.30 and .50 calibre ammo cans (Canadian)

[Ed Storey]

Your H51 is a Commonwealth box, most likely British or Canadian, that was manufactured in 1945. Generally these wooden boxes could be used to carry different types of SAA either boxed, bandoliers or belted and were used just like the Canadian military now use the M2A1 boxes for different types of SAA. The H51s were shipped two inside a metal H50 box which was also stenciled with the appropriate contents. Depending on the contents, there could also be a metal insert for the H51.

I believe (am pretty sure) that you will not see .30 nor .50 US ammunition delivered in these boxes; although in the field someone may transfer a belt over to this type of box (for whatever reason) and of course this could turn up in a photo.