Description
Frankford Arsenal .45 Model of 1911 Cartridge Box – Original Smokeless Powder Box
This Frankford Arsenal .45 Model of 1911 cartridge box is an original early U.S. military ammunition box labeled for 20 pistol ball cartridges, cal. .45, Model of 1911. The printed label identifies it for the Automatic Pistol, Cal. .45, Model of 1911, and it retains its smokeless powder designation, velocity data, and arsenal manufacturing information. As a result, it stands as a strong period box tied directly to the early service life of the M1911 pistol.
Frankford Arsenal .45 Model of 1911 Cartridge Box
The front panel carries unusually complete text for a surviving cartridge box of this era. It reads 20 Pistol Ball Cartridges, Cal. .45, Model of 1911 and specifies For Automatic Pistol, Cal. .45, Model of 1911. It also notes Smokeless Powder, a muzzle velocity 800 ± 25 feet per second, and Dupont Pistol Powder, No. 3. The maker line reads Manufactured at Frankford Arsenal, followed by Class 47, Division 1, Drawing 5. Other visible text on the packaging includes Bull’s Eye Powder, Lot H-50 and a printed notice instructing the user to de-cap fired shells, throw them into water, then clean the inside thoroughly and dry them before packing them loosely in ammunition boxes.
Construction / Configuration / Pattern
This is a period paperboard ammunition box in the long rectangular format used for boxed pistol cartridges in the early smokeless era. The body has a pink-toned outer label with black printed text and a ruled border. The packaging carries technical and logistical information on multiple sides rather than only a simple caliber designation. That is one of its strongest features, because it preserves not just the ammunition type, but also the loading data, powder information, arsenal attribution, and reloading or handling instructions associated with early U.S. military pistol ammunition packaging.
Historical Context / Provenance / Development
This box belongs to the first generation of ammunition packaging associated with the Model of 1911 pistol. That alone gives it more than ordinary collector interest. It is not just a .45 cartridge box in the general sense. It is labeled specifically for the new automatic pistol that would become one of the defining American military handguns of the 20th century. The wording places it squarely in that early adoption period, when the M1911 was still identified in packaging by its formal model designation rather than by later shorthand familiarity.
The Frankford Arsenal connection adds further importance. Frankford Arsenal was the principal U.S. government ammunition facility for much of the period, and boxes marked there carry a direct institutional connection to military supply rather than purely commercial sale. The printed ballistic data also reflects the era well. Early smokeless powder packaging often emphasized velocity, powder type, and standardized loading information to show modern performance and consistency. This box does exactly that, which helps anchor it in the transition from older black powder revolver traditions to modern self-loading pistol ammunition.
The notice panel is especially interesting because it captures the practical handling culture of the period. Rather than treating the box as disposable packaging alone, the printed instructions point to recovery and care of fired cases. That small detail adds real historical value. It shows how ammunition, brass, and storage were understood at the time, and it gives the box a stronger connection to actual service use rather than simple shelf display.
Condition
This box shows age and storage wear consistent with an original early paper ammunition package. The outer wrapping and label surfaces show toning, edge wear, and general age from handling and storage. Even so, the major printed text remains readable, including the front designation, powder line, Frankford Arsenal marking, and the notice text on the reverse panel. The box retains strong display value because the labeling still carries the story.
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