Freedom Crate Co.

Our Story

The idea started with a Cold War–era 7.62×51 ammo box a friend’s dad gave me.
I used it to store baseball cards, but one day I thought — why not use it for ammo?

That sent me down the rabbit hole — searching Etsy and eBay for a proper military-style wooden ammo box. What I found was either beat-up surplus or presentation-style boxes that didn’t feel right.

So I built my own.

My name is Steven Tauriello — and that was the beginning of Freedom Crate Co.

I was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. My father served in the United States Navy, so my family moved often throughout my childhood. Eventually, we settled in Martinsville, Indiana, where I spent most of my teenage years. In 2015, my family and I moved to Florida — where Freedom Crate Co. is built today.

That background — growing up around service, movement, adaptation, and hard work — shaped how I see craftsmanship, durability, and American-made products.

I’ve always built things with my hands — blanket chests, desks, bookshelves.
Truth is, I’ve always had a thing for boxes.

So designing ammo storage crates came naturally.

My first build followed the proportions of that Cold War box, but I modified it to hold 20 boxes of 9mm. That design became what is now known as the Freedom Crate Classic.

The hardest part to solve was the handles.

My first version used half-inch hemp rope tied through ¾″ holes in the sides. It worked — but the knots inside reduced storage space and broke the interior seal.

That wasn’t acceptable.

I wanted full edge-to-edge capacity and a sealed interior — no compromises.

After countless hours of trial and error, I developed a fail-proof, externally mounted handle system — now my proprietary design. It’s rugged, comfortable, and doesn’t compromise the structure or capacity of the box.

When I showed one of my first crates to a Marine buddy, he asked me to build one to store his service memorabilia.

That’s when it clicked.

These weren’t just ammo boxes — they were functional pieces of purpose-built storage. Something meaningful. Something that lasts.

From the beginning, I made a decision:

These boxes would be built right — and priced fairly.

Even as material costs increased, I kept pricing aligned with lower-quality alternatives I saw online — while using better wood, real hinges, and stronger hardware.

I’m not chasing high margins.

I’m building real value.

There’s an old idea in the firearms world:
Keep a thousand rounds for every caliber you own.

That concept helped shape the lineup — from the Classic, to dedicated caliber crates, to the 1000-round .308 storage crate, and the Freedom Crate Footlocker built for bug-out gear and hurricane preparedness.

I also wanted a system where I could organize my ammo by caliber — something I could stack in my closet, leave there for decades, and still access instantly.

It had to be simple.
It had to be durable.
And it had to be clear.

No matter how the boxes were stored — stacked, turned, or packed tight — I wanted to be able to glance at them and immediately know what caliber was inside. That meant bold, easy-to-read labeling on the top, sides, and front.

That idea became the Caliber Collection.

Today, I’ve got stacks of them in my own closet — from 9mm to .308 and everything in between — organized, labeled, and ready at a moment’s notice.

Since the first box, I haven’t stopped improving.

I’m constantly in research and development — testing corrosion resistance, waterproofing, and air sealing. I’m currently working with advanced elastomers and silicone-based coatings — the same types of materials used to protect heavy equipment and infrastructure in extreme environments.

Every iteration is about one goal:

Build a box that lasts a lifetime — or longer.

That’s why every crate is designed to be repairable.
That’s why I sign the bottom of every one.

These aren’t disposable products.
They’re meant to be used, maintained, and passed down.

As a vendor working within the world of U.S. military and Department of Defense specifications, I’ve seen firsthand how government-issued boxes are built.

The military builds to spec — and those specs are driven heavily by cost, logistics, and large-scale production. Their boxes are designed to meet requirements efficiently, not necessarily to last forever.

I build differently.

I take that same foundational knowledge — understanding what the military requires — and push it further. I build for durability, longevity, and real-world use over decades, not just to meet a minimum standard.

For example, I use SPAX structural screws in my builds — something the military would never justify from a cost perspective at scale. But I’m not building hundreds of thousands of units under government budget constraints. I’m building individual crates meant to last a lifetime.

That gives me the best of both worlds: I understand how military crates are designed and produced — and I intentionally build beyond those limitations to create something stronger, more refined, and built to endure.

What started as a search for a better ammo box turned into building my own…
Then improving it…
Then building one for someone else…
And eventually, building a full line of purpose-driven crates.

I never set out to start a company.

I just wanted boxes that made sense.

Now I build them for people who want the same thing:

Storage that’s strong. Reliable. And built to last.

Freedom Crate Co. isn’t just a shop to me — it’s a calling.
And I’m proud to put my name,
Steven Tauriello,
on every box that leaves my bench.

Mission & Values

• Build reliable, hard-use boxes that look sharp and work harder.
• Honor American craftsmanship with hand-built, small-batch production.
• Keep things simple, serviceable, and affordable with free shipping.
• Stay in R&D — engineering tougher, smarter designs for real-world use.
• Stand behind every crate as if it were my own.

About Steven Tauriello

Steven Tauriello is the founder, owner, and craftsman behind Freedom Crate Co.

Raised in a military family and shaped by movement, service-minded values, and hands-on work, Steven built Freedom Crate Co. around a simple belief: useful things should be built right, built to last, and built with pride.

Today, from Florida, he designs and builds handcrafted wooden ammo boxes, range boxes, and military-style storage crates with an emphasis on durability, repairability, and practical function.

Every crate reflects a commitment to American craftsmanship, rugged design, and honest value — the kind of product meant to be used, trusted, repaired if needed, and passed down.

Founder • Craftsman • Woodworker

Yes — this is the same Steven Tauriello from The Steven Tauriello Show.

Partners & Resources

For collectors and reenactors seeking true MIL-spec replica ammo boxes, visit Waffenkiste.com — handcrafted by Robert, a master builder devoted to preserving original military designs and standards.

Freedom Crate Co. proudly supports fellow craftsmen who share our dedication to authenticity and precision.

We’re honored to feature his work alongside ours as a trusted source for authentic military-style replicas.