Original German WWII Austrian Mannlicher M30 8×56mmR Ammunition Crate – dated 1938 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Pre-WWII Austrian wood ammunition crate, which measures approximately 27″ x 11″ x 7 ½”. It features the typical leather-hinged lid secured by a leather strap and buckle, and has tan webbing handles on either end. The lid and all four sides of the crate bear paper labels identifying the contents, which read:

1.080 Stück
8 mm M. 30 scharfe
S-Patronen
B

This indicates that the crate is for the 8x56mmR M30 rifle cartridges used in the Mannlicher M95/30 carbine, with the B indicating powder from Berghof was used. These labels are additionally marked with a large red “S” (for “Spitzer”), and have a date of 1938 on the left hand side. The lower left features an NSDAP Reichsadler over P 635, the German WWII ammunition supply code for Gustloff-Werke, Otto Eberhardt-Patronenfabrik, located in Hirtenberg Niederdonau. There are additional stenciled markings on the lid and front panel, including VIII 1938, which would indicate a packing date of August, 1938.

The crate still contains some original “excelsior” packing material and a paper label in Cyrillic, identifying the ammunition type and giving a date in 1963, possibly indicating Russian capture. A more thorough translation will probably help figure out the history of the crate.

The M95/30 carbine was widely used by police and other rear-echelon units in both Germany and Austria following the “Anschluss”, and was a development of the M95 long rifle and carbines which served as the standard service rifle of Austria-Hungary during World War I.

A very nice example of a hard to find ammo crate with some great history, ready to research and display!