Ammo box question

[Tom Y]

There's a wooden ammo box going on eBay now listed under WWI http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...EBWA%3AIT&rd=1 I asked the seller for a scan of the label and he sent me this. I understand the 1500 Patronen, but what's the S m. K, and why yellow? BTW, I'm not bidding, so if you're intersted, go for it. There's what I think is an FJ jump book with it.

[Bill Grist]

ammo

7.92x57 ammo smk L'spur pointed bullet with steel core and bright trace.. (Tracer ammo) yellow....wfg

[Bill Grist]

ammo

Yellow tracer was used by the Luftwaffe because the yellow colored trace could be seen against the blue sky for the whole duration of the flight of the tracer...wfg

[Tom Y]

Thanks, Bill

[Zamex]

That ammo was used for Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 17 machine guns.