Vintage Ammo

[PsoasHunter]

One of the members of our hunting camp passed away a few years ago and his daughter has been hanging onto a few crates of various ammo. I told her I'd go through it before she took it to the sheriff department to get rid of it.  I came across some interesting vintage boxes and after a little bit of google research, I'm curious to find out any info I can on some of the very old boxes. He was a history buff and I think some of this stuff might be older than he was.

This first box I found references to online that suggest it may be as old as 1890?!

[PsoasHunter]

This is another box of 45-70 that I found references online stating it was from the era of the Spanish American War.

[PsoasHunter]

The 3rd box of 45-70 is a metallic cartridge that's not brass and doesn't have the top of the box, so I had a harder time finding any information on it online.

[PsoasHunter]

I believe these are 30-06 rounds, maybe from the Korean war?

[PsoasHunter]

There's a dozen or more other boxes of stuff that doesn't look as old, was more like Western brand boxes of ammo that he was shooting from the 70's and 80's, but these posted ones are the things I think are probably more rare and of historical interest. If anyone has any knowledge of their origins or details, I'd like to know more. Or if you know of someone or somewhere I could take something like this to find out what it is, that'd be helpful too. Thank you.

[Dan-o]

That old 45-70 stuff is crazy.

@wadu1  would probably be the guy I'd ask for help in identifying that stuff.

[wadu1]

Been out of collecting for a long while. The 30-06 in the en bloc clips are for a M1 Grand manufactured in 1942 (WWll) at the Lake City. The top two boxes of 45-70 look to be common issue the bottom box appears to be gallery rounds (for fairs, shows etc) without the top hard to say.

[bearhunter99]

I am not up on the 45-70 ammo other than the fact that it is pretty cool!

The 30-06 ammo with the black tips is AP (Armor Piercing) and is quite collectible.  In good shape it can easily be worth $1 per round or even more.  I have seen it listed for $2 per round.

[JDHasty]

Even the empty boxes are worth quite a bit. I gave some guys who were going to the ammo show in Castle Rock some that I almost threw away.  They more than paid for their gas money and motel with what they got for them. 

[brokenvet]

I was shooting some 30,06 AP ammo not to long ago.  About the same year 42 & 43 they went bang every time.

[jrebel]

Is she interested in selling any of it?  I collect old shooting / reloading gear and may be interested in some or all of it.  Especially if she was going to give it to the sheriff for disposal. 

Let me know. 

[Remnar]

I am not up on the 45-70 ammo other than the fact that it is pretty cool!

The 30-06 ammo with the black tips is AP (Armor Piercing) and is quite collectible.  In good shape it can easily be worth $1 per round or even more.  I have seen it listed for $2 per round.

Usually more like $2-$4 a round on Gunbroker.

Like has already been posted alot of this kind of stuff can have some value. Even the boxes from the 70s and 80s depending.

[PsoasHunter]

@ Jrebel, We were/are interested in selling it, but when I started looking into some of it, I realized I needed to know more about the 45-70 ammo at least. Those old boxes are intriguing. He was in his late 80's when he passed away, so some may have come from his father, or he may have picked them up just to collect them, I don't know, but I don't feel like I can just sell off the 45-70 without learning a bit more about them.

The rest of it I'm definitely interested in selling once I get my act together on it.

[jrebel]

@ Jrebel, We were/are interested in selling it, but when I started looking into some of it, I realized I needed to know more about the 45-70 ammo at least. Those old boxes are intriguing. He was in his late 80's when he passed away, so some may have come from his father, or he may have picked them up just to collect them, I don't know, but I don't feel like I can just sell off the 45-70 without learning a bit more about them.

The rest of it I'm definitely interested in selling once I get my act together on it.

Let me know after you do your do research.  My experience is this.....Condition is everything when collectors are buying.  The ammo is cool....but the boxes are more cool.  The ultimate cool factor is a full box of ammo with a mint box!!!     

I would be interested in seeing the rest of the collection as well.  Thanks for considering me when you get to that point.