Ww1 ammo complete with belt

JdgDReDD

JdgDReDD

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Date on the belt is 1918, mark VII ball .303 still in clips


I'll post a pic sooner or later, anyone giving insight on this would be appreciated. Is it safe to store, is it worth anything? Will it still fire etc etc


Thank you up front for your assistance

DReDD
 
I would say that belt is worth something to re-enactors, WW1 dated Commonwealth/British gear is not as common as WW2 stuff.

As for the ammo, if it is WW1 dated, it would be interesting for an ammo collector or an Enfield/WW1 collector.
 
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Since you say that the ammunition is still in the CHARGERS, we can probably assume that the belt you refer to is a leather bandolier. There should be a name printed or stamped on the leather, most likely near the buckle end.

There are several types of British bandoliers that held the five round Lee Enfield chargers. Some are 5 pocket, some 7 pocket and some 9 pocket. There were even bandoliers designed to fit over a horse's neck for Cavalry use. Depending upon the type, and the markings, (there may even be Regimental or Unit markings on it), the bandolier, if in decent shape, is an average of $50 to $100.

I would not fire the Ammunition. Depending upon Headstamps, it could be worth some money. If you want something to fire, then trade it to a Cartridge Collector for modern stuff.

The other thing you have is the Chargers. Some of this ammunition was packed in the older Mark II chargers, and these are worth more than the later ones to a Collector. These chargers usually have slots on the back of them, instead of holes.

Pictures and a bit more detailed description are needed. For example, is the bandolier made of leather or cloth?
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i Don't recall whether there are holes or slots. but yes all in chargers. See if my image link works, next time i'm up where my father lives i'll take more pictures. This is what i have so far.

DReDD

ps ty for the info so far
 
Matching lot number of First World War Canadian ammo?

Too bad there isn't more of this around. It would be neat to do a test with strain gauges, chronograph and a SUPERaccurate scoped rifle, just to see what can be expected from this stuff at nearly a century's removal from manufacturing date.

Ball Mark VII loads a 174-grain flatbase composite (3-piece) impact-unstable pointed bullet at a nominal 2440 ft/sec from the SMLE for 2300 ft/lbs ME. The same ammo will give you about 2530 - 2550 ft/sec from the Mark III Ross Rifle for roughly 2500 ft/lbs ME. Those extra 5 inches of tube do help: the Ross DID "hit harder", exactly as the old-timers insisted.

CHARGES will be okay: Cordite MDT 5-2, which is what these are loaded with, likely is the single most stable propellant ever made...... and the charges are sealed in at both ends. PRIMERS could well be dodgy at this late date, being mercury-fulminate based, although the Chlorate component doesn't seem to age, so there is always a chance, especially in decent weather, that this stuff still will work for its intended purpose.

Much more of this wandering about and Big Willy had better keep his head down!

NICE find!!!!

What MARK are the Chargers?
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I'll look closer at the chargers next time i visit the folks, this weekend. My apologies for not being more knowledgeable
 
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Well, we have sorted out the cloth bandolier. If you reach into the bandolier, take two chargers out, and give us a side and end view of the Chargers, we can tell you what Mark of chargers you have. Some chargers are worth more than others.
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$15 per 5 shots and stripper.

Its worth alot to collectors that want to display them with the WW1 kit they have.
 
DAC. Good stuff. If our troops had only had that ammo there would have been no "Ross Rifle Controversy".
 
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