Old Wooden Ammunition Box

[Flying10uk]

I have this wooden ammunition box which had been mislaid for some time until I found it yesterday behind something else. It was sourced by my grandfather during WW2 for use as a first aid box and, as I understand it, it was old in WW2. My grandparents house was a Warden's Post but my grandfather was just an ordinary air raid warden. Presumably the first aid box was part of the equipment for the Warden's Post.

The box has survived in very good condition with no rot and no wood worm and perhaps the reason for it's good conditions is because it was used as a first aid box. The box continued to be used as a first aid box for many years, until the early 1980's. Over the years it has been repainted a number of times.

The dimensions are 16 1/2" long x 8 1/2" wide x 10 1/2" tall, all approx. sizes.

The question is what sort of ammunition box is it exactly and how old is it, please? I'm assuming that it is British.

Many thanks for any replies and information.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

I JUST gave one of those to the buyer of a lot of loose .303 ammo that came through me for disposal...it was a shade over 600 rds. I gave him the ammo in one of those crates that I had here for 25 years I think, was still marked with .303 bandoleer. They were a multi use crate to be returned for re use. Only difference was mine had a center partition running down the inside lengthwise. Looked like belts of Vickers would have fit too, it was marked clearly for bandoleer. I never thought to try it with 64 rd boxes of 9mm. Mine was brown in color.

[Daan Kemp]

Looks like standard small arms ammunition box for rifle. I suspect the loops at the ends were added when it became a first aid box.

[Flying10uk]

Thanks for the replies chaps. When would this type of chest have first started being produced?

[browningautorifle]

I suspect the loops at the ends were added

Mine had hemp rope handles, they're inset into holes that were in the frame for them... I think these are WW2.

[Daan Kemp]

I think the basic design was set before 1900 and later changed from 577/450 to accommodate 303 cartridges. Wasn't used for handgun cartridges as handguns weren't really high on the list at that time.

[Sunray]

"...behind something else..." Glad it's not just me. I find stuff I forgot I had just by moving something. snicker.
"...before 1900..." Suspect it was long before then too. Might be an ancient .577 Snider box. Don't think the handles were added though. Have a W.W. II vintage .303 box with rope handles. It's only since W.W. II that handles got too expensive. The 1944 vintage DA .303 Ball we got in the early 80's came in better quality boxes than the IVI crap we got later. IVI stuff came in a really cheap this plywood box with no handles. Handles cost money. snicker.

[Flying10uk]

When I get chance I'll try to remove the black paint so we can see what's below.

I also have a couple of large "standard" steel ammunition tins one of which resurfaced at the same time as the wooden ammo box and the other I have used to store electrical components for years. Both of these steel ammo tins are WW2 dated and both have been in my family since WW2. My late father was never able to establish how exactly my grandfather sourced these 2 steel ammo boxes but, according to my late father, both just appeared at some point during WW2. One is quite nice in that it is dated 1941. When I have had the chance to photograph both, I'll start a new thread for these 2 steel ammo boxes.

[laurenince525]

it must be a valuable find! I have seen many ads and articles about such boxes, but I have never seen such an ancient treasure, I mean before 1941

[Bob Womack]

This looks just like the boxes the two wounded guys are pulling around and distributing ammo from during the Battle of Roarke's Drift in the movie Zulu.


Bob