans have a ramp in the bottom of the can.....
They are unlike any other 8mm ammo can inside with the outward appearance of the German ammo can.

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I have seen similar in German MG cans. It seem the Germans in their typically technical way. Had a Triangle type of 'Ramp' welded in the bottom for MG only ammo cans. This was so when you loaded a belt in the can, the rounds tilted back & upwards a bit. As you continued filling till full. The belt would lay LEVEL on the top layer. Try doing this in a 'Normal' can, & the rounds will NOT lay flat when full! The post war solution was to have a removable spring steel wire insert. That remained inside the can on the bottom. It did the same job for levelling the 7.62mm Carts. As the spot welded triangle did for 7.92mm.

It would appear that like most things in Mil service. They were used for many differing purposes, & troops used whatever was available to 'Adapt, & overcome' a problem!.......Just like today's Military, some things never change! ;)

The 'Normal' cans without the triangle insert, would hold card boxes of 20 rnds per carton. For rifle ammo mainly. Though as we know, the cans were used for all sorts of other purposes! First Aid & Armourers tool kits to name a couple.

I think that I may have one to two post war German tins with the removable wire frame in the bottom; I think that these are 7.62mm tins?

Another question about the German 7.92mm tins that I believe held 500 rounds plus starter in belt form? Were all 5 belts of 50 rounds already linked together while stored inside the tin or was it up to the gun crew to join up the sections of belt as they were used on the M.G.? Thanks for the info.

There's a picture of a ZB37 ammo can showing the ramp here. https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...idproduct=2946

That ramp looks like it's an additional folded piece of metal riveted into the bottom/side of the tin. I guess my tin could have had it but it may have since been removed? The catch/buckle handle looks very similar but the lid looks a little different, that's not to say my tin wasn't originally a ZB37 tin?

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

that's not to say my tin wasn't originally a ZB37 tin

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I guess only you can see it that way...

F10. A bit of triva for you, following on from my last answer.

With the German ammo cans without the insert's inside. The belts were laid in 250 rounds one way. & another 250 rounds 180 degrees the opposite way.
This got round the rounds being 'tilted' backwards with a full can.

The Postwar Tins were not as wide as the wartime versions. & also had a diagonal 'stripe' impressed from the inside, to stiffen the thinner steel material.
They also have the N.A.T.O Stock number impressed in the lid.

Thanks tankhunter for that. Are the pos war, narrower tins only intended for 7.62 Nato rnds and not for use with 7.92 ammo?

Here's an original ZB 37 ammo can.
You can notice the rivets on the outside of the can holding the ramp
Picture of the metal ramp inside the can as well.
The German cans had a wire frame that was removable where the ZB can ramp was not.

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Originally Posted by Warren

The German cans had a wire frame that was removable where the ZB can ramp was not.

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Originally Posted by tankhunter

It's not German F10. It is Czech

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So there it is...

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Originally Posted by Flying10uk

Thanks tankhunter for that. Are the pos war, narrower tins only intended for 7.62 Nato rnds and not for use with 7.92 ammo?

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Post-war Bundeswher tins are narrower, (And Flimsier!) & will NOT accept 7.92mm Ammo.

Wartime MG dedicated tins for belted ammo, WITH the triangle insert, will have this insert spot welded in place. NOT riveted. :thup: