Fall 2026 Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 135A:
Description
U.S. military wooden equipment chest marked "CHEST 2-C-2680," a pattern associated with the transport and storage of the Browning machine-gun belt loading machine and its related equipment. The surviving front stencil, heavy wooden construction, hinged lid, reinforced hardware, leather carrying handle, and locking wing fasteners are all consistent with U.S. Ordnance Department field equipment chests intended to protect specialized crew-served weapon accessories in transport and storage. The identifying stencil "CHEST 2-C-2680" is especially important. Surviving examples carrying this same designation have been identified as the chest for the U.S. machine-gun belt loader, a piece of support equipment used to load ammunition into fabric belts for Browning water-cooled and related machine guns. A documented surviving chest bearing the same designation has likewise been identified by collectors as the box for the belt-loading machine. The Garage Journal This example retains substantial original military character, including its aged olive-drab painted finish, black stenciling, heavy metal hinges and closure hardware, and a broad leather lid handle secured by metal brackets. The interior is open and shows extensive period wear, paint loss, exposed wood, abrasion, and staining consistent with prolonged field use and storage. Traces of earlier painted or stenciled markings remain visible on the lid, adding further evidence of repeated military handling and inventory use. The belt loading machine was an important accessory in units equipped with Browning machine guns, allowing crews to rapidly and uniformly load long fabric ammunition belts prior to firing. These loading machines were substantial pieces of ordnance equipment and were issued in purpose-built wooden chests such as this one for transport, protection, and accountability. The chest itself displays considerable age and use, with extensive paint wear, edge losses, surface scratches, cracking, oxidation to the hardware, and wear to the leather handle. The interior fittings and belt-loading machine are no longer present; the lot consists of the original marked chest as photographed. A desirable piece of U.S. machine-gun support equipment, particularly noteworthy for the surviving "CHEST 2-C-2680" designation and its association with the Browning belt loading system. An excellent display piece for a collection of U.S. machine-gun equipment, Ordnance Department material, or WWI/WWII field gear. Condition as photographed. Belt loading machine and internal equipment not included.
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