Time travel..

[cruiserdan]

My father in law passed at the end of April. He was 2 months shy of 99 years. He was a lifelong hunter, shooter and reloader. I have been in his basement for a couple days now. I knew there was some cool stuff down there but l seriously underestimated what was there.

The antique ammunition and reloading equipment is staggering. Part of me wants to process it through his arms. The other part wonders what else to do with it.
These photos are the tip of the iceberg.

 

[22hipower]

Probably all still usable if it has been stored in a reasonably cool dry place. Might have more value as collectibles though depending what all is there. Those oil cans are pretty cool.

 

[cruiserdan]

 

[cruiserdan]

A full box of something I have never seen.

 

[oberon]

Instant museum exhibit. More images, please.
I can't hardly wait to see what all is there.

 

[cruiserdan]

Probably all still usable if it has been stored in a reasonably cool dry place. Might have more value as collectibles though depending what all is there. Those oil cans are pretty cool.

Most all of the loaded rounds are in very good condition. The oil cans are the tip of a different iceberg.

 

[cruiserdan]

The 410 "single ball" is a slug load. There is also a staggering amount of 20 and 12 gauge slug. He was originally from upstate New York. All the slug rounds came with him when he moved west in 1963.

 

[Rpg]

Some of the ammo may be collectible and could be sold for more than comparable currently produced ammunition. That could be a long, drawn out process. If you’re not willing to do that, you might be able to find someone willing to buy it all at once. If it were mine, I’d probably just shoot it. I’m not patient enough to sell it piecemeal.

The gun oil and gunpowder are perfectly fine to use. The containers are collectible, the contents aren’t.

 

[cruiserdan]

I also have the arms that this ammunition applies to. I'm inclined to take all of it out with my son and touch it off with him.

 

[cruiserdan]

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

A full box of something I have never seen. View attachment 884579

Awesome vintage Brennekes.

Those are an excellent fighting load for a 12 bore slide action.

 

[cruiserdan]

1925 Frankford Arsenal. 45 ACP ball.

 

[cruiserdan]

Awesome vintage Brennekes.

Those are an excellent fighting load for a 12 bore slide action.

They go nicely with his first year Remington 870. He duck hunted with that gun on the Niagara River between 1953 and 1960.

The family home is on Cayuga Island, just above Niagra Falls.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

They go nicely with his first year Remington 870. He duck hunted with that gun on the Niagara River between 1953 and 1960.View attachment 884589

What a setup! Beautiful. Those wooden duck decoys are very handsome.

 

[eveled]

Even if I decided to shoot it all up, I wouldn’t be able to toss those boxes in the trash.

You need to find a collector.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Very nice. Thanks for posting those pics. They are indeed from a different era. Since they don't eat anything or require any kind of upkeep, I recommend that you keep the boxed ammo as is for display or to sell to collectors.

John

 

[Hawg Rider]

Very nice. Thanks for posting those pics. They are indeed from a different era. Since they don't eat anything or require any kind of upkeep, I recommend that you keep the boxed ammo as is for display or to sell to collectors.

John

Agreed. You may want to consider getting a table at a large local gun show and displaying this collection. I'm sure that quite a few collectors would love to own some of this stuff and would be willing to pay a fair price.

 

[Keith Brown]

Sorry for his passing, near 99 is a heck of a run. I would not shoot any of the ammunition especially the boxed, it’s worth much more that way. The powder if I used would be more experiment, compare. Of what is pictured the 38 special is my favorite as I shoot and own more guns in that caliber. It took him a lifetime to assemble and tells a story, changing interests and needs, old to new. Books, any gun related paper at all can be very collectible. And more photos please !

 

[GSP Fan]

I’m sorry for your loss. It would appear he lived a grand life and embraced what he liked.
The two piece shotgun shell boxes can be quite valuable and as mentioned are worth more full than empty.
My gun room and cabin are decorated with vintage shell boxes and powder cans. I especially like the small square ones.
If you can’t or don’t want to keep everything pick out what you like, put up a shelf and display them as a legacy to you your father in law

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

My father in law passed at the end of April. He was 2 months shy of 99 years. He was a lifelong hunter, shooter and reloader. I have been in his basement for a couple days now …

My condolences on your family loss.

He was quite a savvy outdoorsman. Duck hunters tend to take great care of their gear. I love the wood decoys.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Yeah, I could envision a neat corner cabinet display of the ammo, firearms, etc.

It’s amazing what our parents saved and stashed away. My Dad had many, but not all, of the boxes for firearms he bought that were new. (There were not many new ones.). And they were just scattered about the house. Clearly intended to save them, just not in an organized manner.

 

[llowry61]

My condolences for your loss. I used to be a duck hunter as well, but that is a young man's game.

You have a treasure trove of items that tell a story. I am envious as I am sure others are that metaphorically travel in time by holding history in their hands.

I wouldn't do anything fast, most of the things I have come to regret were actions taken too quickly.

 

[LittleAugieMo]

U.S. ammo collectors meet in St.Louis Mo. once a year......or if you decide to "choot it" whatever you do KEEP THE BRASS/HULLS some collectors just want empty boxes(no live rounds) some collect just full/partial boxes and some do both. You stated that the firearms for most of the ammo are present.....you may want to pick a nice box of ammo for each one and hold it back......also lots if folks like to have period correct ammo to put w/ their favorite firearm...good luck!

 

[oldcorps76]

America that Was....

 

[KenTheHunter]

My father in law passed at the end of April. He was 2 months shy of 99 years. He was a lifelong hunter, shooter and reloader. I have been in his basement for a couple days now. I knew there was some cool stuff down there but l seriously underestimated what was there.

The antique ammunition and reloading equipment is staggering. Part of me wants to process it through his arms. The other part wonders what else to do with it.
These photos are the tip of the iceberg.

If it were me I’d use them in his honor

 

[desi2358]

My father in law passed at the end of April. He was 2 months shy of 99 years. He was a lifelong hunter, shooter and reloader. I have been in his basement for a couple days now. I knew there was some cool stuff down there but l seriously underestimated what was there.

The antique ammunition and reloading equipment is staggering. Part of me wants to process it through his arms. The other part wonders what else to do with it.
These photos are the tip of the iceberg.

Some nice, old and collectible ammo. Some I would probably save or move on to a collector, some I would shoot. That two piece Peters box in the first set of photos has been refilled at some time in the past. The correct ammo for that box would be brass cases with copper primers. The box itself is from the 1910 to 1930 time period and has some collector interest even empty as it's in very nice condition. Most of the shotshell boxes are from the 1950s and early 60s, the J.C. Higgins box would certainly appeal to both ammo and Sears collectors. Sounds like he had a good long run in life, would be a tribute for you and your son to shoot some of it off through his guns!

 

[AEM]

Be advised that it is very complicated to ship ammunition. Lots of paperwork and placards required and they don't like the DIY approach, UPS rejected my shipment three times before the driver said "Hell with it, I'm just going to put it on the conveyor tonight and hope the supervisor doesn't see it."

 

[22hipower]

Be advised that it is very complicated to ship ammunition. Lots of paperwork and placards required and they don't like the DIY approach, UPS rejected my shipment three times before the driver said "Hell with it, I'm just going to put it on the conveyor tonight and hope the supervisor doesn't see it."

Not all that difficult really, just follow the UPS guidelines.

https://www.ups.com/us/en/support/s...ardous-materials-guide/how-to-ship-ammunition

 

[diyj98]

Not too long ago I was given a group of very old powder. I dumped the powder on my lawn and sold the can on Ebay. It wasn't so much the age of the power, but the fact that that powders may have been mixed or messed with sometime in their life.

 

[Rpg]

The Frankfort Arsenal 45acp ammo from 1925 is corrosive. If you shoot it, be sure to clean the gun well.