I have what appears to be some vintage .470 NE ammo sealed in leaded tropical tins.

One tin is totally unmarked except that ".470", "Solid" and "500 G" are hand-written on it in old-fashioned script.

The other tin has the tattered remains of a Kynoch label on it. What's left of the label says the ammo inside is .470 Express, 3 1/4 inch, but nothing else is legible.

I'm like a kid on Christmas and want to open the tins.

Should I?

I'm quite sure that I would open one.

The tins themselves with none or at best mostly illedgible original labelling, are really of no value in that state. The ammo in the tins could be usable or collectable in their own right sans the tins. Open both and use or sell the ammo.

I’m going to open the tins.

It will be interesting to see how well the ammo has held up over the decades without the deleterious effects of oxygen.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I’m going to open the tins.

It will be interesting to see how well the ammo has held up over the decades without the deleterious effects of oxygen.

I've noted that some verdigris spotting develops on older cartridges when kept in the original cardboard divider packets like those used by Kynoch.
Half a dozen Kynoch 5 round packets of 404 NE ammo came with my Mauser from Africa years ago. The cartridges were showing early signs of spotting so I removed them all from the packets, cleaned them and stored them in a MTM plastic cartridge box where they have remained in good condition. Still kept the old collector Kynoch packets.

I thought folks might get a kick out of the opening of these tins, so I took some photos.

The unopened tins.



Side and back views. Seals were intact.




I opened the "sardine can" tin first.


The sealing strip was pretty tight and tough to peel off. Better image of the label.


Voila! Twenty rounds!


Uncovered.


The bullets are softs, not magnetic and appear to have gilding metal jackets. In remarkable condition.


These are ready to go.


Now for the box-shaped tin.


This one needed some tools to open. Packets inside!


Twenty more rounds!


Excellent condition.


Manufactured on July 6, 1950.


Nice shape for 75 years old!


Ready to go. The solids are magnetic and therefore steel-jacketed.


One of each, solid and soft.

That is very cool! The Kynoch boxes are amazing.

Mike,

Are you going to shoot these rounds?

Ken