Unknown Antique Cartridges

Dillinger022

Dillinger022

CGN Regular
EE REVOKED
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Location
Aylmer, QC
Hey guys,
I need help in identifying the calibers of the following three antique cartridges, two of which are rimfire copper cartridges and one of which is a centerfire shotgun shell. The "US" headstamp obviously indicates manufacture by the United States Cartridge Company.

I've determined this to be a .44 Long Ballard cartridge.
-Rim diameter: 0.512 inches (13.02mm)
-Rim thickness: 0.067 inches (1.70mm)
-Case diameter: 0.439 inches (11.16mm)
-Case length: 1.122 inches (28.50mm)
-Cartridge length: 1.673 inches (42.51mm)



I've determined this to be a .56-52 Spencer cartridge.
-Rim diameter: 0.641 inches (16.30mm)
-Rim thickness: 0.072 inches (1.83mm)
-Case diameter: 0.560 inches (14.22mm)
-Case length: 1.112 inches (28.25mm)
-Cartridge length: 1.562 inches (39.67mm)



I've determined this to be a .577 Snider blank cartridge.
-Rim diameter: 0.746 inches (18.95mm)
-Rim thickness: 0.051 inches (1.29mm)
-Case diameter: 0.577 inches (14.66mm)
-Cartridge length: 1.711 inches (43.47mm)



Thanks, guys.
 
Last edited:
1) 44 long Ballard
3) looks like a 577 Snider blank converted from ball but base size as listed is too small, please remeasure
 
As a matter of interest, the blank cartridge you have identified as being for the Snider-Enfield is, in fact, a "Cartridge, Small-Arm, Blank, for Breech Loading Rifles" ... equally usable in the .577 Snider-Enfield or the .577/.450 (although that is a modern designation, really) Martini-Henry ... because the M-H cartridge used a rather longer bottle-neck cartridge with a base of the same diameter and rim configuration as the Snider cartridge, necked down for a nominally .45 caliber bullet. These blanks, shorter than a .577 Snider cartridge, would fully chamber in a Martini-Henry chamber. As a bit of explanation for the measurements in the attached entry from British War Department's "List of Changes in War Matériel and of Patterns of Military Stores" for the Mark IV blank, each is expressed as "high" and "low" acceptable measurements ... tolerances not having been as precise back then. (I am not sure why green has suggested that this blank is converted from ball, since they were made this way ...)

0G6B3g.jpg
 
The Snider blank is one that was convt'd from ball MkV and VI by Dominion Cartridge Factory. Note the ctg is longer than 1.6" and retains the crimping groove.
 
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