+Zartimus Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 (edited) A Local cache was somewhat plundered recently, but the cache items and logbook were left intact. The nice ammo can that used to be the cache was taken and a replacement container in the form of a crappy bright red coffee can was left by the taker and the cache-items tranferred in. Not sure if it was a local cacher just wanting a nice ammo-can, or a muggle with similar designs, but crap, the cacher took the time to put a nice ammo can out there and look what sometimes happens. It was far enough in the bush not to be stumbled upon by just anyone. Ahh well(at least they put everything back, but still..). Edited August 18, 2004 by Zartimus Quote Link to comment
+Robespierre Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Might be interesting to stamp our cans with a serial #, so we can check any new caches in the area??? Don't wanna believe a cacher would be that low! I had a local girl who wanted one of my ammo cans this week, but I told her where to buy one. Sorry about your loss. Quote Link to comment
+SixDogTeam Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Bizzare that they would steal the ammo can, but take the trouble to provide a replacement container--a thief with a conscience? Quote Link to comment
+Zartimus Posted August 18, 2004 Author Share Posted August 18, 2004 Might be interesting to stamp our cans with a serial #, so we can check any new caches in the area??? Sorry about your loss. Actually It wasn't my cache (I edited my post to reflect that more). There is a serial number on ammo boxes, some ammo lot number or something (IVI - xxxxx) that I only learned about recently from a log on that very cache. Quote Link to comment
Black Mage Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 A similar thing happened to this cache. Sometime before June 30 someone went up and stole the ammox box and replaced it with a cruddy wooden one. At least they left the items inside. Quote Link to comment
+YuccaPatrol Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I can't believe that people do not know that ammo boxes are very cheap and readily available at any surplus store? Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 A similar thing happened to this cache. Sometime before June 30 someone went up and stole the ammox box and replaced it with a cruddy wooden one. At least they left the items inside. Amazing the trouble people will go through for a $3 ammo box Quote Link to comment
ju66l3r Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 This suggests a non-geocacher to me, because for the most part, a geocacher will probably see a number of ammo boxes as they do caches in their area. If they want to hide a cache, they'll probably do a bit of searching or asking about what containers work best and see that they're inexpensive. Anyone else wandering upon an ammo box full of stuff is more likely to see it as a real novelty and want to take it home as a treasure, figuring it must be worth something as some sort of army antique-like thing. Quote Link to comment
Huaso Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 The same thing happened recently to one of Utah's oldest surviving caches. The original ammo can had been replaced by a glass mason jar - not a good thing, considering the rocky location of the cache. The story had a good ending, when A&N Carlson traded the jar for a nice, new ammo can. Kudos to them! Quote Link to comment
+AuntieWeasel Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I dropped by an army surplus store last weekend. I've been driving past it for years, and never really got a chance to stop before. In some ways it was interesting -- they had tons of old military equipment artifacts, and the back room was showing WWII newsreels on a giant screen. But I was disappointed in the gear they had for sale. And they had a ton of ammo cans, but they wanted $15 for them. Am I right thinking that's steep? Quote Link to comment
+Cave Troll and Eeyore Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 (edited) Here in the UK someone took Pharisee's Ammo box and transfered the cache contents into a plastic Carrier bag Edited August 18, 2004 by Cave Troll & Joan Quote Link to comment
+Allen_L Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 And they had a ton of ammo cans, but they wanted $15 for them. Am I right thinking that's steep? It would be steep for around here. I pay $3-$4 for 30 caliber and $4-$6 for 50 caliber boxs. I got large ammo box big as 4 normal 50 caliber boxes for $10. Quote Link to comment
+Robespierre Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I pay $3 for small ammo's and $8 for large, roomy ones. We have only one place to buy them that I have found - without going into the city(ies). Bottom line is, someone thinks he's more important than you. You really don't need it as badly as he....or some variation. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 There are people who cache and collect ammo cans. They are among the parasites who give nothing back at all to the RASH. Not even a bad trade log. Quote Link to comment
+Nazgul Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 There are people who cache and collect ammo cans. They are among the parasites who give nothing back at all to the RASH. Not even a bad trade log. If the lot designation is any indication ("IVI"), perhaps they needed a Canadian ammo can for their collection? Pretty lame thing to do in any case... Quote Link to comment
+ShowStop Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I dropped by an army surplus store last weekend. I've been driving past it for years, and never really got a chance to stop before. In some ways it was interesting -- they had tons of old military equipment artifacts, and the back room was showing WWII newsreels on a giant screen. But I was disappointed in the gear they had for sale. And they had a ton of ammo cans, but they wanted $15 for them. Am I right thinking that's steep? Check out the local gun shows. Usually you can find ammo boxes there for $3-5 each. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 I dropped by an army surplus store last weekend. I've been driving past it for years, and never really got a chance to stop before. In some ways it was interesting -- they had tons of old military equipment artifacts, and the back room was showing WWII newsreels on a giant screen. But I was disappointed in the gear they had for sale. And they had a ton of ammo cans, but they wanted $15 for them. Am I right thinking that's steep? Very steep. Cheaperthandirt.com sells 6 .30 cal cans for $19 and the .50 cal for $4.99 each. Quote Link to comment
+trail hound Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 The problem with buying ammo cans via the mail, is SHIPPING...... The cans are cheap but shipping isn't. I recently bought some at a Cabela's retail store. Don't know the price off hand but it was -cheap-.... Quote Link to comment
+blazerfan Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 $15 is way too high. I have my dad look for ammo cans at yard sales. He has gotten me several .50 cans for $2-3 each. It just takes some time to find them. We have an ammo can thief in my area. He has taken several ammo cans, destroyed a few other caches, and always signs the log book. Many area cachers have simply quit using ammo cans... which is a shame because they are the best cache containers. The un-original stash up by Portland was in an ammo can and replaced with a coffee can... twice... its now in a broken plastic box. Some people just like to ruin other peoples fun Quote Link to comment
+joefrog Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 Man, that's sad... if it IS another cacher (doubtful, IMO), you may see that cache again. Mine are marked very subtly with a stamped ID -- you'd never see it unless you were looking for it. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted August 18, 2004 Share Posted August 18, 2004 (edited) The problem with buying ammo cans via the mail, is SHIPPING......The cans are cheap but shipping isn't. I recently bought some at a Cabela's retail store. Don't know the price off hand but it was -cheap-.... Shipping is like 5-6 bucks with Cheaperthandirt...up to a hundred pounds, so you can buy an awful lot of ammo boxes before extra shipping charges kick in. If you buy the six pack of /30 cal boxes, they're still less than $5 each including the shipping and if you buy more, they're even cheaper. You can do like we do in NJ. Chip in and buy an order together. Edited August 18, 2004 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+cache_us_if_you_can Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 (edited) A similar thing happened to this cache. Sometime before June 30 someone went up and stole the ammox box and replaced it with a cruddy wooden one. At least they left the items inside. Amazing the trouble people will go through for a $3 ammo box $3! Brian, you're a bigger spender than I thought We buy ours at the local scrap yard for $2.50... sometimes even as low as $1.75 when thay have a surplus in the yard Maybe they thought they were trading up.... "Took old rusty ammo box, left nice new shiny coffee can." Edited August 19, 2004 by cache_us_if_you_can Quote Link to comment
+laststraw Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 I think it is the Surplus stores just restocking. Quote Link to comment
+bitbrain Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 The same thing happened to the UN-Original Cache. It was in an ammo can when I found it, but a couple of months later, people were mentioning a coffee can in their logs. Wacky stuff... Quote Link to comment
+welch Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 I dropped by an army surplus store last weekend. I've been driving past it for years, and never really got a chance to stop before. In some ways it was interesting -- they had tons of old military equipment artifacts, and the back room was showing WWII newsreels on a giant screen. But I was disappointed in the gear they had for sale. And they had a ton of ammo cans, but they wanted $15 for them. Am I right thinking that's steep? Yea, unless you mean the really big ones (bigger than regular 50cal). That or they had 1940's dates on them, and were in good condition. For some reason the couple i've seen that old at flea markets and such were 15-20 bucks. I want to buy a couple dollar storage container, and 'they' want to sell a coffee table conversion piece Quote Link to comment
+Brian - Team A.I. Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 What's funny about the ammo can/coffee can trade is the fact that the coffee and its contents often cost as much or more than the ammo can would have if purchased outright. Quote Link to comment
+DashHammer Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Last summer a group of us went together and bidded on a lot of ammo cans from Fort Hood and won. My take was 20 ammo cans for $20. Since I didn't need that many cans, I sold most of them to the local Army surplus store. Here's the event we held for it: Sign My Cast and Grab an Ammo Can! Quote Link to comment
+Zartimus Posted August 19, 2004 Author Share Posted August 19, 2004 I have a ton of those empty coffee cans sitting in the break room at work. They are free to anyone<grin>. (hey that gives me an idea! I need some ammo boxes!). I think I pay $8 cdn for the regular sized ammo boxes up here. Doesn't the US have a ton of empty ones coming over from Iraq? Would that drive the price down? Quote Link to comment
+Brian - Team A.I. Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Considering that the ammo cans are a 'use once' item, I would sure anticipate plane loads coming back to the states. Quote Link to comment
Radman Forever Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 Pere Cheney had an ammo bod box but was taken and all the stuff was put in a ziploc bag. A student from the local high school found the ziploc bag by mistake while researching the cemetary. She found out about geocaching and was nice enough to put it in a plastic container! Newbies are nice sometimes! Quote Link to comment
kayaker22589 Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 I know someone who went ot Iraq and he said they were all over the place. Only problem it is cheaper to throw them away instead of shipping them over to the US. Quote Link to comment
+Sputnik 57 Posted August 20, 2004 Share Posted August 20, 2004 My son-in-law just got back from a year in Iraq, and is now working in the armory at Fort Hood (Tx). I guess I need to ask him if any ammo boxes made it back to the states. Quote Link to comment
IronMaiden Posted August 21, 2004 Share Posted August 21, 2004 (edited) I dropped by an army surplus store last weekend. I've been driving past it for years, and never really got a chance to stop before. In some ways it was interesting -- they had tons of old military equipment artifacts, and the back room was showing WWII newsreels on a giant screen. But I was disappointed in the gear they had for sale. And they had a ton of ammo cans, but they wanted $15 for them. Am I right thinking that's steep? $15.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow I got some ammo cans just a couple months ago at a army surplus store for only $4.00 apiece (large or small). What a rip-off!!!! Then my father in law found a large ammo can at a garage sale for just a $1.00 and it's in great shape. Edited August 21, 2004 by IronMaiden Quote Link to comment
+Joypa Posted August 22, 2004 Share Posted August 22, 2004 Man, that's funny. When I saw your topic I LOL. I can't believe anyone would be such a jerk as to take your ammo box--and then leave all the stuff that was in it. It's funny cause it's so stupid. Quote Link to comment
+Blind Avocado Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 I just found 5 at a garage sale for $1.00 each! I don't think there are any ammo can thiefs around here - yet. Quote Link to comment
+planetrobert Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 seen this happen recently... i have a set of metal stamps... hmmm, maybe ill be off stamping my cans this week. Quote Link to comment
+Ed Rad Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 (edited) The problem with buying ammo cans via the mail, is SHIPPING......The cans are cheap but shipping isn't. I recently bought some at a Cabela's retail store. Don't know the price off hand but it was -cheap-.... Shipping is like 5-6 bucks with Cheaperthandirt...up to a hundred pounds, so you can buy an awful lot of ammo boxes before extra shipping charges kick in. If you buy the six pack of /30 cal boxes, they're still less than $5 each including the shipping and if you buy more, they're even cheaper. You can do like we do in NJ. Chip in and buy an order together. I just rec'd my shipment a few weeks ago from Cheaper Than Dirt and I am very pleased with the price. It was less than $30 for the 6 ammo cans and shipping. Pretty good deal if you ask me. I'm gonna oder six more this week. Edited August 23, 2004 by Sox Fan Quote Link to comment
Punk_Rocker Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 Ammo boxes are averagely priced near me (4.99) but I was thinking of using a dollar store bicycle lock to secure it to a tree, thus making it harder to steal. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment
+Zartimus Posted August 23, 2004 Author Share Posted August 23, 2004 Ammo boxes are averagely priced near me (4.99) but I was thinking of using a dollar store bicycle lock to secure it to a tree, thus making it harder to steal. Any thoughts? It will deter the common thief but may intrigue the thief one step up from that. Bolt-cutters? Blowtorch anyone? I've seen some caches in floodable locations chained/tethered up so it's sometimes useful. I think the best defence is to hide it really well and hope the cachers put it back the way they found it. I just lost another cache on the weekend to hooligans. Quote Link to comment
+SeventhSon Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 Ammo boxes are averagely priced near me (4.99) but I was thinking of using a dollar store bicycle lock to secure it to a tree, thus making it harder to steal. Any thoughts? Your ammo can will turn into a coffee can, and your bike lock will turn into a piece of string 7 Quote Link to comment
+butche Posted August 23, 2004 Share Posted August 23, 2004 Going to have to start chaining the cans to a stump or something. Quote Link to comment
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