silly question: Did old paper shotgun shells smell good???

Old Ranger said:
I grew up on a farm in Perth County SW Ontario in the 60's. The sale of Jack Rabbits (European Hares) was legal at that time. Lots of farm boys made their spending money shooting Jacks. They sold for a buck a piece. The shotgun shell of choice (and quite often the only ones available) were the old purple Imperial high brass in #2. Every hardware store and most corner country stores and gas stations sold ammunition. The really neat thing was almost all sold shotgun shells singlely. ie You could buy one or a dozen in a brown paper bag. I was probably 18 years old before I ever had a full box of shot shells! Going price was 10 cents a piece at that time.(no sales taxes either)
My oldest brother and I shared Dad's old single Cooey 16 guage.

Yes I also remember the smell and colour of those old Imperials.
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Yes sir some nice memories. It was the same here we would pick them up at the candy store on the way for school for 10 cents each. Have a bottle of double cola which tasted like crap but it was a big bottle for the small bottle price and drink in of course since it was cheaper.
These old girls here I think in 16ga. I may have 4 boxes left and only shoot maybe 8 or so a year in 16ga just for the fix.;)
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The small shell is a 410bore, looks like 2"-2.5". The second from left, back row is a "CLIMAX HEAVIES US" 12ga slug.

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The headstamps are interesting: The left 16ga is a Winchester Western (also pictured in first photo second from right) but I've never heard of the other before: It's stamped "ROBIN HOOD R. H. A CO" with two arrows bent around the primer pocket. A 12ga pictured first on the right in the first photo.

Cleftwynd: Just noticed your signature line "Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;" is from Genesis 27:3 - Isaac (Abrahams son) to his eldest son Esau.
 
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Absolutely. I used to get the 3" CIL lead shells beside the old man in the Goose pit.

The Federal are not quite the same, but close enough to bring back the memories.
 
czscotia, you brought back some wonderful memories with your question.
I remember some great mornings in the stubble fields around Medley and Grand Centre, with my late Father, and that wonderful smell of burned powder from a freshly fired shell.
The egg salad sandwiches and coffee with a hint of rum.
My first shotgun, a Cooey 12ga single shot that was almost as big as I was.
Thank you.
 
The headstamps are interesting: The left 16ga is a Winchester Western (also pictured in first photo second from right) but I've never heard of the other before: It's stamped "ROBIN HOOD R. H. A CO" with two arrows bent around the primer pocket. A 12ga pictured first on the right in the first photo.

That Robin Hood is a rare oldie for canada. I have heard of them but never seen one up here. very cool :)
Some history on it from a collectors site
The Robin Hood Ammunition Company of Swanton, Vermont. The Robin Hood Powder Company incorporated in 1898 and changed its name to the Robin Hood Ammunition Company in 1906. Robin Hood was sold to Remington in 1915. Shotshells were produced under the Robin Hood name until 1919.
 
3macs1 said:
The headstamps are interesting: The left 16ga is a Winchester Western (also pictured in first photo second from right) but I've never heard of the other before: It's stamped "ROBIN HOOD R. H. A CO" with two arrows bent around the primer pocket. A 12ga pictured first on the right in the first photo.

That Robin Hood is a rare oldie for canada. I have heard of them but never seen one up here. very cool :)
Some history on it from a collectors site
The Robin Hood Ammunition Company of Swanton, Vermont. The Robin Hood Powder Company incorporated in 1898 and changed its name to the Robin Hood Ammunition Company in 1906. Robin Hood was sold to Remington in 1915. Shotshells were produced under the Robin Hood name until 1919.
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I'll be sure not to try shooting it even to satisfy that enticing "fix". I wish my camera took higher resolution pictures, whatever is featured is never given justice.
 
New Camper said:
I'll be sure not to try shooting it even to satisfy that enticing "fix". I wish my camera took higher resolution pictures, whatever is featured is never given justice.
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Agree. Normally the old shotshells have no value other than the boxes but this one is rare and cool so I would keep it as is also.
Thanks for sharing :)
 
I shot two limits of pheasants two days in a row last October using a sxs over a pointing dog with paper shells. That's as close as you can come to heaven on earth.
 
Yes indeed, the aroma of "recently enjoyed" C.I.L. papers. Went right along with Hope's No.9, a wood campfire,
fresh baked bread, crisp fall mornings and the smell of an October marsh. Many a sandwich shared with the
retrievers in a blind ... and yes, coffee laced with a little black rum, a faint whiff of burned powder in the air.

....Buddy keeps a bag of once fired Federal papers in the backseat of his car as an air freshener !
 
If they could make an air freshener for vehicles that smelled exactly like that I would buy a case, for the trucks, camper and gun room!
 
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