oldabewla Posted March 25, 2018 Share #1 Posted March 25, 2018 This is a very neat find but puzzled by it? This is a very common WWI- WWII MG oil can but on the back it has a Ordnance label marked Winchester and named to tender of the US Army Ordnance Chief William Crozier from 1901-1917 Crozier presided over the adoption of the M1903 rifle and M1918 BAR and the M1917 I thought this label was cut from a manual and glued on? but all manuals I own don't have any of the maker or manufactory names next to the ordnance information or in the manual it'self. My guess is that these were made up and supplied with the Winchester BAR early in it's roll out? I could be wrong? The label has been there a very long time and the can has never had any oil in it. The color of the label is the same as first photo and not as second photo. Winchester only made rifles and the only machine guns I know they made for mass production is the BAR. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWalsh Posted March 25, 2018 Share #2 Posted March 25, 2018 Left over stock later sold as surplus. by Winchester, after the war perhaps, so they slapped the sticker or label on it to show it was one they made? Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted March 25, 2018 Share #3 Posted March 25, 2018 Looks like a fake label to me. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccyooper Posted March 25, 2018 Share #4 Posted March 25, 2018 I guess you would have to decide how old the can is. Crozier was promoted to MG in July 1918. So in theory it would have to pre-date that. He did preside over the adoption of the m1918 BAR in 1917 and Winchester started making them in early 18 so it could be some sort of early or commemorative can. Just throwing that information out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted March 25, 2018 Share #5 Posted March 25, 2018 WW1 oil cans have a flat bottom and top with soldered on end caps. I'm pretty sure your can is from WW2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldabewla Posted March 26, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted March 26, 2018 Here is a photo of the Label black lighted with no glow, the back ground is a sheet of new white paper. No modern printing ether as check by a magnifying glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinb Posted March 26, 2018 Share #7 Posted March 26, 2018 Maybe you could get the glue on the back of the label carbon dated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themick Posted March 26, 2018 Share #8 Posted March 26, 2018 Maybe you could get the glue on the back of the label carbon dated? Wouldn't the cost of the testing be more than the value of the can? Carbon testing isn't cheap, I think. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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