Product Overview
This is an original 20-count box of U.S. .30 Caliber M3 Rifle Grenade Cartridges, manufactured by Frankford Arsenal and dated 1942. Designed specifically for launching rifle grenades from U.S. .30-caliber service rifles, the M3 was a purpose-built grenade-launching cartridge rather than an ordinary blank.
This 20-round box is an outstanding addition to a World War II ammunition collection, M1 Garand display, rifle-grenade collection, or U.S. military ordnance exhibit.
Historical Significance
The Cartridge, Rifle Grenade, Caliber .30, M3 was developed for projecting rifle grenades from U.S. .30-caliber military rifles. During World War II, rifle grenades gave infantrymen a portable means of delivering anti-tank, fragmentation, smoke, signaling, and other specialized grenades at ranges greater than could be achieved by hand.
The M3 cartridge was used with weapons including the M1 Garand, M1903 Springfield, M1903A1, and M1917 rifles when equipped with the appropriate rifle-grenade launcher.
Unlike standard blank ammunition, the M3 was specifically loaded to generate the gas pressure required to propel a rifle grenade. U.S. Army technical manuals distinguish the M3 by its characteristic rose-petal crimped mouth, and period instructions specifically warned against substituting ordinary blank or ball ammunition for grenade-launching cartridges.
The M3 became especially associated with the M1 Garand and the M7 grenade launcher, a combination that gave U.S. infantry an effective grenade-projecting capability during World War II and into the postwar period.
Original Frankford Arsenal Packaging
This box retains its original military carton with the period factory markings and blue identification bands.
Visible carton markings include:
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20 Cartridges
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Rifle Grenade
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Caliber .30 M3
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Ammunition Lot F.A. 37
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Frankford Arsenal
U.S. Army ammunition manuals specified that M3 rifle grenade cartridges were packed 20 cartridges per paper carton, making this an original military packaging configuration.
Frankford Arsenal was one of the most important U.S. military ammunition-development and production facilities of the 19th and 20th centuries and played a major role in supplying American forces during World War II.
Cartridge Identification
The M3 rifle grenade cartridge can be distinguished from conventional .30-06 ammunition by its blank configuration and distinctive crimped mouth.
Key identification features include:
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Caliber: .30
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Model: M3 Rifle Grenade Cartridge
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Manufacturer: Frankford Arsenal
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Date: 1942
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Lot: F.A. 37
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Packaging: Original 20-round military carton
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Purpose: Rifle-grenade launching
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Characteristic Mouth: Rose-petal / star-style crimp
Key Features – .30 Caliber M3 Rifle Grenade Cartridges
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Original U.S. military M3 rifle grenade ammunition
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20 cartridges per box
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Frankford Arsenal production
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Dated 1942
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Ammunition Lot F.A. 37
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Original period carton
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Correct blue identification bands
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WWII U.S. military ammunition
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Associated with the M1 Garand and M7 rifle-grenade launcher
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Excellent collector and display item
Why Choose This M3 Rifle Grenade Cartridge Box?
Original World War II rifle-grenade ammunition is increasingly difficult to find, particularly in complete period packaging. This 1942 Frankford Arsenal box preserves not only the cartridges themselves but also the original carton, lot identification, arsenal marking, and distinctive blue packaging bands.
For collectors of M1 Garand accessories, U.S. rifle grenades, WWII ammunition, or Frankford Arsenal material, this is a particularly strong display piece with clear wartime markings and direct historical context.
Order Now
Add this 20ct Box of 1942 Frankford Arsenal .30 Caliber M3 Rifle Grenade Cartridges to your World War II ammunition or rifle-grenade collection. With its original military packaging, F.A. 37 lot marking, and iconic connection to U.S. rifle-grenade systems, this is an excellent example of wartime American ordnance.