Vietnam ammo crates

On friday I picked up some original wooden ammo crates from the early 70's. They were for the 105mm howitzers and some of the crates were for shipment of 20 hand grenades. Rope handles, and lots of writing (military style) on the outside of the crates. They look pretty cool in their new home, the bed of my m715. It's nice to add things to the look of the truck that are period correct. Another item I got from the same guy was a commemorative plate given to him by Terry Waite in 1981. For those not familiar with the name, he was one of the prisoners that Iran took hostage and held for 440 days. Remember the helicopters trying to rescue them, and all of the choppers crashed in the desert because of dust and sand in the engines. Anyway, this guy was a tank commander who guarded the hospital in Wiesbaden Germany, where the hostages were taken after their release. Only 40 hostages received these plates. They're signed and dated. Pretty nice piece of history I added to my military collection. Unfortunately, this guy lost his job and has to sell some things to pay the bills. I'm sure to many of the younger Zoners this won't mean much, but to us older guys, it's a part of our past.

I have some of those crates as well. I found them at a military surplus store in Norfolk, VA. They make great displays.

Very neat stuff!

I've managed to amass a collection of a bunch of wooden crates as well for various military items. Every time a friend or family member spots one at a yard sale or flea market they usually grab it for me, as well as the ones I've found/bought. You'd be surprised how many people use them for motorcycle parts when they bring us a basket case bike too.

And Terry Waite is a very familiar name. The whole Iran hostage crisis doesn't seem like it was over 30 years ago now. I feel older now.

Sorry Randy, I know the feeling. Keep hearing about all these anniverseries, and it starts to make you wonder where the years went. I still remember the 60's & 70's well, but man it seems like so long ago. One thing I know for sure tho, their will never be another time in history like that of the Vienam War years. I'm glad I lived thru it, and survived it. The unrest, protest, music, dress, and of course the HAIR!. Pretty far-out man! Their I said it. I'll never grow up.

Our Army Ammunition Plant here auctions those old crates off every few years, I bought a bunch about 8 years ago for $5.00. I can't remember what went in them but it must be for a howitzer, only 2 shells each. Yes they work great for parts, but now I need to find a new home for the parts to use the crates.

I also used to have a bunch of the crates.

They make large sandbag-type emplacements if you stack them and fill with sand.

Little hard to move after that though....:lol:

I found one here at work last fall, they were throwing it out in the scrap wood pile. I had to straighten the lock hasp, otherwise it was nice, about 4 foot long, by 10 inches high by a foot deep. Threw it in the back of the M715, it does look good back there.
Scott

A couple boxes in the bed of the truck, look pretty cool. I also have a foot locker, dufflebag, a pair of Vietnam jungle boots, etc. back their. As a military collector, I have an assortment of items to put in my truck. The cab has a flack jacket complete with smoke grenades (live), two helmets, complete set of web gear, blanket, M16 with bayonet, etc. It's all about realism in my opinion. The only thing missing is the sandbags on the floor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by militarypotts

A couple boxes in the bed of the truck, look pretty cool. I also have a foot locker, dufflebag, a pair of Vietnam jungle boots, etc. back their. As a military collector, I have an assortment of items to put in my truck. The cab has a flack jacket complete with smoke grenades (live), two helmets, complete set of web gear, blanket, M16 with bayonet, etc. It's all about realism in my opinion. The only thing missing is the sandbags on the floor.

---

My truck has a long way to go before I start worrying about any of that stuff... It's not 100% original either, but I was thinking it would be pretty cool to at least have an M16 in the rifle mount. Does anyone know of anywhere that sells relatively cheap replicas?

I got a couple air soft rifles from ebay that look good. http://cgi.ebay.com/WELL-M16A2-M4A2-...item4aa22711a9 I don't know if this is the cheapest, but I didn't think the price was too bad.

I agree, airsoft M16 is as real looking as they come. While in the Army in 1969, we were issued the M16, and these airsoft rifles look, feel, and weigh the same as the original. mounted in the cab, looks rather neat. Not cheap, but worth it in my opinion.

price seems ok... Especially if it looks cool and I can take it out and shoot a few rounds now and then. Do they fit in the factory holders?

Yes, behind the drivers seat. I mounted mine next to the transfer case levers. Used m16 mounting brackets, and it stands straight up and down. Looks cool through front windshield. Blows peoples minds when they see it in there.

I did not realize those crates were an item people were interested in, I have access to many. In fact I was just down there this weekend. We brought back about 600 ammo cans. I plan on going back as they had some of the aluminum medic boxes for a good price and real jungle boots(the ones with the seam down the heal) even cheaper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by militarypotts

Yes, behind the drivers seat. I mounted mine next to the transfer case levers. Used m16 mounting brackets, and it stands straight up and down. Looks cool through front windshield. Blows peoples minds when they see it in there.

---

I also run mine in the commanders spot. I used the placement from the manuals and made the floor bracket to mount mine there.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC_0331.jpg

I'm also using an airsoft rifle in mine. My rifle is made by a company called G&P and is a high end model. $300, but it is full metal and fires bb's on full auto at almost 400 fps. Mine carries full Colt trademarks and will fool even experianced shooters when you hand it to them because the wieght and feel is dead on. Not until you drop the mag to reviel the bottom of the gear box do they know it's not a real M16. The G&P M16vn and M16A1 models have been getting harder to find recently as most everything nowdays is all modern M4 with every add on you can get.
http://www.davidallenracing.com/DSC04581.jpg
http://www.davidallenracing.com/DSC04583.jpg
http://www.davidallenracing.com/DSC04585.jpg

And you can also get really nice looking airsoft M14's for an early look. Here's one in my M37.
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC_0330.jpg

So I just remembered that I got a $25 Amazon gift card for my birthday... I'm going to "pull the trigger" on one of these airsoft replicas. I was looking on Amazon.com and they have the airsoft M16 for $13!
I am by no means a gun expert, but by looking at Wikipedia, the M16A2 came out in the 80's and the M16A1 was the Vietnam era rifle. The descriptions on Amazon are sketchy at best, but both appear to be the same, a1 model?

http://www.amazon.com/Style-Airsoft-...0109874&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/M16A1-Airsoft-...0109874&sr=8-2

Does the first one look correct, even though it's labeled as an a2?

By the way, that looks great Beast! I like it. I just may have to start looking for another mount to put there, then I can have two :D It would be funny to say the least if I ever got pulled over...
Thanks!

Those both appear to be A1 styled rifles and they are commonly miss labled on those sites. The Well spring rifle is an all plastic single shot rifle. You have to pull the charging handle each time to cock the gun and it will fire a single bb. They make good display pieces because they are a 1/1 scale and are cheap so you don't have to worry about it being stolen or broke. If you plan on keeping it in your truck all the time, I would keep the orange tip on it so that you don't run into problems with police officers. If you want to play around with your rifle a bit and shoot it, then I would look into some of the mid-range electric airsoft rifles in the $100 to $150 price range. Those will acctually shoot pretty decent at a 100 ft range and the electric motor allows full auto firing. You can find some decent ones on sites like http://www.airsoftpost.com/ and https://www.airsoftgi.com/
Heck you can even go all out and get a M60 airsoft rifle for around $400. Here's mine
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q.../DSC_0331a.jpg
And if you want to see what it's like while running then watch this video of mine from a game where I'm using the M60 from a tower defense point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BbRwJrQgTg

If you're mounting a M16 in a M715, to be correct, the rifle must be equipped with the triangular hand guard. When I purchased mine, this was a MUST! I actually thought I was seeing a photo of the inside of my truck, with the rifle mount, and helmet with the banded Marlboro pack of cigs. Looks great. I always wonder about what others do to their trucks, and looking at the above photos, I realize now that alot of us have the same ideas. Glad to see it.

Caution on buying any of those rifles from HotImportToys like the ones on Amazon. I ordered one from them and it was close to period correct, doesn't have the right compensator. However, it works great for car shows and parades. I wanted another one when I installed the commanders mount and ordered from them again using the same site and part number. When the next one came in it was not the same thing, it was a M16A2. I contacted them and they sent me another one and this one was also incorrect. I then ask them to just send me the triangular hand guards and they agreed. Three years later and I still don't have the hand guards or the correct rifle.

Here is a correct a1 style gun for $24.95 http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_i...ducts_id=24324 and you can use the code; 50offshippingand handling at checkout to save 50% off shipping. Then post the other one on criagslist and broom it.

Dave, is that replica really that price? It's almost hard to believe. It looks pretty decent as far as authenticity. I think I need to order one.

I went ahead and ordered the rifle. I've already got one mounted in the cab, but the price seemed good, so I'll have a spare. Use it for a display in bed of truck. Thanks. I tried the code 24324, but they wouldn't accept it. Thanks anyway.

Yeah knowing the law around here where im at. they would have a charge for a fake rifle even. for me anyway..

militarypotts- have you gotten the rifle yet? I decided to hold off on the amazon one, thinking that it probably isn't an a1. I'll be curious to hear what your experience is with this one...

No, I have not yet received it. They confirmed that the item has been shipped. Thought it would have arrived by now. Hopefully today. I'll sure give a review when I get it. It looked great in the photo, but I've got to be honest, the price didn't match the quality looks of it. I hope to be pleasantly surprised. Stay tuned for further details. WOW! that just sounded like the 5:00 news. I'll keep you informed.

Yes I did receive it Thursday. The rifle is all plastic. Nowhere near as realistic as my Airsoft rifle, in weight, looks, or feel. Then again it was $24.99 not $200.00. It's O.K. for a display I guess. It serves a purpose, showing the weapon of that period in history. I'll strategicaly lay mine down in the bed of the truck, with period web gear half covering it, and it might make an O.K. display that I won't have to worry about someone walking off with. For $24.99 it'll do what I bought it for. I'll definetly leave my original Airsoft locked in the commander rifle mount in the cab of the truck. It makes a much better showing. My final opinion is go ahead and order it, because for the money you won't find anything better. I've looked for quite awhile. Good luck.