ca. 1866-73 50/70 FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION CRATE –
CW SURPLUS ORIGINALLY FOR BUCK AND BALL MUSKET
AMMUNITION:
An extremely rare survivor of both the Civil War and the
early Indian Wars, this Frankford Arsenal ammunition
crate was originally issued containing Buck and Ball
Paper Cartridges for the muzzle loading muskets, and was
later restenciled and reissued containing .50-70
cartridges for the breech loading carbines and rifles of
the early Indian War.
The exterior surfaces of the
crate are painted with a base coat of the familiar dark
green, almost black paint, Both ends of the crate are
stenciled in white paint, “800 CENTRE PRIMED METALLIC
CARTRIDGES CALIBRE .50”. The legend on one end is quite
legible, while the other end requires more study and
better light due to natural aging. Still visible
beneath the dark green base coat, and over painted by
the .50 caliber legend, one can see the raised paint of
the first set of stenciled characters reading “BUCK &
BALL PERCUSSION” in two lines. On one long side of the
crate is legibly stenciled in white paint “FROM
FRANKFORD ARSENAL”. One of the three boards that made
up the original lid of the box is present, showing the
proper larger screw mortise that held the arsenal
applied wax seal to prevent tampering. The original
bottom of the crate is present and has a split running
the length of the box, but this area is stable and shows
no indication of affecting the structural integrity of
the box, or separating from the box. The crate measures
17” long, 12 ¾” wide and 8” high.
These ammunition
crates are rarely found in collections and this
particular piece represents two very desirable and
historic eras of conflict. SOLD
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