wooden crate for HOWITZER ammunition shells

This sturdy wooden crate has a hinged lid with a latching hasp and rope handles on the ends, and is labeled to show that it was made to hold a pair of artillery shells for Howitzer type military cannons. Thankfully it was empty when I found it. :-)

I don't believe crates similar to this are all that uncommon, I seem to see them every once in awhile at junk shops and etc. or re-purposed as toolboxes, and in fact have another pair of more 'cube' shaped ones that I use as nightstands.