There is a "key" for opening them. Probably one/two keys per crate of ammo. Someone that knows Brit History could tell you a story of the brits getting slaughtered because they didn't have the wrench/key to open their ammo in time!
__________________ I keep tellin ya Doc, I'm in pretty good shape considerin the shape I'm in !!
Didn't we just have this discussion.
Shooting it open, blow torching it open and then I think..........
"If you remember Barbarosa. The Nazis invaded rapidly into Russia all the way to Stalingrad unimpeded then the Ruskies finally got their ammo cans open and pushed the Nazis all the way back to Berlin". Kudos to Zen900 for that qoute.
Truth is, there are a number of ways to open the ammo can, not all of them are practical, but it does help to use a crobar if you can't find an ammo can opener. Don't shoot the thing open, and if you are honestly stupid enough to blowtorch the thing open, write me into your will
(I want an M44 if any of you care to blowtorch open your ammo cans)
I'll try to find that thread if any of you are interested.
NVM, JAC already posted it.
Last edited by Mosin Shooter; 02-16-2008 at 08:37 PM.
If you look the can over very carfully you will find a pull tag .. It may have some solder on it but if you get a hold of it with a pair of needle nose pliers and roll it back like the old spam cans( that had spam in it) it will roll right up then lift the top lid off it and walla AMMO!
Yup, That does it. I usually grab the ring/tab with needle nose
pliers and wind up the band, kinda like an old spam (food product) can (?).
The empty can then makes a neat garbage can for spent cleaning patches.
I tried using the pull tab and it broke off about a third of the way around. I pulled one corner of the lid open as far as i could get it and then pulled each 10 round paper package out of that tiny hole one at a time. Am i allowed to say that those things are a &^%$*!
I agree. I can only share from my own experience, but when I tried to "carefully" pull the tab it came off in about 5 sec. The solder was very thick right on the seal so I had my doubts if it would work right away. In the end the "hammer + screwdriver + needle nose pliers" method did the trick.
When, notice I said when and not if, the ring breaks, tin snips will work to cut it the rest of the way. Or just keep working on the top seam with pliers or something. It will open.
__________________
Dedicated to the memory of Ronald "Dad" Knutson Sr. 1936-2013
Just grab one of the old-fashioned 120-volt HD soldering irons(metal rod with wood handle) and give it about uhhh, 2min to get hot, then just slide it along solder, that stuff will melt quicker than you think, I think you should be able to open it nicely using default tabs, so long as there is no defect in the tabs, in about 5min+/- depending on how cold it is outside, and how much freezing air is blowing on the solder to harden it right back up.
Evryone should have one of them....I got 12 from my grandaddy when he passed last year, he liked to collect multiples of things, he even bought his/hers john deere tractors about 5yrs ago. :P
Last edited by Mike82; 02-18-2008 at 04:08 AM.
Reason: spell-check takes time to use....i'd rather just use edit feature :P
I have the solution to how the soldiers who used the Mosin got their spam can ammo tins open. As I suspected, they used a can opener, a very specific one.
And here's the ebay listing that shows two of them, in case you want to buy one against the purchase of your next spam can of ammo:
Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca
Posts: 24,118
i got the edge up and then grabbed it with channel locks and tore it open piece by piece.
i had homade shrapnel without the muss and fuss of the explosion.
__________________ "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."
i got the edge up and then grabbed it with channel locks and tore it open piece by piece.
i had homade shrapnel without the muss and fuss of the explosion.
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