Handmade Primitive Wood Carrier

This primitive antique carrier was made from a wooden ammunition crate, a true American make-do. It has a warm, darkened patina and a worn leather strap that appears to have been part of a harness. There is a center divider that the leather handle is attached to on the sides with old cut nails. The handle tends to droop, but it does the job and is very decorative besides.

On one side is stamped the word "PETERS," from the Peters Cartridge Company (1887-1944) in Kings Mill, Ohio, which was established as a Peters company town. Beneath the word PETERS and under the concave handle (there's one of those on each side) are the hand carved letters "H.V.," which stand for high velocity. Beneath that are two words, the second of which we make out as SHELLS. The E5 to the left identifies the crate as originally holding Peters E5 paper shotgun shells, recently reintroduced by Remington. The crate is an early one, not factory dovetailed, and probably dates circa 1910.

The box measures 14 inches long and 8 inches front to back. A long time ago, a strip of wood was broken off when the lid was pried open, making one side 1 Inch lower than the other, which is 4 inches tall. That strip has been gone for so long (and is undoubtedly the reason that the box no longer served its original purpose) that it has worn smooth. This piece weighs nearly 2 1/2 pounds and is structurally sound and quite useful (as you can see from our photos) whether in the kitchen, office or elsewhere (we have a similar one in one of our bathrooms).

★ We love make-do items like this carrier. It's a great example of thriftiness and ingenuity and the popular saying "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Make-do's are very collectible and have a book all their own titled "They Made Do" by Jill Peterson.

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