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ca. 1880 WINCHESTER METALLIC AMMUNITION WOODEN
CRATE: An early Winchester Repeating Arms
Company ammunition crate ca. 1880, dated by the use of
the term “Metallic Ammunition” in the embossed contents
label, is constructed using heavy ¾” thick boards and
assembled with full size hand fitted dove-tailed
joints. This crate
measures 9.5" long, 8"
wide and 4.75" high. The legend is stamped into, and
not stenciled on the surface of, the wood. Stamped into
the wood on both sides:
SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION
METALLIC CARTRIDGES
MANUFACTURED BY THE
WINCHESTER
REPEATING ARMS CO.
NEW HAVEN, CONN. USA.
The ends are
stamped with some labeling as well, but due to the age
and wear it is no longer distinct. The bottom of the
crate is made from a single board, which has a split due
to aging but is now stable and still tightly attached to
the sides and ends of the crate. The lid is not
present.
The weight of
construction, the large dovetail cuts, and the use of
the term "Metallic Cartridges" in the legend lead me to
believe this is an early, possibly 1870-1880 era crate,
made when it was necessary to differentiate between
metallic and paper cartridges. Note the same type of
wording on the .32 caliber Winchester Green label box
from the 1880’s. These early crates are very scarce
and make for a
nice addition to an ammunition or Winchester
collection. $150
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