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View Full Version : Looking for info on this USMC Range Box


slosurfer
02-26-2015, 7:51 AM
I picked this up off of Craigslist last night. I was just looking for a toolbox to organize and consolidate my cleaning and gunsmithing tools/supplies. Found this and it was only labeled "military toolbox". Looked like it would work pretty good for what I wanted and I'm a sucker for any Marine Corps surplus. Went and picked it up and started researching it when I got home.

It seems to be a range box from the 60's and possibly used at the Springfield Rifle Championships. Googling the FSN didn't yield any info. I found a few similar pictures, but not much info. Any info you all could provide would be greatly appreciated. I kind of want to use it as a range box once just to have people drool over it, but more than likely, I will use it at home for my original purpose and try to keep it in great shape.

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/972b02e50d903b35ac050c17f58265ca.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/030737073ab5a1eb935b02efe682b9bc.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/b1dfd57e05d746b96efee506af46872d.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/3c9799ba35aa98f3e5dff93951472f9e.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/aa3776547936622389153abaed398f04.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/1d65437e7594d8240bf11aa1dd4786f4.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/ff5e001ecd2218846a9bbf1be2df7157.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/26/26e54544193c4f4b78f0b27cafabe076.jpg

DaveInOroValley
02-26-2015, 8:01 AM
Thats a cool find. I would use it and take care of it. My Sister-In Law who is a retired Marine worked much of her time in the armory and I could ask her if you want to see if it's unusual or not.

slosurfer
02-26-2015, 8:24 AM
Thanks! That would be great if you could ask her, and tell her Semper Fi for me.

DaveInOroValley
02-26-2015, 8:26 AM
I shot her an email with the picture. Will send you the details when she responds.

slosurfer
02-26-2015, 8:47 AM
Thanks, I appreciate it. When I get home, I can post some of the links I found, but mostly they are forum posts like mine. There are pictures of some that also have US Army stenciled on it

Jeff L
02-26-2015, 11:45 AM
Great find!

slosurfer
02-26-2015, 1:13 PM
Here are the links that I could find about it.

One that I think is slightly older than mine
http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/195730-usmc-painted-competition-range-box/

ONe that was for sale with a 1911
http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/colt-1911-us-semi-auto-pistol.-1473-c-4685787a9f

Somebody looking for one and a little info
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/147609-Looking-for-USMC-range-box

Jarhead
02-26-2015, 3:41 PM
I want one .......... I need one

onegreatshot
02-26-2015, 3:51 PM
What you have there is a copmitition shooting box. As you can see the white bars was for a scope to check the target' other slots were for ammo tools and so forth.Had several of them while working as a range instructor for the Air Force in the mid 60's. As stated "nice find"

slosurfer
02-26-2015, 5:00 PM
I want one .......... I need one

Really, I now have the perfect reason to tell my wife why I need Garand now. I can always point to the fact that I save a couple hundred bucks on getting this box. Semper Fi Jarhead

What you have there is a copmitition shooting box. As you can see the white bars was for a scope to check the target' other slots were for ammo tools and so forth.Had several of them while working as a range instructor for the Air Force in the mid 60's. As stated "nice find"

Thanks for the info. I have seen others say that the white strips were for a scope, but there is barely any give in them. I would say, they have just enough give to slide cleaning rods through them. Was there another way they attached the scope to them?

Jarhead
02-26-2015, 5:04 PM
Really, I now have the perfect reason to tell my wife why I need Garand now. I can always point to the fact that I save a couple hundred bucks on getting this box. Semper Fi Jarhead


Thanks for the info. I have seen others say that the white strips were for a scope, but there is barely any give in them. I would say, they have just enough give to slide cleaning rods through them. Was there another way they attached the scope to them?

Do or Die, Surfer

DaveInOroValley
02-28-2015, 12:20 PM
My Sister In law was out of town but she said she would look at it today and let me know.

slosurfer
02-28-2015, 4:21 PM
Thanks Dave

DaveInOroValley
03-01-2015, 7:01 AM
My Sister in law said she believes its Vietnam era, and that in her 25 years in the corp she had never seen one in person in the armory. Sounds like it might be a great find since they likely discontinued them at some point.

slosurfer
03-02-2015, 3:39 PM
Thanks to you and your sister-in-law for all the help!

hambam105
03-02-2015, 4:03 PM
hmmm.

A box that size without the Emblem or weight designation? MREs were still 35 plus years in the future so you might look for a john-wayne (can opener) wedged somewhere inside.

If the box has the smell of tobacco, visible chocolate stains or pin holes for displaying letters & pictures of home, particularly on the inside, well now you are on to something. Maybe the former owner(s) painted-over the whiskey and beer stains when the box was used as a poker table.

slosurfer
03-02-2015, 4:04 PM
I forgot to add, this has the FSN on it but it didn't show up well in the pictures.
The FSN is 1005-630-7250. A search for this did not help at all. I converted it to an NSN 1005-00-630-7250 and searched quite a few databases, but all I can see is that the part/item has been discontinued and no description or anything.

slosurfer
03-02-2015, 4:17 PM
hmmm.

A box that size without the Emblem or weight designation? MREs were still 35 plus years in the future so you might look for a john-wayne (can opener) wedged somewhere inside.

If the box has the smell of tobacco, chocolate stains or pin holes for displaying letters & pictures of home, particularly on the inside, well now you are on to something.

It did have two bore cleaning patches in it. :)

easy
03-03-2015, 12:55 PM
That is a 'rare' find. They were only issued to rifle shooting team members. My father had one and I have never seen another until you posted your pictures. I've been looking for one for a long time too. The straps on the lid was where he stored his cleaning rod sections.

slosurfer
03-03-2015, 2:42 PM
That is a 'rare' find. They were only issued to rifle shooting team members. My father had one and I have never seen another until you posted your pictures. I've been looking for one for a long time too. The straps on the lid was where he stored his cleaning rod sections.

Thanks easy, that's some good info! Was your father on one of the shooting teams? I'm almost afraid to use it now. I don't want to accidentally spill gun oil or anything in it.

easy
03-19-2015, 5:54 PM
Yes, he was on a USMC rifle team in the '50s and '60s. I remember him bringing home 'his' M1 and cleaning it on the living room rug. Never saw him spill a drop of anything either.