Reproduction vintage ammunition boxes

9245 · #1 03-07-2024, 12:31 AM

Does anyone make reproduction vintage/antique ammo boxes? I could use one for a display and really don’t want to pay $150+ for a beat up original.

I’m looking for a box for .38 S&W from the late 1890s, around 1897 ideally. Not picky about the brand.

TIMETRIPPER · #2 03-07-2024, 12:07 PM

Buffalo Arms has some and there are others. Just do a Google search for reproduction ammo boxes.
I've bought originals of off brand ammo, from the late 1800s early 1900s, at gun shows and flea markets for well under $20. They were partial boxes of mixed brand ammo.

John

9245 · #3 03-07-2024, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIMETRIPPER

Buffalo Arms has some and there are others. Just do a Google search for reproduction ammo boxes.
I've bought originals of off brand ammo, from the late 1800s early 1900s, at gun shows and flea markets for well under $20. They were partial boxes of mixed brand ammo.

John

Unfortunately I find nothing for .38 S&W just lots of .45 colt, .44-40, and .44 Russian etc.

I don’t care about brand, if I could find one in good shape for $20 I would jump on it, unfortunately all the antique stuff I have found so far has been massively inflated at $100-$150+.

DWalt · #4 03-07-2024, 07:05 PM

I have made some semi-replica boxes of 19th Century military ammo boxes by re-creating box labels and printing them on paper, then putting the paper over styrofoam blocks cut to the right size. These are for display only. From a distance they look fairly authentic. I made up some of those fake military ammo boxes for a museum, most thought they were the real thing in the display cases. Problem was they look too new to be over a century old.

Most ammunition boxes made before 1930 were of the two-piece half cover design. They are not too difficult to duplicate. And graphics were fairly simple. All you need to do is find good pictures of early boxes to copy.

9245 · #5 03-07-2024, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWalt

I have made some semi-replica boxes of 19th Century military ammo boxes by re-creating box labels and printing them on paper, then putting the paper over styrofoam blocks cut to the right size. These are for display only. From a distance they look fairly authentic. I made up some of those fake military ammo boxes for a museum, most thought they were the real thing in the display cases. Problem was they look too new to be over a century old.

Most ammunition boxes made before 1930 were of the two-piece half cover design. They are not too difficult to duplicate. And graphics were fairly simple. All you need to do is find good pictures of early boxes to copy.

I’ve thought of that, pictures of labels should be easy, but where do I get some blank boxes/ find instructions on how to make one?

ISCS Yoda · #6 03-07-2024, 08:50 PM

Winchester made these just a couple of years ago.

bigmoose · #7 03-07-2024, 10:45 PM

I bought this box and one for .45 Colt also off of eBay a couple of years ago.They are repros.. two piece box with the egg crate inside to align all the cartridges. Sturdy construction.

TIMETRIPPER · #8 03-08-2024, 10:27 AM

Here's a pair of old two piece boxes that I have for display. Both had a few pieces of mixed old ammo.

John

9245 · #9 03-08-2024, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIMETRIPPER

Here's a pair of old two piece boxes that I have for display. Both had a few pieces of mixed old ammo.

John

You did good, best price I have been able to find so far for the same box is $45 plus $5 shipping, which is more than I am willing to pay for an empty box.

Kinman · #10 03-08-2024, 10:26 PM

Buffalo Arms are my go to guys for nearly everything, they are only 75 miles away and our only local black powder supplier. Their boxes are maybe a little too nice...