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July 31, 2005
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I recently bought this open (not shrink-wrapped) mid-1880’s .40-60 WCF box. Since it was not shrink-wrapped I opened it to look inside. There are two rows of cartridges with a step for the back row which raises them up. I presume this is to make it easier to get them out.
On shrink-wrapped 20 round boxes in my collection, the cartridges do not move or rattle when the box is moved upside down, etc. That leads me to believe in addition to the step on the bottom of the box there is another one for the top of the box to keep the lower row from wiggling around.
The non shrink-wrapped box doesn’t have anything in the top part of the box and cartridges will wiggle a bit up and down when the box is moved upside down.
Is there supposed to be a piece of wood or something in the top of the box to keep the lower row of cartridges in the box from wiggling around when the top is on? I hope my question makes sense.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
April 15, 2005
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Bill,
The answer is Yes. One of the oak wood strips sits on the bottom of the box, and the other sits on top of the row of cartridges without the strip under it. I have several boxes with both wood strips still with them. In your shoes I would use the remaining wood strip as a pattern and make a replacement.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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I think your box is correct as is. I don’t recall seeing something on the low side to keep the ammo from moving? I have some boxes loaded like this but I really don’t want to dig through all of the boxes in the safe.
March 31, 2009
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Well, Bert had the answer. I’m still not going to dig into the safe. I don’t think the lack of the other piece of wood effects the value. If it bothers you do as Bert said.
July 31, 2005
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Bert H. said
Bill,The answer is Yes. One of the oak wood strips sits on the bottom of the box, and the other sits on top of the row of cartridges without the strip under it. I have several boxes with both wood strips still with them. In your shoes I would use the remaining wood strip as a pattern and make a replacement.
Bert
Thank you Bert, that is very helpful. I couldn’t find anything about this in the Giles & Shuey book.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
June 4, 2017
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I’ve found that most of the time the wood strip is glued to the lid. If you remove both strips the cartridges sit rim to rim making the box wider than intended. Lid not fitting right. I haven’t seen the later round corner boxes with strips, they seem to be made wider in the first place so the rims have room. T/R
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