HELP WW1 Wood Machine gun ammo box identification

[awinchester85]

Looks like the common 1917 green wooden ammo box on the old ww1 machine guns. However it has a few differences that have made it very hard for me to figure out exactly what its for. It looks wider then the AI machine gun boxes and has two latches on the sides rather then one at the end. Also there is a slot for ammo to be fed out of the box without having the lid opened.. I have scoured google and have only found pictures of the other boxes that are skinnier and have one latch and no slot cut out. What the heck is it? and what is it worth?

 

[travis_a]

Looking at it I would guess an early .50 Cal Ammo box

http://ftp.olive-drab.com/od_firearms_ammo_cans_50cal_wood.php

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/fo...204917-browning-50-cal-ammunition-box-wooden/

So probably post 1920 Pre 1934

No idea what its worth.

 

[awinchester85]

Thats a good help thank you! Now just have to figure out the value. Seems quite rare.

 

[travis_a]

No problem at all ,

Indeed it seems they are quite rare! were did you come by that one if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[awinchester85]

My grandfathers basement.

 

[awinchester85]

https://www.herooutdoors.com/wwi-u-s-military-browning-machine-gun-ammo-box-m1917/

The price on the more common ones is $150.

 

[Ganderite]

Is it possible it was intended for use in a vehicle or aircraft?

 

[awinchester85]

Just found this. This answers my question. (still working on value..)

Ca. 1920, the M17
The wooden boxes for .50 Cal. ammunition were originally issued in the 1920s for the then new .50 Cal. Browning machine gun and its associated .50 cal. cartridge in fabric belts. The boxes evolved in construction details and markings until replaced by the M17 .50 cal. ammunition chest in the 1930s.

Key construction details for the wood .50 caliber ammo boxes consisted of oak or ash material, dovetail joints, a leather strap on top fitted into a rectangular groove with a centered circular pick-up area, open-lid feed or gun-side panel feed slot (at top of gun-side panel), spring-loaded lid latch to gun-side panel, and far-end hinge. Boxes with a feed slot had latches on both sides since the gun-side latch would interfere with feed. It is possible some boxes had lap joints. The .30 caliber wood ammo boxes had screws holding the bottom panel to the sides, but no examples of similar contruction for .50 caliber wood boxes are available. If painted at all, flat olive drab paint was used for the box. The bottom of the interior of the box is stenciled with the orientation of the ammunition contents.