Carbine Clip Case

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Case, Cal.30 Carbine Clip

Topic of discussion is the case pictured above and what was it intended purpose? Was it to hold clips or magazines? And when did it appear?
One would think a bag full of magazines could be noisy. Could the same be said with a case full of clips?

Well there is an identical case that is labeled  Case Ammunition and has the same stock number as the one above. So clearly it was to carry ammo in the very basic of sense. 

During WW2 the Standard Nomenclature System was in use and part numbers had a prefix for the size of the drawing number for the item. The seven digit number on this case, 7052438 does not fall in to this system, however late war SNLs the seven digit numbers started replacing the parts numbers. For more on this please see Bill Ricca's page Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

Here is a case that has a different part number. Now I do not know if the dimensions are different based on the SNL identifier D90343, note the "D". The Ricca article does mention some random reassignments of number in 7xxxxxx range. 
This case was for the Thompson Sub Machine Gun in caliber .45. However we have the same dilemma, The case states "clip" but to the best of my knowledge the Thompson never had a stripper clip. 

Another interesting point with this case is it was with its packaging with the stock number G-104-65-90242 (as best as I can see it) which would put it in the later Federal Stock Number system of 11 digits,  with G being a group series that were designated to represent "tank / automotive materiel". The package also had the item number of D-90242 and may have been a repack post war. 

So was this for use for storing ammo in vehicles?

Back to the Carbine Case, the back has provision so it could be slid on a web belt, as well as a carry strap that could be shouldered or carried by. But if you go back to the top picture you can see there is a strap that is sewed inside with one side to the back and the other to the front. This is typically to be able to pull out what ever was in a case. I cannot see it being useful for a bunch of magazines, the same goes for a bunch of clips. This got me thinking.

On the left is two bandoleers of carbine ammo totaling 240 rounds. It fits in well and the inside strap efficiently pulls out both bandoleers. 
On the right is a package that would hold 10 empty magazines. It fits in the case with more room than the clips. Again, the strap would pull the package out very conveniently.

Now I would say that because there is nomenclature on the case, that this was indeed for carrying clips vs empty packaged magazines, but there is the tiny detail of the sub gun "clips"
Was there a period of time the nomenclature was used for magazines? doubt it, but I would love to hear what others know or speculate.

Edited by W5USMC - Dec 04 2025 at 10:53pm