Is this carbine ammo?

TennBill2 · 12-20-2012, 03:02 PM

I was digging through my surplus metal ammo cans looking for some ammo and came upon this box. I've had it for probably 20 or 25 years. Bought a bunch of 30 cal ammo for my Luger pistol at various gun shows. I had tried some regular old 30 ammo in my carbine and it would not cycle. Can anyone identify what this is? Bill

alanint · 12-20-2012, 04:10 PM

It looks like a 1935 Portuguese production. "Chelas" was a Portuguese ammunition manufacturer.

Could you give us a close-up of the headstamp or describe it to us?

sheepherder · 12-20-2012, 04:20 PM

I don't think I'd trust 1939 (or 1935) ammunition in anything expensive...

TennBill2 · 12-20-2012, 05:22 PM

It's stamped "1935" on the bottom, one 'star' stamped on each side above date, and what looks like: EAE on top. The A is larger than the E (?) on either side. The bullets are silvery colored rather than yellow or brass.

alanint · 12-20-2012, 09:54 PM

The ammo box is marked "Carabina Metralbadora", which means "fully automatic carbine". This would lead me to believe it is hot ammo meant for a open bolt submachinegun.

I would not trust this in any collector pistol I owned.

You are better off selling this on the collector catridge market.

TennBill2 · 12-20-2012, 11:24 PM

Was there a .30 Luger submachinegun? If so what was it? I tried a search and found an old add on Gun Broker where a guy in Kentucky was trying to sell a box of the same thing for $300....no takers. An interesting curio I've had stashed for years. Given there are several rounds missing, perhaps I shot them years ago, not even sure whether I tried them in a carbine or 30 pistol. Bill

12-20-2012, 03:02 PM	#1
TennBill2 RIP Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 101 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 6 Posts	Is this carbine ammo? I was digging through my surplus metal ammo cans looking for some ammo and came upon this box. I've had it for probably 20 or 25 years. Bought a bunch of 30 cal ammo for my Luger pistol at various gun shows. I had tried some regular old 30 ammo in my carbine and it would not cycle. Can anyone identify what this is? Bill Attached Images

12-20-2012, 04:20 PM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	I don't think I'd trust 1939 (or 1935) ammunition in anything expensive... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

12-20-2012, 04:10 PM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	It looks like a 1935 Portuguese production. "Chelas" was a Portuguese ammunition manufacturer. Could you give us a close-up of the headstamp or describe it to us?

12-20-2012, 05:22 PM	#4
TennBill2 RIP Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 101 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 6 Posts	It's stamped "1935" on the bottom, one 'star' stamped on each side above date, and what looks like: EAE on top. The A is larger than the E (?) on either side. The bullets are silvery colored rather than yellow or brass.

12-20-2012, 09:54 PM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	The ammo box is marked "Carabina Metralbadora", which means "fully automatic carbine". This would lead me to believe it is hot ammo meant for a open bolt submachinegun. I would not trust this in any collector pistol I owned. You are better off selling this on the collector catridge market.

12-20-2012, 11:24 PM	#6
TennBill2 RIP Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 101 Thanks: 0 Thanked 17 Times in 6 Posts	Was there a .30 Luger submachinegun? If so what was it? I tried a search and found an old add on Gun Broker where a guy in Kentucky was trying to sell a box of the same thing for $300....no takers. An interesting curio I've had stashed for years. Given there are several rounds missing, perhaps I shot them years ago, not even sure whether I tried them in a carbine or 30 pistol. Bill