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FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION CRATE FOR .45-70
AMMUNITION – NICE INDIAN WAR DISPLAY PIECE: A
scarce survivor that managed to escape the fireplaces of
the frontier posts and trash bins of the arsenals and
surplus houses once these cartridges were declared
obsolete, this Frankford Arsenal ammunition crate was
originally issued during the Indian Wars containing
.45-70 cartridges for the Trapdoor carbines and rifles.
The exterior surfaces of the crate are painted with a
base coat of the familiar dark green, almost black
paint. One end of the crate is stenciled in white
paint:
1000 METALLIC
CENTRE - PRIMED
CARTRIDGES
BALL CALIBRE .45
The “1000 METALLIC” portion of this stencil is only
partially visible along the top edge where apparently
the rest of those stenciled characters were painted on
the edge of the lid. The other end indicates this crate
was recycled by the Ordnance Department, perhaps at a
western arsenal, as it has been relabeled:
500
LOWER BAND
US 45 CALIBER
SOLID ROUND
BRIGHT NEW
Apparently this stencil incorporates two separate labels
for two different lots of contents, both ammunition and
barrel bands, evidence that these crates were put to
other uses by the army. On one long side of the crate
is legibly stenciled in white paint:
FROM
FRANKFORD
ARSENAL Pa
The other long side is stenciled:
MANUFACTURED
1000
RIFLE BALL CARTRIDGES
CAL .45 SOLID HEAD
The original bottom of the crate is present and retains
the two original arsenal applied wax seals to prevent
tampering. As can be seen in the photographs, both
seals still retain legible portions of the Ordnance
Department insignia, as well as the word “ARSENAL” on
one seal and a portion of the word “FRANKFORD” on the
other seal. There are no splits or breaks in the wood
that affect the structural integrity of the box, and all
of the side and bottom components are still firmly
attached. The crate measures 15 ¾” long, 13 ¾” wide and
7 ¼” high.
These ammunition crates are rarely found in
collections and they make for an interesting addition to
display with your Indian War carbine or rifle. SOLD
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