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FULL CRATE OF .455 WEBLEY PISTOL AMMUNITION –
ROYAL CANADIAN MILITARY ISSUE – OCTOBER, 1944:
A complete 1944 dated Royal Canadian Military
issue crate of .455 Pistol Ammunition, containing the
original 20-12 round boxes, for a total of 240 rounds.
As issued during World War Two, this heavy, dovetailed
wooden crate is painted green and retains the original
webbing handle, iron securing straps, lid and bottom,
and the inner tin liner and tin lid. The lid is held in
place by two iron bands and the lid is complete with the
original safety cord and cotter pin that holds the lid
in place. Original legible labels, “240 CARTRIDGES
REVOLVER, .455” DC MK VI IN CARTONS” dated 10-16-44, are
intact on the exterior of the crate in two locations –
the lid and one side; and the same label is on each end,
however these are worn. The other side of the crate has
a government control label indicating the crate contains
ammunition. The bottom of the crate is stenciled in
black paint, “CMDG OFFICER, H.M.C.S. ST. HYACINTHE, ST.
HYACINTHE, QUEBEC”, a Communications Shore
Establishment. Under the crate’s lid is a force fit tin
lid with a bail handle, the lid bearing the same label
as is one the crate lid. A slab of original cardboard
packing and pieces of original wool batting cushion the
20 paper board packets of ammunition within the inner
tin liner. All but one of the packets are still sealed
and each bears a paper label, “12 CARTRIDGES REVOLVER
.455” DC Mk VIz” and is dated Oct 16, 1944. The
ammunition, based on that in the open packet, is loaded
with a full metal jacket bullet, bears the 1944 head
stamp, and is in like new, bright condition. All of the
packets appear to be solid, full form and not split or
broken open. These original crates of WWII ammunition
are no where as available as some would believe and it
won’t be long before it has all been expended or broken
up in collections as single boxes or single rounds.
Remember that not that many years ago, the same thing
happened to Civil War and Indian War ammunition crates
and boxes and now those pieces are getting impossible to
find. That is why I have decided to sell this crate as
is, intact with all the boxes. Individually these boxes
are selling for $30 each. These 20 boxes in the
original, complete crate with all the labels and
Ordnance shipping directions is only $500.
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