The Union Metallic Cartridge Co. Chronology

              The Union Metallic Cartridge Co. name was derived by combining two cartridge companies into one.  In late 1865 Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham purchased the two rim fire cartridge manufacturing plants of  C.D. Leet,  and the Crittenden & Tibbals  Mfg. Co.  By the spring of 1866 the machineries of these  companies were moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut to form the Union Metallic Cartridge & Cap Company; which was re-named, and incorporated on August 13, 1867 as the  Union Metallic Cartridge Company.  (U.M.C. Co.) Schuyler and Graham soon sold their interest in the U.M.C. Co. To Marcellus Hartley.  He became  the sole owner of the company.  The U.M.C. Co.  made  primers, rim fire and center fire cartridges, and shot gun shells. The Union Metallic Cartridge Company would soon become one of the world's largest manufacturers of ammunition.  

               In 1888 America's oldest arms company, E. Remington & Sons, was in receivership.  It was purchased by Hartley, and Oliver Winchester.  In 1896 Hartley bought out Winchester's share of Remington Arms Co. to become the sole owner of  it.  Hartley died in 1902 and Hartley's grandson, Marcellus Hartley Dodge, inherited both the Remington Arms Company and the U.M.C. Co.   In 1903 he quietly combined the Remington Arms Co., and U.M.C. Co. The merger was formally announced in 1912.   Due to that merger, the "U.M.C." cartridge head stamp was being phased out and replaced with the then new "REM-UMC" head stamp.   

              At that time the U.M.C. box labeling changed to read "REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE Co".  The new Remington Arms Co. was incorporated in 1920.  The company's  cartridges were still marked with the "REM-UMC" head stamp which lasted until 1970.   It  was  replaced  by  the "R-P" head stamp of Remington-Peters.  Remington Arms Co. had purchased Peters Cartridge Co. in 1930.  In 1933, E. I.  DuPont purchased controlling interest in Remington.  The Remington Arms Co. cartridge boxes in the early years, had born the words "Union Metallic Cartridge Works Bridgeport".   This was gradually  dropped and replaced with  "Remington Arms Co. Inc.", as well as "DuPont" crept into labeling.  In 1934, a formal application to terminate the U.M.C. Co. was made and was finalized by 1937.  Remington briefly resurrected the UMC brand trademark on some late 20th century boxes.  However, their contents bore the modern "R-P" head stamp of Remington-Peters which continues into the 21st century.

               Information for this article was generated from published accounts in the Rocky Mountain Bullet, The Gun Report, The Cartridge Trader, Journal of the International Ammunition Association, and Wikipedia.

 ARRANGEMENT OF THIS U.M.C. EXHIBIT

 Three exhibit cases house the U.M.C. cartridges.

               First showcase is the pre-U.M.C. rim fire rounds made by Crittenden & Tibbals Mfg. Co.,  and C.D. Leet. Together they formed the Union Metallic Cartridge Company.  Pre-U.M.C. rounds are followed by U.M.C. cartridges  in calibers from 22 through .58.

Following the rim fire cartridges are U.M.C. center fire rounds that were made for different gun makers' arms.  Their names are approximately alphabetized throughout the exhibit, beginning with Ballard, and continuing through Wolcott.

               A second showcase begins with U.M.C. center fire pistol rounds.  Some were special orders; for example, Browning, Smith & Wesson, and other gun makers.  They are  approximately alphabetized, starting with Browning, and go through Webley.  Showcase two  continues the alphabetized rifle sets from show case one.  This includes Winchester Repeating Arms Co. calibers and those adopted by the United States and foreign military. 

             The third showcase is filled with shot loads for pistols, rifles, and shotguns.   Shot shells from 3 gauge through 32 gauge are represented.  Gauge is a number derived from how many round balls of lead can be made with a pound of lead; for example a  4 gauge is the diameter of a 1/4 pound spherical ball.  A 32 gauge bore is the diameter of a 1/32 pound spherical ball. Caliber means the size of a cartridge measured in inches. 

               All-metal shells are shown are for pistols, rifles, and shotguns.  The paper tube shot gun shells are more recognizable to the average observer.  Included is an array of trade names that U.M.C. Co. used.  They are more  or  less  alphabetized  in  order,  from ARROW through X X  in various gauges.    

              Shot loads for rifled arms includes those having a wooden or paper sabot (hollow-bullet-shape) holding the shot load.  Some shot loads for rifled arms do not have the sabot.