PvtGreg & Big Goose,
You both have done very nice work on these Crates/Boxes.
Both Winchester and Spencer sold large numbers of arms on the commercial/private market. These arms would have been crated in the proper numbers to meet those sales. So, please do not misunderstand my posting regarding the Army Ord. Depot. requirements on crating and shipping of contracted firearms. Army contract were often let for thousands of firearms.
Basic paint called for "olive color" for most Military equipment.
Pigments for this were Lamp Black, Yellow Ocher, White Lead or sugar of lead (lead oxide), Boiled Linseed Oil and Turpentine. Vary any one these pigments much, and you can come up with a wide range of shades of the color "olive".
I hope this information helps.
My best,
Blair