Does anyone collect vintage ammo boxes?

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  • Mdeng

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Nov 13, 2009
    8,568
    Virginia
    I came across some vintage ammo boxes while helping a friend clear out items from another friends estate.

    There was a large assortment of vintage ammo boxes in pretty good condition. Many of them had brass inside, I assume the previous owner was a reloader.

    I have pulled a few of the best condition to keep in my gun room.

    Here's a few pics, any value to them? Some are in better condition than others.
     

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    BradMacc82

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Aug 17, 2011
    26,177
    I have the beginnings of a collection - Peter's .45 Police Match courtesy of Mdeng (thanks again). The Peters 12ga boxes are marked US Property and I still have a few that are in the old brown paper/foil packaging - still shoot well thru my 12 ga. too. My other's I just kind of happen across in my travels.

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    (Mdeng - if you want to do something with that Pontiac, just get me the specifics on the motor that's in it - and we'll go from there. :thumbsup:)
     
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    metalman3006

    Gun Hoarder
    Sep 6, 2007
    2,305
    Church Hill, MD
    Don't really collect them but here are a couple I have and some off the shot gun shells and bullets I have saved. The shotgun shells came mainly from more memorable hunts i had or odd ones I came across on my hunts.
     
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    Mdeng

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Nov 13, 2009
    8,568
    Virginia
    Don't really collect them but here are a couple I have and some off the shot gun shells and bullets I have saved. The shotgun shells came mainly from more memorable hunts i had or odd ones I came across on my hunts.

    I see a plum colored bolt in the second pic. It appears to be from an SVT-40? What year? Numbers Matching? I have a few Russian rifles (mosins) and a SVT-40. I'm still looking for a SVT-38 to add to my collection.

    Oh and nice assortment of vintage ammo boxes.
     

    engineerbrian

    JMB fan club
    Sep 3, 2010
    10,148
    Fredneck
    I don't think there is a large value to them, but it is a neat collection.

    The last time i was at the Chantilly show there was a vendor with a bunch of old ammo boxes for sale. I couldn't believe how much they were going for! Although, i doubt the market for them is huge
     

    metalman3006

    Gun Hoarder
    Sep 6, 2007
    2,305
    Church Hill, MD
    I see a plum colored bolt in the second pic. It appears to be from an SVT-40? What year? Numbers Matching? I have a few Russian rifles (mosins) and a SVT-40. I'm still looking for a SVT-38 to add to my collection.

    Oh and nice assortment of vintage ammo boxes.

    It is from a 1941 mismatched Finnish capture, I replaced the bolt but changed it back to the original:
     
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    KMK1862

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 12, 2010
    2,046
    York County, PA
    Is that German WW2 Parabellum crate empty? Either way, very cool!

    I have a torn up WW2 German 7.92x57 battle pack. I wanted the ammo more than the pack though, especially given the pack's condition.
     

    Mdeng

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Nov 13, 2009
    8,568
    Virginia
    I went through more of the estate the OP boxes came from today.

    In the many ammo cans and boxes of junk I found several boxes of vintage ammo. Most of them full in good to moderate condition. I did find a few that were destine for the garbage though.

    I will add a few pics from my phone shortly.
     

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    BlueHeeler

    Ultimate Member
    Apr 28, 2010
    7,086
    Washington, DC
    I love the art on the old American boxes. That Police Match is uber cool. However the combloc surplus really does it for me. To think that ammo was built to kill Americans when the cold war goes hot is amazing to me. Now com bloc ammo is my low cost target ammo, lol. It is a funny old world.

    Post more pics if you have them.:thumbsup:
     

    Mdeng

    Ultimate Member
    Industry Partner
    Nov 13, 2009
    8,568
    Virginia
    The one I really find interesting is the last two pics.

    If you know the history of the 223/5.56 cartridge then you know it was developed by bench rest shooters.

    The ammo box is marked 222 Remington but has been remarked 223. It was probably at a time when there was a demand for the 223 but they only had the 222 boxes available. I don't think ammo companies would do this today.


    The first photo is of 1938 Nazi marked 8mm ammo still in the original box.

    The one with Japanese writing is 8mm Nambu pistol ammo.
     

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