A fast, (though a bit expensive-but weigh the expense against the value of your time) is to get a batch of the Cheyenne ones, which are of the basic dimension and hold 20 rounds, like many of the originals.
Then, you're going to use 2(two) tops for each bottom. Cut the tops so that they will cover exactly one half of the bottom equally from the bottom and the top, or the specific box you are trying to replicate. Glue one of the trimmed down top sections to the bottom, then run a string around the middle of the box along the top edge of the cut down top the bottom is nested in. Make the cardboard eggshell dividers out of scrap cardboard(used to save the sheet of cardboard from the cleaners that dress shirts were wrapped around. . . .those days are long gone, I'm sure.) and load your 20 rounds, and put the other cut down top on as the top. A basic cover paper can then be either copied or created on the 'puter following typical markings,- then 'wrap' the box just like a present and use paste or paper glue to seal tight, making sure the tail of the string hangs out at one of the corners.
I'm not sure if I'm making this clear, but you should be able to visualize it. For a beginning count of ten boxes you'll end up with five, 20 will give you 10, etc.
As far as a great source for ideas on labels,
http://www.oldammo.com/picindex.htm, The Cartridge Collector shows many labels that could be reproduced on a graphics program. (
www.oldammo.com/may04.htm, try this as a starter. . .there are many good pics and info on this site, plus links.)
And here is a link to Buffalo Arms catalog for the Cheyenne Cartridge boxes in .45-70:
www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,3535.htm , at 5 boxes for $20.00 it would run $40.00 to come up with 5 complete per this method. No reason you couldn't scratch build your boxes from a stiff cardboard, either, as Col. Pitsptr suggests. Below is a hint at typical construction. Remember, these weren't intended to last, so no need to try to make works of art out of them. Many a campfire was probably started with using the empty box as tinder, I would imagine.
"The boxes themselves are constructed of four separate pieces of cardboard, consisting of two pieces to form the body of the box and two end pieces, all held in place by a pasted-on buff colored paper wrapper, with a pull string for opening the box. When viewed from the end, as in this last picture, the top and bottom do not form 90 degree angles to the front and back, but instead are canted slightly. As a result, when the cartridges are placed in the box, the bullet tips resting against the angled bottom cause the rims of the front row of cartridges to be positioned slightly above the back row, allowing for easier removal of the cartridges from the box. The pull string can be seen to the upper right in the picture."
The above quote courtesy The Cartridge Collector link given above. This in reference to the .50-70 cartridge boxes referenced specifically, .45-70 boxes were slightly different. And of course there were variations.
RCJ