Military small arms toolbox

[Mike'smeatshop]

I found this yesterday but the past owner claims it's WWII. I am not sure? What yall think?

 

[mike93lx]

Found this with a little searching. The 400th was inactivated in 1942

100th Training Division - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

That box also looks newer than I would guess for ww2. Have you googled any of the markings on the front?

 

[Garcky]

I found this yesterday but the past owner claims it's WWII. I am not sure? What yall think?

Doing some research, the design is right for WWII, but they may have issued it even after then. The one I saw online had a more pebbled finish, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Thanks. Yes but came up with nothing. I can't take google anymore. I never come up with the same information the second time. I will keep looking.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have the WWII version, which has a leather handle. I would say that yours, with the metal handle, is probably 1950's, and the 11-digit FSN, which was established around 1953, almost assures that. They were made by Art Steel Company (ASCO), in NY. If you search the general 'Toolboxes' thread (you can find it in the A-Z Index of Threads in the Sticky at the top of the forum) on the terms 'ASCO' or 'Art Steel' you will get a list of posts in which these boxes are discussed and shown, including all kinds of references. Not to be a ****, but helpful, there really aren't many truly new never-before-seen tools and boxes on GJ. It sounds boastful, but it's true. Nice find. Great box.

 

[Garcky]

You might be interested in this link, which appears to have the same box, but with a different number. The one at the link also has all of the tools in it, some still wrapped.

41-K-8425 Tool sets for small arms and automatic weapons - G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums

 

[jabberwoki]

Nice box
That's a good score

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Thank you Private and Garcky. I assume this may have come from Ft Knox being so close to the area. It will be on top of the gun safe and cleaned up until I decide what to do with it. Alot of reading to do now. Thanks again. It will go well with my 1961 Willys and 1950s MEP 015 Gen set and my 1941 military air compressor. Plus my M1. I am ready for war now.

 

[Garcky]

Thank you Private and Garcky. I assume this may have come from Ft Knox being so close to the area. It will be on top of the gun safe and cleaned up until I decide what to do with it. Alot of reading to do now. Thanks again. It will go well with my 1961 Willys and 1950s MEP 015 Gen set and my 1941 military air compressor. Plus my M1. I am ready for war now.

My pleasure. It would be interesting to try to acquire the tools on those inventory lists. Not necessarily the original ones, but equivalent ones. I suspect that the box and tools at the link I gave you would be worth large amounts of money, since many of the tools were still wrapped in the rust resistant paper from the time they were packed. Finding something like that, including the wooden shipping case, would be the find of a lifetime.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

My pleasure. It would be interesting to try to acquire the tools on those inventory lists. Not necessarily the original ones, but equivalent ones. I suspect that the box and tools at the link I gave you would be worth large amounts of money, since many of the tools were still wrapped in the rust resistant paper from the time they were packed. Finding something like that, including the wooden shipping case, would be the find of a lifetime.

Yes that would be a challenge to go after. I may have a few already or I know where to look. My father inlaw has hundreds or thousands tools to look threw but he is up in the mountains of Ky and so far to drive but will be worth the day trip. Thanks. Plus ebay.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Found this with a little searching. The 400th was inactivated in 1942

100th Training Division - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

That box also looks newer than I would guess for ww2. Have you googled any of the markings on the front?

And thanks Mike. This may have come from the Fort Knox area. That is a good read.

 

[RTM]

You might be interested in this link, which appears to have the same box, but with a different number. The one at the link also has all of the tools in it, some still wrapped.

41-K-8425 Tool sets for small arms and automatic weapons - G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums

You may find that a toolbox in that thread appears in the links Lugz referenced. Or maybe even an author or two under different pseudonyms.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am ready for war now.

That's the spirit! They are stout boxes. I have all my collectible machinists' stuff in mine. The side handles come in very handy. If you haven't gone to the 'Toolboxes' thread yet, that piece on top to the left is a retainer for a padlock chain.

I assume this may have come from Ft Knox being so close to the area.

I'd bet on it.

...a different number.

That is the wartime (1934 to ~1952, to be more precise) FSN.

Or maybe even an author or two under different pseudonyms.

Snerk.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I have been doing the toolbox thread but I'm not getting anywhere. What is the process as you mentioned finding the A to Z info in the sticky's? This box looks like someone painted it with a brush.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The "Sticky" is the thread called "READ B4 POSTING!: A-Z Index of Threads, FAQ, & Helpful Hints & Links" that is always the first thread at the very top of this forum. It is locked. For reference only. It is the easiest way to find a major thread, such as the 'Toolboxes' thread, no matter where it is in the forum. If you've noticed, the forum is chronological, newest to oldest, by activity. There are literally thousands of threads on hundreds of pages buried behind page 1, the only page you see. Dozens of them are major threads. Another way to find threads is by putting them in your Watched list. But if there's no recent activity, they could be buried several pages back on that as well. Hence the index, which is always there in alphabetical order.

I mentioned it so you could find the 'Toolboxes' thread. I could've linked it, but that doesn't familiarize and "train" newbies on how to use the forum. Since you've already found the 'Toolboxes' thread, I'm going to interpret "I'm not getting anywhere" as you haven't found the ASCO posts. If you go to the "Sticky" and scroll down to post #6, you'll find an entire section called 'Searching GJ'. Follow the instructions in 'Search this thread.' If you search the 'Toolboxes' thread on the term 'ASCO', you will be presented with a list of posts that include that term. Click on any of them and start poking around. You will find all the previous conversations that way.

 

[Garcky]

That's the spirit! They are stout boxes. I have all my collectible machinists' stuff in mine. The side handles come in very handy. If you haven't gone to the 'Toolboxes' thread yet, that piece on top to the left is a retainer for a padlock chain.

I'd bet on it.

That is the wartime (1934 to ~1952, to be more precise) FSN.

Snerk.

Thanks.

 

[Garcky]

You may find that a toolbox in that thread appears in the links Lugz referenced. Or maybe even an author or two under different pseudonyms.

Thanks. The thread at my link popped up right away from my Google search. So I posted it, in case the OP wanted info right away.