Old Wooden Ammo & Explosives Boxes

[Mark W]

Does anyone collect old wooden ammo and explosives boxes? I have a couple that I use for storing odds and ends and then I came across these four recently. I was wondering if I should leave them natural or apply something to preserve the finish? I’ve saw them in antique stores for too much money that seemed to be coated with something along the lines of Tru Oil.

 

[M-61]

Brought it with me when I left Nova Scotia in 1963. Probably 30 years later I put a coat of varnish on it. Never selling it so putting the varnish (or whatever it was) was of no concern except to preserve it. It's the complete box.

 

[farmerjohn]

Does anyone collect old wooden ammo and explosives boxes? I have a couple that I use for storing odds and ends and then I came across these four recently. I was wondering if I should leave them natural or apply something to preserve the finish? I’ve saw them in antique stores for too much money that seemed to be coated with something along the lines of Tru Oil.

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They spend money and go to a lot of trouble trying to make the reproductions look just like yours .... John

 

[JSH]

The dove tail edges and construction are a give away to age. As mentioned there are a lot of repros out there.
I had several and traded them off years ago. I swapped one for an assortment of 30cal,50cal and 20mm steel ammo cans, seems like I got a bakers dozen (13) for one wood crate.

They are cool, I will let someone else store them or dust them lol.

I would think some of the antique furniture cleaner and rejuvenator would work well.