Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWII Issue "Packing box M1917" ammunition crate for 350 .50cal M1 Ball Incendiary Cartridges, as used by the legendary Browning M2 "Ma Deuce" heavy machine gun. The front of the crate still bears the original packing information on the front:

CAL. .50               
350 CARTRIDGES
INCENDIARY
CALIBER 50 M1
IN CARTONS

AMMUNITION LOT NUMBER
DES MOINES ORD. PLANT 20367

The rear of the box has additional information stenciled.

108 LBS.                              
1.5 CU.FT. LOT D.M.  20367

There is a shortened version of this on both sides of the box, and all have the wide yellow stripe with a red inner stripe indicating incendiary rounds. The crate measures approximately 18"W × 13 ½"H × 9 ½"D, and is constructed using rabbet joint corners. The crate is not painted OD green, indicating early war production, with the markings stenciled in black, and bears the ordnance "flaming bomb" on the lower right front.

Overall condition is very good, showing wear commensurate with age and service. It is however missing the lid as well as all of the fastening hardware, both the threaded studs and the wing nuts. Also, as shown clearly in the pictures, the crate is empty.

Ready to add to your collection and display!

Pre-war and early-war ammo packing boxes were made of stained wood with black-painted lettering. Mid- to late-war packing boxes were painted Olive Drab brown with white or yellow lettering that used the item's AIC code and a system of symbols to indicate the contents at a glance. The caliber, ammunition type and model (e.g., Caliber .30 Ball M1) were in the upper center field in bold lettering. The number of units (i.e., how many bullets or shells there were per box) and packing information (i.e., whether it was in cartons, bandoleers or belts) were on the two lines below it. The caliber (CAL .45, CAL .30, or CAL .50) was painted in bold lettering in the upper left corner. The gross weight of the box in pounds and its volume in cubic feet was painted in the lower left corner and the Ammunition Lot information (manufacturer code and lot number) was painted in the lower right corner.