"Imperial german uboat navy luger box WW1"
 

First time I see this accessory...but I know nothing about Navy stuff. What do you think Gentlemen please ? I am just curious...

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Boite-etanche...item4d24bb8183

It is my opinion, that while this box LOOKS interesting and MAY be genuine... unless you can find an illustration of this box in some kind of German Kriegsmarine manual, that you will never know what the origin is... it will all be speculation. It could have been made last week, or 100 years ago.

It is a GREAT DEAL of money for a "maybe. " Without published provenance, I would have to pass.

Just my $0.02 Christian...

Hi Christian, That watertight bronze storage box is genuine Imperial Navy, and was intended to keep P08 ammo dry on Uboats. They are very rare and very expensive, and I believe there are only one or two here in the US. Unfortunately the one in the auction looks like it's been buffed (polished) which will have a devastating effect on it's value. An unpolished one would sell for $5,000.00 or more.
Regards, Norm

Wow Norm... you can learn something new here every day! Do you have a published reference that shows a device like this box? It would be neat to see photos of others that are similar...

Simpson's Ltd has one for sale (has been listed for quite some time) for only $7295! It is listed as "German U Boat Ammo Storage Box".

That would make the French eBay offering at 850 Euros a bargain even if it has been polished! I guess not many of them survived the wars.

Hi John, "Borchardt & Luger", Vol II, page 928.
Regards, Norm

not a soup pot for boats?

Thank you Gentlemen. This strange box might have been made to keep many other things, not only Luger ammo...Like John, I would love to see some period photos of similar devices. From what you say all, it seems the auction on ebay is a bargain, even for a polished item. Wait and see... Thanks again to all !

Here is the link on Simpson's Ltd ( Ron, thank you).
http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...ducts_id=22127
There is a marked paper in the box that would authentify the device...
Interesting auction.

Very interesting.
The Simpson's label says the box would hold 700 to 800 rounds.
Where the bullets just stored loose?
I would imagine everything on a WW1 u-boat was damp all the time,so it was a good idea.
Bob

On the ebay auction , the box is blue paint : not the original configuration
All the box is in zinc and the cover in bronze and brass
And the box hold 700 , the 800 is crossed out
Here is mine

Still would be interesting to know how the rounds were stored-dumped in loose does not seem like an effective strategy to me.
I think in terms of some sort of "ready" storage with loaded mags.

Patrice, je suis toujours admiratif devant l'importance et la qualité de ta collection...Bravo !!
I am always amazed to see the importance and quality of your collection...Congratulations my friend ! christian

Could you please show a closeup of the stamp in the middle of the brass lid?

I was thinking what are the chances that peace of paper would survive in that shape for so many years of harsh environment. White areas should have been yellowish/brown/moldy by now and with edges in that shape- looks like it was printed yesterday.

The paper inside mine is a repro from the one present from the box on the Simson site before they have it from a suiss collector : P.R.
I have others box in my data , but the owners don't want to show them , and the papers are differents , alls for 700 , inside the cover or upside it , sorry !!!
The stamp on cover is M crown like on navy luger

Here some stamps and THE label from other box !
Hope you enjoy :

Hi Patrice, Thanks for posting those photos of your very rare ammo container. I know of only four survivors, yours, one belonging to our mutual friend, the one on Ebay,and the fourth Simpson's, which I believe they purchased in Switzerland. Do you know of any others? I've now seen photos of the four I've mentioned, and they all seem to be stamped with the early three lobe crown/M, which was used no later than 1912 on the 1906 Navies. Another Navy mystery!
Best regards, Norm

very cool