Joliet Arsenal ammo head stamp suffix?

KC9LDB · May 29, 2010, 04:17 PM

Does anyone know what the head stamp is on a common small arms round (45, 556, 30cal) is for the Joliet arsenal plant located in Elwood, IL? I am a Illinois resident and recently visited the remains of the plant and would love to fine a shell or full round for my collection!

jonnyc · May 29, 2010, 05:00 PM

There is none. Either you are asking about a factory better known by another name, or the Joliet plant did not make those calibers of ammunition.

KC9LDB · May 29, 2010, 05:08 PM

Ahh, alright, what calibers did come out of there, there had to be some small arms calibers. Mainly looking for anything with markings on it that came form that plant

jonnyc · May 30, 2010, 08:10 AM

This is what I got:

Excellent history at Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joliet_...munition_Plant

Quick summary- set up in 1940 and had two separate operations:
Kankakee Ordnance Plant manufactured various types of explosives for use at other plants and Elwood Ordnance Works loaded artillery shells, bombs, mines and other munitions. In 1945 they were combined to form the Joliet Arsenal.
Like most similar U.S. ordnance facilities, it was shut down after WW2, reopened during and after Korea and then again for small scale production in the Vietnam era. Essentially shut down for good in the late 1970s, it was declared excess in 1993 and portions converted into various commercial uses (Intermodal hub for train/highway truck transfers; landfill, cemetery, industrial parks, and a Wal-Mart distribution center. Portion of the site is a heavily contaminated "superfund" site where they will spend $$$$$$$$$ doing clean up work.

**Mike Irwin** · May 30, 2010, 08:58 AM

Yep, as jonny indicates, Joliet did not manufacture small arms ammunition.

KC9LDB · May 30, 2010, 09:42 AM

ahh crap misinformed then. Alrighty, ill look for some bigger inert ordnance. Thanks for the info guys

May 29, 2010, 04:17 PM	#1
KC9LDB Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 147	Joliet Arsenal ammo head stamp suffix? Does anyone know what the head stamp is on a common small arms round (45, 556, 30cal) is for the Joliet arsenal plant located in Elwood, IL? I am a Illinois resident and recently visited the remains of the plant and would love to fine a shell or full round for my collection!

May 30, 2010, 08:58 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	Yep, as jonny indicates, Joliet did not manufacture small arms ammunition. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 29, 2010, 05:00 PM	#2
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	There is none. Either you are asking about a factory better known by another name, or the Joliet plant did not make those calibers of ammunition.

May 29, 2010, 05:08 PM	#3
KC9LDB Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 147	Ahh, alright, what calibers did come out of there, there had to be some small arms calibers. Mainly looking for anything with markings on it that came form that plant

May 30, 2010, 08:10 AM	#4
jonnyc Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2009 Location: PA Posts: 1,731	This is what I got: Excellent history at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joliet_...munition_Plant Quick summary- set up in 1940 and had two separate operations: Kankakee Ordnance Plant manufactured various types of explosives for use at other plants and Elwood Ordnance Works loaded artillery shells, bombs, mines and other munitions. In 1945 they were combined to form the Joliet Arsenal. Like most similar U.S. ordnance facilities, it was shut down after WW2, reopened during and after Korea and then again for small scale production in the Vietnam era. Essentially shut down for good in the late 1970s, it was declared excess in 1993 and portions converted into various commercial uses (Intermodal hub for train/highway truck transfers; landfill, cemetery, industrial parks, and a Wal-Mart distribution center. Portion of the site is a heavily contaminated "superfund" site where they will spend $$$$$$$$$ doing clean up work.

May 30, 2010, 09:42 AM	#6
KC9LDB Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2009 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 147	ahh crap misinformed then. Alrighty, ill look for some bigger inert ordnance. Thanks for the info guys