This is an original US Army .30 Caliber M1 steel ammunition box manufactured by CANCO (the American Can Company).
Designed to deliver 250-round cloth or link belts of .30-06 cartridges to crew-served weapons like the M1917 water-cooled and M1919 air-cooled Browning machine guns.
This style of ammunition box represents a crucial shift away from fragile wooden crates to rugged, weatherproof steel, early in the war.
CANCO (The American Can Company) was one of the primary wartime manufacturers contracted by the U.S. Ordnance Department and
accounted for approximately 40% to 45% of total wartime U.S. M1 ammunition box production, sharing the rest of the major contracts with Reeves Manufacturing Co. and Crown.
The box is presented in an uncleaned condition with honest vintage patina.
The box retains roughly 75% to 80% of its original factory matte Olive Drab (OD) green finish on the exterior.
The crucial yellow factory stencilling (250 CAL .30 BELTED AP M2) remains completely legible with minor paint loss along the edges of the lettering.
There is light, active surface rust and powdery oxidation scattered across the exterior which is primarily concentrated around the raised embossing, the bottom nesting rim, the wire bail handle, and the latch hinge mechanism, where the factory paint naturally wore thin from friction.
The steel remains structurally sound and rigid.
There is no deep metal pitting, scaling rust, or pinholes anywhere on the chassis.
The lid rim retains the original moisture-resistant rubber gasket which shows minor cracking and hardening typical of WWII-era synthetics
The interior paint is clean, bright, and protected from rust.
The photographs are of the actual item and form part of the description.
Please examine the photographs carefully and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
