Inherited what looks to be SKorean M1 ammo?

[Wayfaerer320]

My grandfather recently passed away, and while cleaning out his garage, found a couple tins of what looks to be M1 Garand ammo.

Judging from the condition (they appear to be pretty old) and the fact that the tins have Asian lettering all over them, I'm going to guess these are South Korean?

Just looking for some history behind this stuff:

[Grumpa72]

If you will follow this link

http://forums.thecmp.org/forumdisplay.php?f=77

and head over to The Civilian Marksmanship Program, The CMP, the "ask each other" forum is chock full of knowledgeable people. I bet someone can even translate that for you.

It might be worth some money to a Garand collector or someone looking to add some period correct items to a display. Fwiw, I have two Garands and an M1 Carbine but no proper old period ammo. There are also people who collect WW II .45 acp ammo for their displays.

Sorry to hear about your grandfather's passing.

grumpa

[PA Rifleman]

My condolences regarding your recent loss.

Certainly appears to be M1 rifle ammunition, already packed on 8 round clips. Usually the Korean ammunition headstamps included "KA" or "PS" headstamp.



A clear picture or scan of your headstamps would be helpful.

More:
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/i...p/t-95571.html

[Franchi20/28]

My condolences regarding your recent loss.

Certainly appears to be M1 rifle ammunition, already packed on 8 round clips. Usually the Korean ammunition headstamps included "KA" or "PS" headstamp.



A clear picture or scan of your headstamps would be helpful.

More:
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/i...p/t-95571.html

"KA" is Korean manufacture 'corrosive' primed ammo. PS headstamp is noncorrosive.

[Brick]

Sorry to hear about your Grandpa.

I wouldn't bet it is S. Korean.

The oriental script is Chinese and while the Koreans do use some Chinese ideograms, it is usually mixed with their own Hangul script. While most Koreans can read some chinese, it is more likely their markings would be in their own script to make it easier on their soldiers.

Also thinking back to my days in KMAG, I don't believe there was an ammo producing factory in ROK until the early 1970s. Sometime in the early 1970s a Korean company (possibly Daewoo) was given license to build M16 rifle for ROKA and I believe ammo manufacture was part of the deal. Up until that time all the ROKA ammunition was U.S. made and supplied under USMAP.

Check the headstamps (or better yet post them and maybe that will give us a better clue). There is also a possibility that they are Taiwanese or even U.S. manufacture in Chinese packaging.

[Wayfaerer320]

The headstamps have the following numbers/characters:

30
58
6OA

I tried to take a picture of it, but poor lighting and the flash made the headstamp appear like a white blur.

Also, one of the tins has not been opened - it's still completely sealed.

I did some more digging and I believe these are from Taiwan, produced somewhere around 1960-1970? Not 100% sure though.

[Brick]

The headstamps have the following numbers/characters:

30
58
6OA

I tried to take a picture of it, but poor lighting and the flash made the headstamp appear like a white blur.

Also, one of the tins has not been opened - it's still completely sealed.

I did some more digging and I believe these are from Taiwan, produced somewhere around 1960-1970? Not 100% sure though.

Here's the Yahoo Search I made: ammuniton headstamp identification

Here's the website I found with the search:
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Given that information here's what I found:

60A - 60th Arsenal, Kao Hsiung, Taiwan, Nationalist China

Also note the 30, and 60A are readable on the ammo can lid 30 is obviously the caliber and 58 is a safe bet for year of manufacture.

I think I would be inclined to retain this ammo as a curio. The period around 1958 was a time of danger for the Nationalists and I can recall reports of air engagements between Nationalist flown, U.S. supplied F86 jets vs. Red Chinese flown Russian supplied Mig 17s.

[Wayfaerer320]

Here's the Yahoo Search I made: ammuniton headstamp identification

Here's the website I found with the search:
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Given that information here's what I found:

60A - 60th Arsenal, Kao Hsiung, Taiwan, Nationalist China

Also note the 30, and 60A are readable on the ammo can lid 30 is obviously the caliber and 58 is a safe bet for year of manufacture.

I think I would be inclined to retain this ammo as a curio. The period around 1958 was a time of danger for the Nationalists and I can recall reports of air engagements between Nationalist flown, U.S. supplied F86 jets vs. Red Chinese flown Russian supplied Mig 17s.

Very interesting.

Thank you!

[Brick]

I thought it was very useful so I bookmarked the page in case I needed it again.

[notenoughguns]

Here's the Yahoo Search I made: ammuniton headstamp identification

Here's the website I found with the search:
http://cartridgecollectors.org/headstampcodes.htm

Given that information here's what I found:

60A - 60th Arsenal, Kao Hsiung, Taiwan, Nationalist China

Also note the 30, and 60A are readable on the ammo can lid 30 is obviously the caliber and 58 is a safe bet for year of manufacture.

I think I would be inclined to retain this ammo as a curio. The period around 1958 was a time of danger for the Nationalists and I can recall reports of air engagements between Nationalist flown, U.S. supplied F86 jets vs. Red Chinese flown Russian supplied Mig 17s.

A few years back , Century Arms sold this ammo both belted and in enbloc clips , in large quantities . It works great in a belt fed but not the cleanest I've ever used .
As far as collectible , the can would be more than the ammo . Shoot it and treat it as corrosive , and it is reloadable .