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March 12, 2013
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Looking for some information on this old box of ammo. 20 rounds with "w" stamped in primers. Wondering what era this box would be and what it would be worth? I know it looks a little ruff.
thanks,
Bruce
http://s1348.photobucket.com/user/bhutch2/media/4c78850e-95ed-4139-b1b9-53f7cb8c9ebc_zps78430bc3.jpg.html
Aim Small ,Miss Small
June 11, 2014
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The lack of cannelure around the cartridge at the base of the bullet suggests that it is a black powder cartridge. I’ll be eager to hear from someone who knows more about this. The 38-55 is one of my favourite cartridges.
July 7, 2011
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It reads smokeless on 2 places on the box.
October 2, 2006
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The ammo is not correct for the box. The box is for smokeless and the ammo is to be a jacketed soft point. Not a solid lead bullet.
June 11, 2014
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It sure doesn’t match the picture on the box, but I didn’t notice that when I originally posted. I have an original 38-55 Cartridge that dates back to the time of black powder and it looks just like that one ….. lead bullet and no cannelure.
March 23, 2010
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I wonder if it could be a reload?
My eyes are not the best ,but does it not say Metal Patched ,Soft Point on the upper right side of the box,below Smokeless Powder?
September 9, 2011
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I assume no sign of a date on the labels?
It looks like a 1906 box. The picture is not that clear but if it is an 06 the date should be in the last line just to the left of the Winchester signature on the front of the box. Something like 15-6.
Gene 🙂
March 12, 2013
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Thanks guys for information,
The only information I got was this picture and orange label, includes all 20 original rounds with "w" primers. 255 gr, "metal patched soft point bullets", was the add.
Any ways understand that these bullets might not be right ones for this box. What do you think the box is worth alone? and if they are original loads, what would they be worth?
Thanks guys
Bruce
Aim Small ,Miss Small
June 11, 2014
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Bruce, I was at a gun show in Ontario here and there was a fellow who specialized in selling old ammo. I bought an original 38-72 round off him. It seems his standard price for a lot of his old ammo was $5 per cartridge. Now if that is original BP ammo, I don’t know if it would be worth a bit more or not. Now if it was original ammo, and you were able to find an original box to go with it, the whole deal might be a lot more $$. If the primers are marked with a tiny ‘w’ WHERE post_id = then the cartridges might be original.
I think it is safe to assume that the cartridges are not the ones that came with the box. Probably also safe to assume that the primers with "w" are factory. But back in the days of "w" on primers, Winchester sold primed cases in pretty large quantities.
I think the bullet looks fairly modern. So maybe a reload in an old case. I suggest pulling one of the bullets. If it is an unfired factory case, the inside may still be shiny. (Unless the primed empty cases sat around in the air for a long time) Also, you can make a guess at bullet hardness and at the powder type and weight.
June 11, 2014
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I am not sure the bullet is modern. It appears to look exactly like an original I have from the 1890’s, except I can’t tell what is going on where the case meets the bullet. Is that a case crimp? or is it a forward driving band on the bullet. If it is the latter, then I very much doubt it is original, but if there is no forward driving band on the bullet and no crimping groove, then it might be an original BP cartridge. Take a close look at the crimp.
When I wrote that the bullet looked modern, I should have said that it looked like a bullet that was cast in the last 30 or 40 years. I have a Winchester mould marked "38-56" that will cast a nearly identical bullet. But unless I really work at it, I will not be able to match Winchester’s factory lead alloy and lubricant.
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