Vintage WW2 Spam Can: Collecting or Shooting?

[Confederate]

I'm selling a Spam Can of ammo, but I don't really know whether I should sell it to a shooter or a collector. The can itself is in great shape and it's sealed and, due to its low WCC Lot Number, I'm thinking it must be World War II vintage era. Here's a photo of the can:



Elsewhere I saw this can being sold back in 2010.





Can anyone tell me what the value of a can like this is and whether it has any collector's value or it's just something that ought to be for shooting? Also, is this World War II fodder? And what's something like this worth in 2017? Thanks!!

 

[forward observer]

Here's one that appears to be identical to yours--currently for sale on Gunbroker priced with a "buy it now" of $625. Obviously the LC in the lot number stands for Lake City

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/770473665

Out of 1300 listings, there may be more, but I stopped looking when I found the one I linked. The seller mentioned that he had two more for sale--all from an estate.

 

[22250Rem]

LC = Lake City, and IIRC WCC = Winchester.... That stuff is definitely old but I have no knowledge of how to pin it down exactly. Based on the four digit lot number I'd be willing to bet that it's WW2 era.

 

[Confederate]

Thanks, guys. I'd originally had people respond who were shooters, but it seems to be older than most cans that are being offered. Just think how long that ammo has been in the dark, waiting to be opened.

 

[Confederate]

Thanks. After looking at others, mine's in mint condition. Most of the others I've seen are dirty with paint or keys missing, or the handle bent. The handle on mine is still in the closed condition (since it's been sitting in a box fore a very long time).

History means a lot to me. My dad was in the Navy during the War and he used his Ka-Bar knife to engrave all the places he visited. Once, he was sent on a suicide mission to reconnoiter an island. He did the math on fuel consumption and discovered he wouldn't have enough fuel for a return. He let his CO know, and was instructed to proceed, so he got his knife, his .45 and ammo, and was taxiing down the runway when he got a radio instruction canceling the mission. They'd done the math and discovered that my dad had been right; so they canceled it. He said the chances of him getting back or being rescued was nil, so he happy they'd made the decision they did. Here's his knife:



I really valued the knife, so I made sure I got it when he passed. And I wouldn't have traded it for a mint Colt Python NIB. But since I have no kids to pass it on to, I eventually gave it to my brother, who now values it as much as I did, and he has seven kids, so the knife's in good hands!

 

[CapnMac]

If memory serves, those cans were how DCM/CMP had sold .30 Carbine ammo.

$1/round is pretty steep for USGI FMJ. The Carbine stripper clips are not that common, just not common enough to lower that price per round.

Sounds like a keep-intanct item to me.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I don't get why it matters to whom you sell it. Take the going market price that you are OK with and let the buyer figure out what to do with it.

Todd.