Help with Ammo Cans

[Nickman983]

I picked these up over the last couple of weeks, mostly for storage of nets/covers/spare liner parts from my helmet collection, so I'm a bit out of my sphere of knowledge here.  I believe they're both WWII but I could use a bit of help determining exactly what I've got here.

 

First one is not the best shape. It's got stenciling from being repacked, from my limited knowledge on these the fact that it says "belted" and not "linked" would indicate that it's an earlier marking? I haven't done anything to it since I've picked it up but if there's anything I should/could do to clean it up I'm all ears.

 

 

The second one is in better shape, though I'm not 100% certain if the paint is correct or if it's been repainted. Again, this isn't really an area I collect but I got them locally and at (I think) a fair price so I grabbed them to store some things better.

 

 

[gap]

Definitely WW2, if they were mine, I’d clean up the rusty one and repaint it OD3. I’d leave the other one alone. 

[Nickman983]

13 hours ago, gap said:

Definitely WW2, if they were mine, I’d clean up the rusty one and repaint it OD3. I’d leave the other one alone. 

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I take it that the paint on the 2nd one is original? Was a bit unsure when I picked it up since it seemed pretty clean overall but it doesn't look like there's a 2nd layer on it.

 

With regards to the first one I think I'd be a little hesitant to repaint it. Based on what I've read about these ammo can's my understanding is the use of "belted" instead of "linked" on the stencil was done away with after WWII so I don't know I wouldn't want to lose that marking. I was thinking about trying Wink rust remover. I've seen some helmets where guys have had luck with it cleaning up the rust staining while leaving the paint intact. Obviously it wouldn't remove the heavier rusting but I'm thinking it might clean up a bit nicer without needing a full restoration.

[gap]

It’s worth a try! 

[Nickman983]

Gave Whink a try today and didn't have much luck with it here. Cleared up a little bit of the light staining but I wasn't getting much of a result so I decided not to continue with it. It wasn't a complete bust though, when I picked up that first can I also grabbed an early MKII body that I initially thought didn't have any paint left on it. After a bit of mild soap, water, and then a few passes with Whink I was able to uncover a lot of original gray paint in the groves.

 

I'll probably just continue to use the 1st ammo can as storage as rust is mostly on the outside and if I can find another nice WWII can locally like the 2nd one I might grab it and give the first one to a friend

[eaglerunner88]

You might find this thread interesting. The St. Louis (SL) Ordnance Plant repacked lot numbers during the war ran from SL-B-91525 through 93711.

 

 

[Nickman983]

1 hour ago, eaglerunner88 said:

You might find this thread interesting. The St. Louis (SL) Ordnance Plant repacked lot numbers during the war ran from SL-B-91525 through 93711.

 

 

 

Interesting thread, thanks for sharing! Charlie's doing a great service helping people figure out how their cans were packed. Good to know the marking on the first one is WWII. I'm learning more than I had initially thought when picking these up for storage but that seems par for the course for this hobby.

 

On the 2nd, can I believe I read something that all M1 cans were stenciled during WWII and those that were not would have been unused cans that were surplussed. Can anyone confirm?

[iron bender]

Both nice cans. Rub that first one down with a light coat of oil (linseed, hoppes, LSA, CLP, whatever). It'll look nice

[Browninggunner688]

Nice cans, I have 2 original card packing slips from SL, one is stamped........

 

 Repacked Lot  SL B 91195 FEB 1944

Consists of Cal .30

A.P. M2 Lot SL    8697

T.R.  M1 Lot SL   7963A

Belted 4AP 1Tracer .250 RD ammunition web belt.

 

 

The other is stamped...

 

Repacked Lot SL B 93122 FEB. 23 1945

Consists of Cal .30

A.P.  M2 Lot SL 9260

TR.   M1 Lot SL 8174

Belted 4 AP 1 Tracer .250 RD ammunition web belt.

 

This last card came in the original can, marked up with the same Lot number, best bit though, after a bit of digging through the other cans for sale, I found another one marked up the same. 

 

I would leave your cans in the condition you found them in. I also was led to believe unmarked/unstamped cans were never filled, I think I read it on this forum years ago.

 

Nick.

[Nickman983]

Thanks for the info Nick! I'm going to leave the first one as it sits and left the other alone. The one really rusty side cleaned up a bit but not much. Once my new shelving comes in I'll just arrange that one so the rusty side faces the shelves instead of out.