Bofors 40mm Spare barrel box question???

Alex van de Wetering · #1 15-07-23, 12:11

Yes, it would have been so nice to add an original box to Egbert's LAAT!

A real shame the seller, or a previous owner, sanded off the original paint and markings.....but chances are that if it was/is a Dutch post-war 40L70 barrel box (which I think is likely), it was just green overall with small white lettering. Sometimes these former army boxes end up in thrift stores here in Holland; I recently found a box for a Leopard shock absorber for sale!

To add to the Bofors box data on the forum:
Here is a box I pictured at the Gunfire museum in Brasschaat, Belgium, last year. I have no idea if this is an original wartime box, or a postwar one dressed up to look like an original. I did take some measurements at the time for modelling purposes, but somehow I can't find them now! If I find them, I will add them here.

Alex van de Wetering · #2 15-07-23, 12:13

Two more....

By the way; I remember seeing detail pictures of a somehwhat rotten, but original wartime, box here on the forum..but I can't remember who posted it...maybe the Hammond crew? Rob Fast? Dave Pope?

rob love · #3 15-07-23, 13:55

There was this one that Rob Fast posted many years ago here: http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showth...1384#post81384

rob love · #4 17-07-23, 06:08

Here are some shots of my crate with the original packing label in the lid. Another shot shows the wool brush in it's holder, the next two are the lifting tools in their brackets.

My muzzle cone wrench does not fit in the bracket. It may be assembled wrong. I think I have another I'll try.

Does anybody know what the "box, Tallow, 1lb" looks like? Or the sponge, ejector? I have some steel ejectors, but don't think I have a sponge type.

Alex van de Wetering · #5 30-08-23, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob love

There was this one that Rob Fast posted many years ago here: http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showpo...4&postcount=38

Hi Rob; I tried hard to find the pictures of the rotton one here on the forum, but I can't find them......maybe I am just getting old and I am seeing things!

Meanwhile I did find the measurements I took of the Barrel box in Brasschaat, Belgium. It's 2614mmx260mm230mm. So, the length matches the size mentioned earlier; the height is similar, but there is a difference in width. I think there is a difference between boxes for just the barrel and one for barrel and ancillaries (?) Or is it a British vs Canadian difference? Wartime vs postwar?
Now, I am not sure if the one in Brasschaat is wartime; it definately doesn't match the boxes of the Robs.

Your box and Rob's look really nice. and the wider box also matches more with the space reserved in the back of the LAAT under the seat. I also see the "C428" on the paper on the lid, which I presume sis the offical name of the barrel box.

Rob, can I ask if you have any overall pictures available? Sorry...this is a scale modelling question. I am tring to work out where all the booden blocks, handles and hinges go.

Since the blank box turned up for sale here in Holland, more boxes have popped up for sale....all about 3meter length, so they could well all be 40L70 boxes.

rob love · #6 31-08-23, 17:25

I thought it was ar the link I provided, but I don't see it now. As I recall, the box was one that had been left outside in a mud compound here in shilo.

I have a crate here on the museum floor, so can provide shots of that. I need to get a new card for the shop camera, so will pick one up next time I get to town.

The part number on that tag does not seem relevant to the complete chest. I cannot find that number in the north American parts manual. It refers to CAN3334 or alternate AN3334: Box, spare barrel and implements, Cno1mkIi.

Alex van de Wetering · #7 07-09-23, 10:45

Hi Rob,

It could also well be my memory that's failing me!

I think the picture Rob Fast posted of the box with barrell looking straight into it, came from the IMA USA website; apparently they had two barrells and boxes for sale at some time and two pictures are still shown on the IMA website, but the side view is only partial and pretty grainy.
https://www.ima-usa.com/products/bof...nt=25653053573

Thanks for your comments on the part number; it was a hunch on my behalf.

Quote:

I have a crate here on the museum floor, so can provide shots of that. I need to get a new card for the shop camera, so will pick one up next time I get to town.

Any pictures would be very welcome Rob.

jack neville · #8 07-09-23, 11:54

I have a friend who has an entire kitchen built from recycled Bofors barrel boxes.

Hanno Spoelstra · #9 08-09-23, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I also see the "C428" on the paper on the lid, which I presume is the official name of the barrel box.

I did quick search on the British Ordnance Collectors Network site but could only find C219, which is the designation for the 40 mm ammunition box for 40mm QF Bofors: https://www.bocn.co.uk/threads/c219-...-bofors.12441/

Alex van de Wetering · #10 18-09-23, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I did quick search on the British Ordnance Collectors Network site but could only find C219, which is the designation for the 40 mm ammunition box for 40mm QF Bofors: https://www.bocn.co.uk/threads/c219-...-bofors.12441/

Yes, sorry about that....my comments on the "C" number was only a hunch....and wrong!
C216 and C219 are indeed the 40mm ammunition boxes; the first for the ammo in clips of 4; the latter with the ammo stored in cardboard boxes.

Alex van de Wetering · #11 23-10-23, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob love

There was this one that Rob Fast posted many years ago here: http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showth...1384#post81384

Rob Fast or Rob Love.... Could you confirm that the top of the lid is just flat with 2 or three thin metal strips keeping the wood together?

BTW; I asked IMA if that had more pictures on file of the spare barrel boxes they had for sale a while ago, but they only had the two small pictures on their web page.