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New member and need a little help. I have a sealed box of 38-40 brass that says Winchester- Western. It has a coode stamped on back of the box-81NF71.
Thanks
Pictures of the labels is what is needed to date it.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I’m going to guess August 1971. But I’m no expert on this subject.
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Since the box isn’t shown, not sure of the year of manufacture but it is 17 December 1968 (or 1948 or 1988). The stamp font and type resembles those of the 1960’s – 1970’s.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Winchester has been packaging brass in plastic bags for many years now. In the 1970’s and 1980’s their brass came in white boxes as pictured above. In the 1950’s and 1960’s they used the yellow boxes as pictured. Your box must be prior to that.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Per the article in this link, (https://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/company.html?company=olin_mathieson_chemical_corporation) Olin Mathieson changed it’s name to Olin Corporation, so your unloaded brass box has to be pre-1969 and is most likely from 1948 or maybe 1928.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
I know nothing about cartridge boxes but I do know for a fact that Winchester marking was used from September 1955 through 1962 so it was made between those dates. Hopefully that will help.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
I know nothing about cartridge boxes but I do know for a fact that Winchester marking was used from September 1955 through 1962 so it was made between those dates. Hopefully that will help.
Regards,
The date code indicates it has to be 1928, 1948, 1968, etc. 1955 to 1962 doesn’t fall withing that range.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Wincacher said
The date code indicates it has to be 1928, 1948, 1968, etc. 1955 to 1962 doesn’t fall withing that range.
Hi Wincacher,
I don’t know anything about interpreting the date code.
I simply based my input on the usage of the name “Winchester – Western Division, Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation”. Just prior to September 1955 it was “Winchester – Arms and Ammunition Division, Olin Industries, Inc.” and just after 1962 it was identified as “Olin – Winchester – Western Division”. This is based upon Winchester internal correspondence and dated published/printed firearm materials but I have never studied ammunition boxes.
How do you interpret the ammunition date codes? Is there a key of some sort?
Best Regards,
EDIT; I did find this website which describes the Olin date code interpretation but it also states that prior to the 1980’s the date codes get increasingly skewed/inaccurate since there is an unknown variable of Olin skipping some letters. http://gigconceptsinc.com/files/Olin2.pdf
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Wincacher said
The date code indicates it has to be 1928, 1948, 1968, etc. 1955 to 1962 doesn’t fall withing that range.
Hi Wincacher,
I don’t know anything about interpreting the date code.
I simply based my input on the usage of the name “Winchester – Western Division, Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation”. Just prior to September 1955 it was “Winchester – Arms and Ammunition Division, Olin Industries, Inc.” and just after 1962 it was identified as “Olin – Winchester – Western Division”. This is based upon Winchester internal correspondence and dated published/printed firearm materials but I have never studied ammunition boxes.
How do you interpret the ammunition date codes? Is there a key of some sort?
Best Regards,
EDIT; I did find this website which describes the Olin date code interpretation but it also states that prior to the 1980’s the date codes get increasingly skewed/inaccurate since there is an unknown variable of Olin skipping some letters. http://gigconceptsinc.com/files/Olin2.pdf
This should be helpful to all:
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Wincacher said
The date code indicates it has to be 1928, 1948, 1968, etc. 1955 to 1962 doesn’t fall withing that range.
Wincacher,
That is great info, thanks! BUT, according to the info you provided, the OP’s date code of his WESTERN box is 81NF71 which equates to June, 1958 which does fall between 1955-1962.
Unless I am reading your W-W information incorrectly it says the first letter (N) is the year (which is 1938, 1958, 1978, 1998 on the chart) and the second letter (F) is the month. The page 5 .22 rimfire photo example in your WW.pdf is also NF, identified as June, 1958.
Am I missing something? Why do you think it should be 1928, 1948, 1968, etc?
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
[email protected] said
JWA, I’m not smart enough to make that website work on my brass.
I am no expert, and not even knowledgeable about ammo boxes, but to me it looks like your box date code indicates JUNE 17, 1958.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thank you. I have a few bricks of Western Super X in the yellow box and a few boxes of 30-40 in the old boxes with the bear on them.
Glad I posted the source. 2nd pair of eyes always help. Must have had a dyslexic moment?
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Wincacher said
Glad I posted the source. 2nd pair of eyes always help. Must have had a dyslexic moment?
I am glad I am not the only person that has those moments!
Thanks again for the info, I am clueless about ammo boxes and it is always neat to learn something new.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
I am glad I am not the only person that has those moments!
Thanks again for the info, I am clueless about ammo boxes and it is always neat to learn something new.
Best Regards,
My pleasure.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
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