Ammo for Long Range rifles (.45- 2.4 inch case or .45-80)

[John S.]

Picked this up at the Colorado Gun Collector Assn show in Greeley, CO a couple weeks ago.
Markings are really faded and hard to read, but a really scarce crate. Any .45-70 era crate is scarce, and I've only seen maybe a dozen in my life time.

This one is for the "Model 1881" Cartridges with the 2.4" case and 500 grain bullet and used only in the long range rifles (and some privately purchased marksman rifles for team use). The two end pieces are deeply stamped with the packing date 5-24-[18]84.

Here is the end and the markings are repeated on all four sides
1000 CARTRIDGES MODEL 1881
RIFLE
FRANKFORD ARSENAL

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Note the two paper seals (US surrounded by FRANKFORD ARSENAL) covered with a reddish wax or lacquer. These are over two of the screws securing the bottom of the crate. The missing top of the crate would have had similar seals over two screws there,so any tampering with the contents would be easily detected.
The ammunition would have been 50 cartons like this each containing 20 rounds.

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(Ammunition box phots courtesy of Collector Firearms in Texas)

[Tom Trevor]

Great find. even a box of 45-80-500 is rare these days. Sure miss the Robert Buttweiler cartridge auctions. Eagerly waited for every catalog and the goodies and information on rare cartridges he would fill each with.

[Dick Hosmer]

Great find! There are, AFAIK, four different .45-80 cardboard boxes. I had three of them - and that is the one I never found... When I sold my LRR 162036 a couple of years ago, I threw in a box to seal the deal (wish i hadn't) so am now down to just two. I THINK the first type two piece box with red lettering is the rarest but am not sure. I miss Buttweiler's stuff too - think I have most of his catalogs - great stuff...

[FrankD]

Thank you for sharing great collectable!!!!