AMERICAN RIMFIRE CARTRIDGES 1857-1926

This cartridge exhibit was first made by DS to be shown at the Rocky Mountain Cartridge Collectors Association show in Denver, Colorado circa 1988. A handout accompanied the exhibit, and an original copy of it is an appendix to this book. In October 2013 corrections and updating of the exhibit was done and is reflected in the hue-difference amongst some of the notations tabs on the exhibit, as well as the current cluttered organization of some sets. These changes were made as new knowledge was uncovered and/or additional cartridges were found. For instance, in the case of the Union Metallic Cartridge Co. set a number of raised head stamp rounds have been added. The Phoenix Metallic Cartridge Co. set now has two different sizes of the raised "P" head stamps. The raised (rather than depressed) head stamps are more scarce and desirable. They were used for a short period and thus pins down the manufacturing era of such cartridges.

In general, antique Rim Fire cartridges are hard to fully identify because in most cases they have neither a head stamp nor caliber marking. Clues used to identify the manufacturer of such cartridges include little tics or nicks in the case head and/or rim which are left by their manufacturing machines. The style/shape of bullet and the grooves in it; whether the bullet is cast or swaged and the type of crimping used. These are noted when a sealed box has been opened and the information is recorded. The duration of a company's manufacturing range is relevant too. It couldn't have made a cartridge for a gun that was not yet in existence when the company closed. The caliber of a cartridge is determined by measurements of the case length, the diameters of bullet, case mouth, shoulder, head, and rim. A number of charts are available to show a variation range for each caliber. Such variations are attributed to manufacturing tolerance of the time.

Identification of rounds on this exhibit is based upon information from Charles Suydam's books The American Cartridge, published by The Foundation Press, Santa Ana, CA 1960 and his U.S. Cartridges and Their Handguns, published by Beinfeld Pub. Inc. North Hollywood, CA 1977. | Also John Barber's book The Rimfire Cartridge in the U.S. and Canada, Published by Armory Publications, Tacoma, WA 1987. Periodicals used include International Ammunition Association Journal. and the Gun Report magazine.

All of the specimens shown on this 36 X 48 inch exhibit case are original factory made Rim Fires. There are around 400 rounds, and many have no head stamps and are identified through case marks or tics located in specific areas of the case. Bullet style is also considered. Further verification comes from John Barber's book The RIMFIRE CARTRIDGE IN THE U.S. AND CANADA: And Charles Suydam's THE AMERICAN CARTRIDGE. A Detailed printed Excell list that describes each round, is available for $10: or free via e-mail.

A sincere attempt has been exercised to assure accuracy, however possible errors do happen and if any are found I do apologize. Value appraisal is from the International Ammunition Association Journal publication. This exhibit includes a number of rounds from the Don Amesbury collection.

INTRODUCTION:

The Rim Fire cartridge was patented in 1857 by Smith & Wesson. S&W in 1860 also patented an improved version. Both were ignited like today's Rim Fires. Walter Hunt enlarged this 22 caliber cartridge from .22 to .44 caliber for use in the famous Henry Rifle circa 1866. Christopher Spencer's Rim Fire guns were chambered even larger calibers, 46 to 56. His repeating guns, in 50 caliber, were used in service toward the end of the War Between The States: (Civil War). Many Civil War muzzle loading guns were converted to use Rim Fire cartridges, e.g. the .58 caliber Allen Conversion. In the late 1860s these larger Rim Fires gave way to center fire cartridges which could be made larger and withstand higher pressure charges. The Rim Fire cartridge case must be made thinner so it dents easily under the firing hammer of the gun. This denting of the case-rim squeezes the priming compound to its ignition point. The thinness of the rim fire cartridge case results in a weaker cartridge case subject to rupture. Therefore, large Rim Fires gave way to stronger, more powerful Center Fire type cartridges. However, it is noteworthy that the small 22 Rim Fire is the world's longest continuously manufactured cartridge, 1860 unto the present.

The definition of CARTRIDGE is a case containing a primer, propellant charge and a bullet. The Rim Fire Cartridge that met this criteria is the one patented in the United States in 1857 by Smith & Wesson. It is called THE SMITH & WESSON No. 1. (the size of today's .22 Short). This is an improvement over the similar 6 m/m round made earlier by Flobert in France. Around 1860 the New Haven Arms Co. made a .44 caliber Rim Fire. It was for their famous Henry Rifle. B. Tyler Henry was an employee of the New Haven Arms Co. which became Winchester Repeating Arms Co. He developed the Henry Rifle, and became the plant manager of Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Even larger Rim Fire cartridges were made for the Spencer Repeating Arms in the early-mid 1860s. These guns were made in calibers .46, .50, .52, and .56. The .50 Spencer was used in service toward the end of the Civil War. Rim Fire cartridges for the war-use .50 Spencer Carbines were manufactured by several early cartridge makers. Some government muzzle loaders were converted to use a .58 caliber Rim Fire round.

A rare Ballard Rim Fire shotgun was made in .65 caliber (20 gauge). Such large caliber Rim Fires soon gave way to Center Fire cartridges due to the fact that Rim Fire cartridge cases could not be loaded to high pressures because the cases would burst. Rim Fire cartridge cases must be thin enough to be crushed by the gun's firing pin to detonate the priming mixture within the rim. By the late 1860s numerous Center Fire Cartridge patents, most all superior to Rim Fires, were being invented. Their ability to stand up to heavy charges (loads) soon doomed the large bore Rim Fires.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Identification of Rim Fire Cartridges has been extremely difficult as they often do not have obvious Manufacturer's identification. Un-head stamped rounds in the exhibit have been identified by hallmarks, such as case nicks or ticks, left by production machinery. Two loose leaf volumes and two hard-bound books have assisted in properly identifying the origin of Rim Fire Cartridges shown. These follow:

John L. Barber's book RIMFIRE CARTRIDGE in THE UNITED STATES & CANADA: Armory Publications, Tacoma, Washington 1987. ISBN-0-9604982-6-5, First Edition. LC86-72737.

Charles R. Suydam's book THE AMERICAN CARTRIDGE Foundation Press, Santa Ana Gun Room, Santa Ana, CA 1960. LC 60-14975.

Nearly all of the company history listed in this exhibit has been taken from the above listed resources. The authors have my sincere gratitude for their great service to the collecting fraternity.

MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTED:

Allen, Ethan Co. 1863-71

American Metallic Cartridge Co. 1891-094

Crittenden & Tibbals Manufacturing Co. Circa 1850-67

Creedmoor Cartridge Co. 1870-92

Federal Primer Corp.

Fitch Van Vechten & Co

Forehand & Wadswiorth

Gale, Eaton & Snow

Goff, Goldmark, Joseph

Government, U.S. Frankford or Springfield Arsenal 1864

Hall & Hubbard 1869-

International Trading & Manufacturing

Leet, C.D. Circa 1862-67

Lombard, H.C. &Co.

Meade, Sanuel H. Patent explosive bullet. Circa 1861-64

Merwin, Joseph Co.

Nartional Carttridge Co.

New Haven Arms Co.

Peters Cartridge Co. 1893-1934

Phoenix Metallic Cartridge Co. 1872-91

Robinhood Ammunition Co.

Sage Ammunition Works. 1862

Sharps, C & Co. or Sharps & Hankins 1850-81

Smith & Wersson 1856-63

Union Cap & Chemical Co. 1907

Union Metallic Cartridge Co. 1867-to circa 1903

United States Cartridge Co. 1875-79 (Raised U.S. head stamp)

Unknown manufacturer

Western Cartridge Co

Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

See the Exhibit

AMERICAN RIMFIRE CARTRIDGES 1857-1926

History in Ammunition