Winchester #10 Percussion Caps|General Discussions & Questions|Forum|Winchester Collector

My suspicion is that your tin is missing an original top label. My best guess is that it can be dated from the mid-1880s to around 1900. Without the top label makes its hard to judge. Around 1902 they started using a date code system on labels, but I’m not certain when this was done for the side labels. It maybe pre-1898, based on the font used, as that seems similar to “Central-fire” vs “Center-fire” type labeling found. But again hard to say for certain. Certainly pre-Olin Corp / Western purchase of WRACo at the latest. 

I’m used to seeing something like this for the top label.

Stamped brass tins with paper top labels were the norm for several decades. A side sealing paper label would be added in the late 1880s.

I also must admit I haven’t paid much attention to Winchester percussion caps for my research. Good to know where I’m missing the mark. 

When glancing at some of the catalogs it seems they called them “Brass Boxes” and not Brass Tins. The 1911 catalog shows the “Goldmark” Brand “F.L. Foil Lined” percussion caps came in sizes 10, 11, 12 & 13. Sold 100 in a box and 100,000 in a case. Along With the F.L. being one of four styles of caps, other being G.D., E.B., and Musket Caps. There was also a “Hicks” brand in F.L. and E.B.

I need to do a catalog research study to see when they added/dropped/changed their various offerings on percussion caps.

One interesting fact that Dan Shuey stated was that percussion caps would continue to be shipped in these tried and true stamped brass tins until 1956. Where all the other primers were sold in the cardboard box with wood dividers since 1903. This was due to them being more impact resistant and various instances with fires / accidents. Some deaths occurred when some workers dropped some packaged primers in the tins. I suppose the percussion caps weren’t as reactive or somehow safer and the tins were still used for them.  

As far as value goes, I’m not much of a source for these, but imagine they’re not much more valuable than what you paid for them. I’ve bought tins for a few dollars to maybe $20 for something more rare. But I’m not a “primer” collector either. That said I’ve not found too many guys that specifically collect them. Ammunition collectors generally pay more for entire cartridges / cartridge boxes as they’re sorta shootable. In fact I only know two guys that are pure primer enthusiasts. 

I’ve always thought these brass tins were a very resourceful design chose by Winchester. The tins are basically made from reject brass from the cupping process for drawing cartridge brass. They did the same thing for their powder measures. 

Wish I could be of more help.

Sincerely,

Maverick