SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY . NUMBER 11 

Small KTMH Ammunition 

aemn 

^

aHSOl*^NPerkeley R. Lewis 

FEB 6 1974 

i/BRARIti 

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS 

City of Washington 

1972 
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are available. 

S. DILLON RIPLEY 

Secertary 

Smithsonian Institution 

COVER: Self-winding, breech-loading wheel lock gun with tubular steel cartridge (Augsburg, 1638). 

Bashford Dean Memorial Collection. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

Colonel Berkeley R. Lewis died 21 February 1972. Any inquiries regarding the content of 

this publication may be directed to Mr. Craddock R. Goins, Division of Military History, 

National Museum of History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 

20560. 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 Price $1.25 

Stock Number 4700-0206 
Contents 

Page 

Introduction 1 

Chapter I: The Pioneers in Metallic Cartridges 3 

Chapter 2: Ordnance at the Exposition 9 

Chapter 3: Cabinet of Small-arms Ammunition 11 

First Drawer: Paper Ammunition (Not Fixed) 12 

Second Drawer: Paper Ammunition (Fixed) 13 

Third Drawer: Transition and Patent Types (Fixed) 15 

Fourth Drawer: Rim Primed and Miscellaneous 17 

Fifth Drawer: Foreign and Sporting Cartridges 23 

Sixth Drawer: Modification of Charge 24 

Seventh Drawer: Modifications in Bullet and Lubricant 28 

Eighth Drawer: Anvils and Cap-primed Cases 29 

Ninth Drawer: Modification in Caliber (Reductions) 36 

Tenth Drawer: Service Ammunition and Stages of Manufacture... 38 

Chapter 4: Compiler's Comments 40 

Service Ammunition, Rifle and Carbine, 1865-1876 40 

Performance of Arms and Ammunition, 1865-1875 41 

References 44 

Glossary 45 
Introduction 

As the hundredth anniversary of the independence of the United States approached, extensive 

plans were made to celebrate that occasion by an 

International Exhibition to be held in 1876 in 

Philadelphia. A major consideration was the desire to show the world the technological develop 

ment which had put this country in the front in 

many aspects of design and production. The Civil 

War had provided a tremendous impetus to new 

inventions and methods in the field of arms and 

ammunition. Th e United States patent system, the 

War, and the expanding economy combined to produce a spate of new ideas not achieved elsewhere 

at any time. Th e military forces of other countries 

had been interested observers during the Civil War, 

and thereafter moved rapidly to re-arm their troops 

with the newly devised breechloaders. The ideas 

for these, developed in this country, together with 

the know-how for their mass production, focused 

attention on the Centennial Exhibition. The big 

interest was military, but the expanding West 

assured firearms manufacturers a ready civilian market for new products. In 1866, all foreign governments realized that they had to change from muzzle 

loading to breech loading firearms. Having many 

thousand stands of old muzzle loaders on hand their 

first immediate preoccupation was to convert these 

to breechloaders. Literally hundreds of ideas were 

proposed to make such conversions, usually accomplished by cutting off a short piece at the 

breech, screwing on a new breech incorporating 

some sort of devise for opening and closing it easily 

and securely. Most of these systems were rather 

clumsy, not adaptable to multishot capability, and 

the resulting arms were at once obsolescent because 

of their large calibers. Some of these designs, however, were very sound and have served for a long 

and useful duration, e.g., Remington rolling block, 

Sharps drop block, Peabody, Ballard, Morse. Th e 

last had features still used in most firearms, such 

as enclosed cartridge head, rebounding firing pin, 

and spring loaded hook extractors. In the ten year 

period 1866 to 1876, inventors had been very active 

in designing new systems not inhibited by having 

to start with an old gun. At the beginning of this 

period there were practically no standardized cartridges. 

Paper cartridges with powder and ball had been 

satisfactory for muzzleloading weapons, but they 

were fragile and subject to damage from moisture. 

More seriously, they were not adaptable to breechloaders, as they provided little or no seal for the 

joint between breech and barrel. Hence development of breechloaders and repeaters was directly 

tied to availability of suitable ammunition. Designers of effective early breechloaders had to come 

up with a practical cartridge too. It is still a truism 

that design of a good weapon must be concurrent 

with that of its ammunition. 

The War Department display at the Centennial 

Exhibition was an important part of the material 

shown by the Executive Branch. Springfield Armory 

and the Frankford Arsenal each presented exhibits 

and actual sections of their shops in which visitors 

could watch rifles and ammunition being made. 

T he ammunition production line of 19 machines 

constituted the first public display of automation 

as we now know it. In the official report on the 

Exhibition it was stated, " . . no place seemed to 

arrest more the attention of the people, nor to hold 

them longer in contemplation, than that occupied 

by this machinery."

 a 

'Th e Ordnance Department, U.S. Army, at the International Exhibition, 1876. 2 January 1877 letter of Lt. Col. S. C. 

Lyford, Representative of the War Dept. p. V. Government 

Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 1884. 
SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

By 1876, design and production of small arms ammunition had been rather well formalized. Further improvements were to be in detail and in 

process refinements rather than in major concepts. 

Smokeless powder, not then available, would later 

extend the capability of the cartridge, but the mechanical aspects had been worked out. Earlier 

breechloaders often used special cartridges not 

adaptable to any other arm. The field was wide 

open in the 1860s and many designers and inventors sought to devise a cartridge that would combine 

good ignition with a satisfactory seal at the breech. 

The National Armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, 

and Frankford Arsenal at Philadelphia worked intensively to these ends, concurrently devising machines for producing the cartridges they needed. 

The Services constantly sought flatter trajectory, 

which required smaller calibers with longer cases 

in order to limit the recoil to acceptable limits. 

More powder produced the required higher velocity, but the bullet then had to be smaller as the 

product of these two is involved in the recoil calculation. In order to draw the longer cases that 

were called for by the military requirements, drawing and annealing techniques had to be perfected. 

Often by the time a requirement was met, the 

Services again raised the performance level specified. 

Many of the ordnance officers and civilian employees at the arsenal suggested new approaches, 

most of which they did not bother to patent. Often 

civilian inventors here and abroad saw and copied 

these designs and took out patents in their own 

names. Though the gun design field was nearly 

pre-empted by civilians, the opposite was true in 

cartridges. Frankford Arsenal led the world in design and production of small arms ammunition. 
The Pioneers in Metallic Cartridges 

T h e term cartridge is used to mean a self-contained ammunition for breech-loading arms, with 

bullet or shot, propellent, and means of ignition 

conveniently combined in a case, usually metallic, 

which also serves as obturation for the breech opening. The origins of such cartridges are uncertain, 

as little has been recorded about them, and many 

of the basic patents, issued abroad, are relatively 

unknown in the United States. Extensive research 

on late 19th-century patent litigations left considerable doubt about the early cartridge patents, 

their claims, and especially their capabilities and 

effectiveness. Erroneous classification of small arms 

ammunition specimens as dangerous explosives led 

to the discarding of most of the collections entrusted 

to public institutions. Consequently little accurate 

historical information on ammunition development 

is conveniently available. 

T he only published source on cartridge patents 

is the excellent digest of American, British, and 

French cartridge patents compiled in 1878 by Bartlett and Gallatin of the U.S. Patent Office.2

 In all 

three countries firearms and cartridges are classified 

separately, and cartridges for specific firearms are 

often described only in the corresponding firearms 

patent. The digest included cartridges shown in 

U.S. firearms patents, but only those listed among 

cartridge patents in England and France. American 

inventors apparently sought to protect their ideas 

by taking out patents abroad, but British and 

French inventors for some reason seldom bothered 

with patent protection here. Hence for lack of information we often credit Americans with originating inventions which were already patented abroad. 

T h e following discussion on early cartridge pat2Bartlett and Gallatin, Digest of Cartridge Patents. Included in appendices 1, 2, and 3 of Lewis, "Small Arms and 

Ammunition in the United States Service." 

ents is based mainly on the Bartlett and Gallatin 

Digest, amplified by a study of some of the actual 

patent papers and contemporary publications concerning their implementation. It was common for 

a design not to actually perform as claimed by the 

patentee. Sometimes this was the result of a faulty 

idea, but often it was due to lack of technical proficiency. As communications were often lacking, or 

at least slow, the ideas from abroad were either unknown or rendered obsolete by contemporary American innovations. The knowledge of deep drawing 

for cartridge cases, however, was probably more 

advanced in Europe than here in the early days 

of metallic ammunition, due to the earlier availability of breechloading shotguns, such as the Robert and Le Faucheux. 

T he cartridge (cartouche, cartrage) probably 

had its beginnings about 1550, when bandoleers 

were used to carry measured powder charges to 

speed loading and to avoid handling loose powder 

in the presence of the burning match. The charges 

were held in little cases of wood, strung on the bandoleer (see plate la). Balls and priming powder 

were carried separately. By 1590 reference was made 

to ". . . cartrages with which musketeers charge 

their peeces both with powder and ball at one 

time." 3 In 1620 the army of Gustavus Adolphus 

of Sweden was reported to carry measured powder 

charges in paper packets, which had the bullets 

attached.4 Though rifles and pistols continued to 

be loaded with loose ball predominantly, the use 

of the paper cartridge for muskets became quite 

general and persisted as long as muzzle loaders 

were in service. 

Early in this period, powder and ball were combined in metal cases, but these were really stiff (not 

1

 Smythe, Certain Discourses. 

1

 Deane, Deane's Manual. 
SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

obturating) auxiliary breeches, were not expendable, and were generally limited to use in expensive 

custommade weapons (see frontispiece). 

Fulminates had been known long before their 

use as a means of igniting charges in firearms. 

Pepys Diary mentioned the subject under the date 

of 11 November 1663. The first patent granted for 

a detonating ignition system (British pat. no. 3032), 

however, was to the Scottish clergyman and inventor Alexander Forsyth, in 1807. The percussion cap 

was developed shortly thereafter and continued as 

the favored means of ignition, which, with minor 

changes and the perfection of self-contained metallic cartridges, evolved into the modern primer. 

An American patent on the percussion cap was 

granted to Joshua Shaw on 19 June 1822. He 

claimed in his U.S. patent application to have 

originated the idea in England in 1814, but the 

honor is disputed by British gunsmiths Egg, 

Hawker, and Purdey, and others. Possibly conflicts 

of these claims with Forsyth's basic patent had 

precluded a British patent for the percussion cap 

at that time. A French patent for it was granted 

to Prelat, a French gunmaker who sketched and 

described a percussion cap in his 1818 patent claim. 

The idea had probably emanated from England.5 

In any case, Shaw was recognized in the United 

States as originator of the cap in a practical form 

and was retained by the Government to install a 

machine for their making and to assist in their testing at Frankford Arsenal. Hall carbines using 

Shaw's percussion caps had been introduced in 

1834, but these caps were procured from commercial sources. By 1845 the U.S. Army was manufacturing caps on a large scale, having adopted the percussion system in 1842. 

When percussion ignition compositions were successfully adapted to guns in the early 19th century, 

the first sound approach to a satisfactory cartridge 

became feasible. The objectives were to combine 

all three elements—ignition, powder, and ball— 

into a unit, which would be sturdy and water repellent, and would provide an adequate breech 

seal. Gun designers, however, pursued the development of a breech seal, sacrificing the improvement 

of the internal system. Therefore, throughout the 

1860s, otherwise excellent cartridges, employed external ignition systems. 

On 12 September 1812 the Swiss inventor, Johannes Samuel Pauly, obtained a French patent 

covering a centerfire, breechloading gun which 

used an obturating cartridge, for which he also received a British patent (no. 3833, under the name 

Samuel J. Pauly) in 1814, and another (no. 4026) in 

1816. The latter two were novel in using compressed air to ignite the fulminate instead of a 

mechanical striker. Although "improvements" on 

Pauly's ideas were patented in France between 1816 

and 1824, Pauly's invention was the first practical 

use of the new percussion ignition compounds, 

by incorporating them with powder and ball into 

a complete cartridge. The cases were of heavy brass, 

sealing the breech by a tapered head, like a rubber 

drain plug. The first of them (1812) used a "patch" 

of detonating compound or a pellet which was 

placed in a shallow recess in the head (plate lc). 

In 1814, he added a short percussion nipple, using 

a metallic cap (plate Id). His 1816 shot cartridge 

(plate le) had a brass head equipped with a hollow 

screw in its forward face. The charge and shot were 

placed in a paper cylinder having a hard wad in 

the base. A hole in this wad was perforated by the 

head screw, through which ignition passed.6 

Another big step was the Galy-Cazalat cartridge 

(French pat. no. 3355 of 1826). A parchment case 

contained an inside centerfire primer in its base 

(plate If). An X-ray photograph (plate lg) shows 

the interior construction. This cartridge lacked only 

obturation and a means of extraction to be a complete cartridge in the modern sense. 

In 1829, Clement Pottet received French patent 

number 3930 covering a removable base, with a 

pocket for fulminate (plate Ih). It was probably 

derived from the Pauly patent but it also covered 

a percussion cap on a base nipple, which, with his 

improvement (French pat. no. 12746 of 1855), 

evolved into the modern shotgun shell. This last 

design used a cardboard case and metal head with 

reinforcing wad inside. The cap screwed into the 

wad, holding the unit together. An Englishman, 

G. H. Daw, obtained British patent number 203 in 

1861 covering minor improvements in the ignition 

of the Pottet case. This design has been the guide 

in construction of shot shells ever since (plate 4e). 

The British Mark I Snider cartridge of 1867, 

(plate It) had the Pottet head, which was widely 

used in Europe during the period 1865-1880. 

An English patent (no. 6137) was granted to Au5Winant, Early Percussion Firearms, p. 48. "Reid, "Pauly, Gun Designer," p. 181. 
NUMBER 11 

gustus Demondion in 1831 for a paper case with a 

detonating tube protruding from the rear, which 

was struck by a simple main-spring-hammer combination (plate l;).7

 Another 1831 English patent 

(no. 6196), issued to Abraham A. Moser, describes 

a cartridge having a centerfire cap in its base. It 

was J. A. Robert's primed case (French pat. no. 

8061), however, which eventually was developed 

into the rimfire by later omitting the composition 

from the center. This was done by Smith & Wesson, 

whose patented rimfire cartridge used a cardboard 

disk in the center of the base, thus restricting the 

priming composition to the rim. Since the priming 

is considerably more violent than the powder, minimizing the amount of priming used results in better 

control of the pressure generated in the cartridge. 

P. Lepage's 1832 French patent (no. 5468) was 

for a heavy-walled brass case with a centerfire 

primer on attached nipple (plate 2a). Like Pauly's, 

the case did not provide a seal by expanding, only 

a mechanical one at the base. 

Beringer's 1834 French patent (no. 8829) shows 

a nipple in a thick metal case, using a percussion 

cap (plate 2c). This was really a detachable breech, 

which included an idea for a removable base, and 

which he later (French patent no. 5545 of 1850) developed into a partly closed metal tube with a 

metal-covered wad carrying a cap inside the base 

(plate 2b). 

In 1834, Danish army ordnance chief Voss introduced a breechloader with a metallic cartridge using external ignition (plate 2d). The cartridge, 

though it had good obturation and was 25 years 

ahead of several types used during our Civil War, 

was not included in the exhibition of 1876. 

Le Faucheux patented a breech action in 1835, 

with its cartridge. This was a paper case with a thin 

brass head. A pin entering a small hole at one side 

of the head struck a percussion cap placed against 

the opposite interior surface. It was this pinfire 

cartridge that made the Le Faucheux gun the first 

good breechloader possible. This first pinfire, however, had no internal reinforcing, just the pin with 

its cap, (the pin being held in place by a thin wire 

passing through the head), so that a heavy charge 

caused failure around the pin hole (plate 2e). Th e 

final form of the Le Faucheux cartridge was extensively used in revolvers by both sides in our Civil 

Greener, The Gun and its Development, p. 120. 

War. These types are described in the 1876 collection. 

Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse produced his needlefire gun and its cartridge in 1827. He first used a 

round musket ball. After extensive tests, starting in 

1836, Prussia ordered 60,000 von Dreyse rifles for 

field tests in 1841. They were made in secret at von 

Dreyse's Sommerda plant. The system was standardized for all Prussian infantry in 1848 (plate 2/) and 

remained in use until the Mauser was adopted in 

1871.8 The loose-fitting bullet is carried by a pressed 

paper sabot which takes the rifling. The sabot base 

has a pocket for fulminate which is fired by the long 

needle-like firing pin, passing through the powder 

charge. The von Dreyse needle gun was the first 

military breechloader using a complete cartridge, 

which was shown in the 1876 collection. 

In 1841 John Hanson and W. Golden obtained 

British patent number 9129 for a charged bullet, 

with fulminate in a base cavity. It was also designed 

with a small case attached to a ball, loaded only 

with fulminate or with both fulminate and powder. 

T he same idea was included by Parisian inventor 

Flobert in his breechloader French patent (no. 

8618) of 1849. This well-known action used the 

bulleted breech cap, a simple copper case, round 

ball, and fulminate priming sufficient to send the 

ball a short distance. This was really just a bullet 

stuck into a large percussion cap. An example of 

the Flobert-type cartridge of European origin is 

shown in plate 2a. It is characterized by absence 

of a distinct rim at the base, the cartridge not being 

positively positioned in the chamber by the rim, 

but only wedged in place by the taper. 

In 1846, Professor Shonbein, a Swiss, introduced 

guncotton as a propellant for small arms ammunition, taking out a U.S. patent that year. Extensive 

experiments to determine safety factors and means 

for controlling the burning rate were conducted by 

Baron von Lenk, an Austrian. Some of his cartridges 

(plate 2h) which used finely braided material to 

slow burning were tested by the United States 

Army. These were the first clean burning smokeless 

cartridges. However an inadvertent double charge 

would burst the barrel, so they were not adopted. 

Houllier's French patent (no. 1936) of 1846 was 

an improvement on the Le Faucheux pinfire, reinforcing the head, and putting the cap in a recessed base washer. Houllier included in his patent 

"Weygand, "Die Technische Emtwickelung," p. 40. 
SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

claims copper or brass cases, with pin, rim, or centerfire priming. He also used thin copper or brass 

for the case to provide obturation. Thus just about 

all the basic requirements of a self-contained cartridge were patented by 1846, though actual production was limited by drawing techniques of making 

larger cases. 

Chaudun's 1847 patent (no. 3801) for further pinfire improvements (plate 2i) was specifically designed for use in the Le Faucheux and Robert guns. 

One of his ideas was a hinged trap-door affair in 

the head to insert the cap, a small flash-hole entering the case from this compartment (plate 2/). 

Being a British citizen facilitated obtaining a 

British patent. Thus American inventors sometimes 

got a Britisher to act as patentee, their agent, or 

assignee. Sometimes the U.S. patent took longer, so 

the British one had an earlier date. Another 1847 

British patent (no. 11994) was granted to Stephen 

Taylor for a hollow bullet filled with powder, 

covered by a perforated cap (plate 2m). It is the 

same as an 1848 U.S. patent number 5699 issued 

to Walter Hunt. It is believed that Taylor, who 

filed the British patent, was an assignee of Hunt's. 

Lenoir obtained French patent number 4088 in 

1849, covering a horizontal inside pinfire cartridge 

(plate 2k). The pin struck a cap placed against the 

bullet base, thereby providing a solid anvil against 

which to hit the primer. This idea was resurrected 

in the United States about 20 years later in Frankford Arsenal experiments on ignition, but was 

considered impractical. The paper or fibre base did 

not provide an adequate seal. 

In 1850, Joseph Needham patented (British pat. 

no. 14227) a double-barrel hammerless shotgun, using a special needle-fire cartridge (plate 3a). The 

paper combustible case had two wads in its base 

enclosing the cap, and reinforced by a zinc anvil. 

The firing pin entered a hole in the rear of the wad 

assembly. The unconsumed base was pushed forward by the next cartridge and became the top 

wad. Needham's gun was the first of its class, but 

the cartridges were expensive, could not be reloaded, and leaked into the action enough to cause 

trouble by fouling.9 

In 1852 Charles Lancaster of England introduced 

another hammerless double-barrel shotgun, with a 

special "gastight" cartridge.10 This was a drawn 

Greener, op. cit., p. 136 (footnote 7). 

°Ibid, p. 139. 

copper tube with closed base, thickened at the edge 

to form a rim, and thin in the center. Inside centerfire priming was held in place by a perforated disk, 

crimped into the rim (plate 3b). This cartridge was 

not reloadable, hence expensive to use. 

Another British 1852 patent was that of Robert 

Adams, which covered a copper shell case, closed 

with paper and cover, and having the bullet stuck 

onto it by an integral lead rivet which also positioned a felt wad. This was for a percussion revolver with its usual external priming. The cartridge was not loaded into a chamber but was 

really only a convenient way to carry components, 

reminiscent of the old matchlock bandoleers (plate 

2n). 

W. W. Marston had an 1852 U.S. patent (no. 

8956) for which obturation was provided by means 

of a leather base washer in a paper case, using external priming. These sealed the breech effectively, 

and the washer, being pushed ahead of the next 

load, cleaned the bore. The washer, however, was 

not moisture proof. Marston made a series of pistols, 

rifles, and muskets, using this type cartridge (plate 

2o). 

The "Volcanic" cartridge used in the well-known 

repeating firearms made by Smith & Wesson had its 

origin abroad. Charles Fusnot of Brussels won a 

first prize at the Belgian Exhibition in 1847 for 

his self-contained cartridge. A cavity in the base 

of the bullet held powder, sealed by a small disk 

carrying the detonating compound. This same idea 

was patented in France in 1854 (no. 10698) by 

Gaupillat (plate 3c). 

Smith & Wesson received an American patent 

(no. 11496) in 1854, which described a copper case 

with a metal disk inside, holding the priming composition which was fired by a central striker. This 

was intended for use in their Volcanic arms, but 

never worked properly because of ignition uncertainty. Like the Flobert, it had no well-defined 

flange, just tapered a little under the head, wedging 

into the chamber when fired. Its pellet of priming 

inside the head rested on an anvil supported only 

by the powder. This combination obviously would 

cause misfires. Writing to the patent examiners in 

1860, Oliver Winchester said that he had never been 

able to make the "improvements" of the Smith & 

Wesson's 1854 patent work reliably, but had used 

a hollow ball instead, and engaged Tyler Henry 

to work up a better cartridge. Smith & Wesson's 
NUMBER 11 

1856 patent (no. 14147) described the "hollow ball" 

ammunition, as actually used in their Volcanic line 

of guns (plate Sd-e). It was a loaded ball with a 

base cavity containing powder and primer. Th e 

priming, consisting of fulminate on a cork-covered 

steel disk, formed the base seal.11 The Smith & 

Wesson 1860 patent (no. 27933) covered a satisfactory rimfire cartridge about as we know it today. 

It had a straight case and a definite flange for the 

first time in the United States, though essentially 

the same as Houllier's 1846 patent. Smith & Wesson 

used it in the Number 1 (caliber .22) revolvers 

which they started to manufacture in 1857. A feature peculiar to this cartridge was the perforatedpaper base wad, which restricted the priming mixture to the rim of the case. Th e example shown in 

plate 3; is for the caliber .54 old model Ballard 

carbine, used during the American Civil War. An 

external characteristic of most cartridges made by 

Smith & Wesson, or under their patent, is a slightly 

dished unmarked head. This shape was thought to 

help distribute the priming composition. Otherwise 

the bullet and case resembled the familiar caliber 

.22 cartridge. 

Maynard's 1856 patent (no. 15141) was for one 

of the first successful U.S. cartridges using a metallic 

case and external ignition.12 Tha t illustrated in 

plate 3/ is the original patent type. 

Another 1856 U.S. patent (no. 15996) covered 

George A. Morse's metallic centerfire cartridges. 

The common version had a rubber disk in the base, 

surrounding a cap held on a hairpin-shaped anvil 

which soldered to the case walls. In March 1858 

he recorded two other cartridge patents, numbers 

20214 (plate $g) and 20727 (plate Si). Though not 

included in his patent drawings, his caveat filed 

with them mentioned a centerfire cartridge without 

the rubber gasket, using only the cap for obturation. Plate Sh shows an intermediate type, with 

solid head. Thus Morse held the basic U.S. patent 

on features of the modern centerfire cartridge i.e., 

flexible metal case, crimped-in bullet, and a primer 

pocket in the head to receive a percussion cap, itself sealing the primer opening. His system for a 

breechloader using his ammunition was adopted 

by the U.S. Government in September 1858 as the 

best available method for converting muzzleloaders 

to breechloaders. Trial rifles and ammunition were 

11

 Lewis, "The Volcanic Arms." 

12

 Lewis, "Maynard Arms and Ammo.'' 

made, and arrangements were begun at Harpers 

Ferry Armory to convert rifles by the Morse method, 

but the start of the war and loss of the armory prevented completion of the work. His ideas, which 

included the rebounding firing pin, spring-loaded 

double-claw extractors, and other features generally 

found in subsequent rifles, were far ahead of his 

time.13 

Gilbert Smith's 1857 U.S. patent (no. 17702) covered a rubber cartridge case, with external priming. 

This was used early in the Civil War in the caliber 

.50 Smith carbines (plate 4a). 

As usable cartridges were not readily available, 

inventors of gun mechanisms often had to design 

their own, usually favoring the gun design by making a cartridge which nowdays has a weird appearance. Their main preoccupation must have been to 

make the gun design at the expense of cartridge 

design. 

Such an unconventional cartridge was covered by 

H. Genhart's U.S. patent no. 16477, in 1857. It was 

for a revolver with horizontal wheel-like cylinder, 

in which the cartridges were loaded from the front 

and arranged like spokes. Th e cartridge has a 

metal priming tube protruding from the rear being 

the only American-patented cartridge of the detonator type (plate 4b)—like the Demondion of 

1831. 

T he Mahlon J. Gallager and Gladding cartridge 

(U.S. pat. no. 24730 of 1859) was another odd one, 

also patented in connection with a gun mechanism— 

the Schubarth conversion. Th e bulbous case contains an internal pinfire arrangement which is 

struck from the upper surface of the case, using die 

bottom as an anvil (plate 3c). 

George P. Foster's 1860 U.S. patent (no. 27791) 

added a grease-retaining ring to the cartridge used 

in the Burnside carbine, this being the first to put 

the grease inside the case (plate Sd). This served 

a double purpose. Besides helping seal the junction 

of breechblock and barrel, it put the grease, needed 

to keep the black powder fouling soft, under cover. 

Older bullets had been lubricated externally with 

a rather heavy beeswax-tallow mixture, which 

picked up all the dirt and sand in the vicinity when 

carried loose in the soldier's pocket. This is probably the first really long case to have been made 

out of drawn brass. Evidently it worked well. 

In 1863 a patent (no. 40978) was granted to Silas 

18

 Lewis, "Morse Arms and Ammunition." 
8 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

Crispin, a U.S. Ordnance officer. It covered a case 

made of wrapped thin sheet metal, or metal and 

paper, externally primed. He assigned his patent 

rights to Thomas Poultney of Baltimore, whose 

name is better known. Cartridges of this type were 

used during the Civil War in large number, in 

Smith, Maynard, Burnside, and Gallager carbines. 

T h e Burnside version is shown in plate Sf. 

An 1866 English patent (no. 2711, patentee unknown) mentions a "base recessed for extraction." 

It seems to be the same idea incorporated in U.S. 

patent number 123,622 in 1872 (plate 3/) granted 

to G. H. Dupee. 

English patent number 2628 of 1865 and U.S. 

patent number 57269 of 1866 cover J. H. Selwyn's 

idea for putting a centerfire cap in a tapered cartridge. Plate Sg shows it applied to the Burnside 

cartridge. 

Colonel G. M. Boxer's British patent number 167 

of 1866 (U.S. pat. no. 91818 of 1869) covers a 

wrapped case of metal and paper, with a base cup 

attached to a base disk by a hollow rivet which 

forms the primer pocket. It was the type adopted 

by the British in caliber .577 for the Snider arms, 

being manufactured initially at the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich, where Colonel Boxer was Superintendent. This cartridge incorporates several features of the 1863 Crispin patent (see above). A 

Snider Mark II cartridge is shown in plate Ah. 

Hiram Berdan's U.S. patent number 53388 of 

1866 describes a metallic cartridge having an outside centerfire primer recessed into the head. Th e 

primer pocket is an integral part of the case, the 

bottom of the pocket being bumped up to form an 

anvil. This cartridge was featured in the production 

of the Union Metallic Cartridge Company (UMC) 

for many years and it is still the principal type used 

in Europe. Boxer's primer, which carries its anvil 

in the primer itself, has been the favorite in the 

United States though the loose anvil requires an 

extra handling of small metal parts which are subject to loss or can be improperly positioned. Preoccupation with ease of decapping for reloading appears to have been the explanation of why this 

country dropped Berdan's superior American invention and adopted a foreign one. Th e original 

Berdan case had its flash hole off center, which 

made aligning a decapping punch quite difficult. 

They were later made with center flash hole but 

as currently produced usually have multiple holes, 

so the problem still exists of readily punching out 

the fired primer. Plate 4» shows a Berdan cartridge, 

that for the caliber .58 converted musket, which is 

typical of the UMC production of the period 1868— 

1880. 

T h e profusion of ideas in the cartridge field in 

the years 1855-1875 has never been equaled since. 

T h e Frankford Arsenal cartridge collection prepared for the Centennial Exposition offers a unique 

coverage of that important period. Besides the 

great number of designs made and tested at Frankford and Springfield it includes the principal types 

made abroad as well as commercial types, both 

military and sporting, made in this country. At 

that time, patents were considered of secondary irrfportance to getting the job done. But they had important bearings on the story, both as to sources of 

ideas, and compensation to the holders. Sometimes 

the Ordnance Department purchased patented cartridges whose basic idea had originated in Government shops. 
Ordnance at the Exposition 

Participation by the Executive departments of 

the Government in the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition originated in 1873, when the Centennial 

committee on classification asked various Government officials for suggestions regarding the scope 

and nature of the exhibits. Th e Chief of Ordnance 

urged that a separate display be made of the nation's war materials. This suggestion was forwarded 

to President Grant with the committee's added 

thought that there be a collective exhibit of all the 

Executive departments. The proposal met with approval and an Executive order was issued on 23 

January 1874, directing that a Board be appointed 

on behalf of the several Departments and the Smithsonian Institution, to prepare, arrange, and display 

articles pertaining to each. The Ordnance representative, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel S. C. Lyford, 

also represented the War Department, and the President designated him as chairman. Plate 5 shows the 

Government exhibition building, still in Fairmount 

Park, Philadelphia. 

T h e Ordnance display, prepared under the direction of 1st Lieutenant Henry Metcalfe assisted by 

1st Lieutenant C. W. Whipple, was arranged according to the following classifications: (a) cannon 

and carriages; (b) cannon ammunition; (c) small 

arms; (d) small-arm ammunition; (e) equipment 

leatherwork, etc.; (f) machinery; (g) miscellaneous. 

In connection with the ammunition display, a typical manufacturing line of metallic cartridge machinery (plate 6) was moved from daily use at Frankford Arsenal, along with skilled operators, both 

men and women, and placed in full operation. This 

demonstration was of great general interest and was 

the prime attraction in the Government building. 

This assembly line was in actual cartridge production during the Exhibition. Visitors received small 

souvenir boxes (plate 7a) containing a set of pieces 

showing the stages of manufacture of the standard 

.45-70 cartridge, with inside cup priming. The box 

contained a blank, five draw pieces, trimmed case, 

headed case, and primed case, as well as a primercup draw piece, an indented cup, and bullet. Th e 

souvenir cartridges were made in blank and in ball 

types (plate 7b), and had a special marking on the 

head, consisting of the dates 1776-1876, plus the 

initials USO (United States Ordnance) in monogram. 

Starting in 1877 the Frankford Arsenal regularly 

used cartridge headstamps to show origin, type, and 

date of manufacture. Thus, F R 4 77 indicated 

manufacture at Frankford Arsenal, of a rifle load, 

in April 1877. The R designating a rifle load was 

necessary because both rifle and carbine cartridges 

were then using the same size case, varying only in 

powder charge and bullet. In later years the letter 

R indicated "rifle anneal," i.e., hard and springy 

to facilitate extraction in bolt-action rifles. Softer 

brass was used for machine guns to minimize case 

rupture. 

One of the most interesting machines on display 

was the loader, which had been designed and built 

by Jabez H. Gill, Superintendent of small-arms ammunition manufacture at Frankford Arsenal. Common practice of the "plate-loading" process then 

used, involved several operations. Th e Gill loader 

performed all the operations on a single machine, 

with perfect safety. Th e priming, tapering, and 

other special cartridge machines had also been designed by Mr. Gill. 

T he items for the small-arms ammunition display 

at the Exhibition had been prepared under the direction of Captain William Prince at Frankford 

Arsenal. It included a cabinet with ten drawers of 

specimens—467 items—as well as several display 

boards which showed the progressive stages of manu-
10 

facture of standard cartridges: die 1-inch Gatling, 

calibers .45 and .50 rifle, and caliber .45 revolver. 

Two variant types were included—the caliber .45 

rifle cartridge as made by the U.S. Cartridge Company of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the RodmanCrispin wrapped brass cartridge which had been 

made experimentally at Frankford Arsenal. 

Following the 1876 Exhibition, the Frankford 

cartridge collection was retained at the Arsenal and 

displayed from time to time. After being shown at 

the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1892-1893 

the collection was placed, with other historical material, in a small museum at Frankford Arsenal. 

At the beginning of World War II, space was at 

a premium at the Arsenal, and the basement of 

SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

building number 40 (now the Post library) which 

housed the Museum, had to be cleared for other 

purposes. Colonel George A. Miller, Jr., then in 

charge of small-arms ammunition manufacture at 

Frankford, saw the boards and drawers of cartridge 

specimens piled on push carts, ready to be sent to the 

scrap yard. Recognizing the historical importance 

of this material, he had it diverted to one of the 

Ammunition Department buildings, and arranged 

to have it checked, re-arranged, and cataloged. The 

collection was retained in the custody of the Small 

Arms Ammunition Department until 1958, when it 

was sent to the Smithsonian Institution by Colonel 

Berkeley R. Lewis. 
Cabinet of Small-arms Ammunition 

Prepared at the Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, 

the first two drawers of this collection contained 

combustible cartridges, that is, their cases were made 

of paper, nitro-cellulose, skin, or other membrane. 

For use in service, some were loaded intact, others 

had to be broken apart and the contents loaded 

separately. With the latter, the enclosing paper was 

at times discarded, or often used as wadding between powder and ball, or on top of the ball. Th e 

last procedure was required with the older, roundball load for the smooth-bore musket. Because of 

the large clearance between ball and barrel that 

was needed to permit facile loading when the bore 

was fouled from shooting, the ball was so loose at 

the start of an engagement that it would roll right 

out if the muzzle were depressed. Hence the instructions were to ram the paper cartridge remains 

down atop the ball, or for lack of anything else to 

use a wisp of hay or grass. 

T he third drawer contained transition cartridges, 

some of paper, others with foil or solid metal cases, 

provided with external priming. Some of them were 

the combustible type, with the powder charge encased in collodion, membrane, or shellac. The paper, compressed powder, and skin of these 100-yearold specimens has become very dry and brittle. 

When the collection was renovated in 1940, there 

were only enough intact specimens to fill two of 

the first three drawers. The specimens were consolidated and rearranged to occupy the first and 

third drawers of the series, the second being discarded. 

As the original second drawer has since been located, the remaining specimens have been restored 

to their original positions, leaving some spaces 

blank. Specimens missing from the original display 

are indicated by an asterisk (*) after the Frankford 

Arsenal Collection number and are illustrated, 

wherever possible, by similar examples. Th e complete original catalog descriptions of all specimens 

are given,14 amplified by measurements or other details of available specimens in cases where this 

would help identification. 

Bullet diameters, for the most part, are the 

nominal or bore diameters of the arms involved. 

Measurements in parenthesis are actual bullet diameters, when available. In general, muzzleloaders 

used bullets somewhat smaller than the bore and 

breechloaders a little larger. Weights given are 

specifications from contemporary Ordnance manuals, with which few specimens will agree exactly, 

either with these weights or with other specimens 

from the same lot. Up to five grains variation may 

be expected. L = length in inches. 

11

 References to Ordnance Memorandum 14 have been left 

out and these details incorporated in the descriptions. Those 

to Frankford Arsenal Ammunition Test numbers have been 

omitted, as there is no record of these tests. See Metcalfe, 

Lt. Henry, The Ordnance Department US. Army at the International Exhibition (Washington, D.C: Government Printing Office, 1884). 

11 
12 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

First Drawer: Paper Ammunition (Not Fixed) 

No. Name or Arm 

1 Round ball for U.S. musket, Ml842. L 2.2 

2 Buck (3) & ball, Ml842. L 2.4 

3 Buckshot, Ml842. L 2.8 

4 Round ball for U.S. rifle, M1841. L 2.6 

5* Round ball for U.S. rifle, Ml842. L 2.0 (This 

was probably a cartridge for the M1819 or 

Ml827 pistols, which used this load, not 

regulation after 1834). See plate 22a. 

6* Round ball for "Savage" belt pistol (This is 

evidently a mix-up. There is no known Savage pistol of this caliber. Th e round was 

probably for one of the early flintlock pistols, 

such as Harpers Ferry or 1808 contract models. Specimen missing. 

7* Blank for rifle musket. L 1.2 (about) (No specimen available for photo.) 

8* Elongated ball for U.S. musket, Ml842. L 2.9 

(Mefford's subcaliber ball) 

9 Elongated ball for Austrian rifle musket (Civil 

War purchase). L 2.3 

10 Elongated ball for Belgian rifle musket (Civil 

War purchase). L 2.5 

11 Elongated ball for U.S. rifle musket. L 2.3 

12 Same. L 2.2 

13 Elongated ball for Springfield rifle musket, 

1863. L 2.5 

14 Elongated ball for Springfield and Enfield 

rifles. L 2.5 

15 Same. 

16 Same, with William's type I bullet. L 2.4 (A 

patented bullet with concave zinc washer 

under a base plug. Expanded and cleaned 

the bore when fired.) 

17 Same, type II. L 2.25 

18 Elongated ball for Enfield, English manufacture. L 3.0 (Originally listed for Springfield 

also, but much too small.) 

Bore 

(R: rifle) 

(S: smooth) 

s 

s 

s 

R 

s 

Powder 

(grains) 

110 

110 

110 

75 

60 

Buiiei 

Diameter 

(inches) 

.69(.65) 

.69(.65) 

.31(12 shot) 

.54(.525) 

.54(.525) 

t 

Weight 

(grains) 

412 

550 

552 

220 

220 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

65 

60 

50 

60 

65 

60 

.50 

.577 

.57 

.57 

.57 

.568 

200 

s 

s 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

60 

110 

75 

70 

80 

80 

60 

.58 

.69 

.71 

.70 

.69(.685) 

.69(.685) 

.58 

— 

420 

685 

765 

730 

640 

480 

495 

530 

565 

465 

530 
NUMBER 11 13 

No. Name or Arm 

19 Elongated ball for U.S. rifle, Ml841. 

20 Same. 

21 Elongated ball for Greene's B.L. rifle (Distinct 

by having bullet reversed in cartridge—base 

to front apparently. The cartridge was loaded 

with bullet to the rear however, a loose bullet 

being inserted ahead. Th e rear bullet acted 

as a seal and was pushed forward by the next 

cartridge.) L 2.5 

22 Elongated ball for U.S. pistol Ml842. (Use of 

elongated bullets in pistols prior to the caliber .58 Ml855 has not been noted. Round 

shown is Ml842, with round ball, charge 35 

grains.) L 1.55 

22ASame, but M1836, with L 1.65 

23 Elongated ball for U.S. pistol-carbine, Ml855. 

L 1.9 

24 Elongated ball for Colt's Army revolver, Ml848. 

L 2.00 (For Dragoon, yellow paper.) 

25 Elongated ball for Colt's Navy revolver, Ml851. 

L 1.6 

Bore 

(R: rifle) 

(S: smooth) 

R 

R 

R 

Powder 

(grains) 

60 

60 

70 

JBUU 

Diameter 

(inches) 

.54(525) 

.52 

.54 

et 

Weight 

(grains) 

570 

455 

410 

30 .54(.525) 410 

S 

R 

R 

R 

55 

40 

25 

15 

.54(.525) 

.58 

.44 

.36 

220 

450 

260 

150 

Second Drawer: Paper Ammunition (Fixed) 

26* Merrill, for rifle musket, Ml842. L 2.6 

27* Merrill, for rifled musketoon. L 2.3 

28* Merrill, for Springfield rifle musket. 

29* Merrill, for Merrill rifle. L 2.38 

30 Merrill, for Merrill carbine. L .64 

31 Merrill, for Merrill carbine, U.S. make. L 1.65 

32 Sharps, for Sharps rifle, caliber .54. L 1.83 

33 Sharps, for Sharps rifle, caliber .45. L 2.9 

34 Sharps, for Sharps rifle, caliber .40. 

35* Sharps, for Sharps carbine. L 2.375 

36 Colt's, for Colt's revolving rifle. L 2.0 

37* Colt's, for revolving pistol-carbine. 

38 Colt's, for Colt's Army revolver. 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

R 

60 

50 

50 

50 

40 

40 

60 

70 

45 

55 

45 

20 

17 

.69 

.69 

.58 

.56 

.56 

.56 

.55 

.47 

.41 

.52 

.56 

.44 

.44 

720 

715 

455 

425 

420 

420 

465 

260 

170 

450 

490 

260 

205 
14 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

Bullet 

No. Name or Arm 

39 Colt's, for Colt's Navy revolver. 

40* Savage revolver, Navy. 

4 1* Inserted paper for Springfield rifle musket. 

("Inserted paper" the cartridge made under 

Gardner's Confederate patent at Richmond 

and Fayetteville. Th e bullet base was incised 

around the edge, the paper cartridge tube inserted, then swaged in place. The specimen 

bearing this number has its bullet enclosed 

in the paper in the conventional way; however, cartridges have been reported like this, 

enclosing a Gardner bullet. Th e charge 

shown is low for a Union cartridge.) 

42* Hall's rifle 

43* Chadwick's for Mississippi rifle, etc. (Specimen 

missing—Robert Chadwick of New York City 

made some combustible case revolver cartridges as well as for caliber .58 rifle.) 

44* Gardiner's shell for Springfield rifle musket. (A 

hollow, explosive-filled lead bullet, fired by a 

powder-train fuse in its base.) L 2.1 

45* Rebel, inserted paper for Enfield rifle, etc. 

(This is the usual Gardner's patent cartridge 

as mentioned under No. 41.) L 2.3 

46* Shaler's three-piece sectional bullet. (The three 

pieces nested together and fired as one with 

buckshot effect.) L 2.5 

Guncotton, paper 

47 Johnson 8c Dow's combustible paper for Springfield rifle. L 2.0 

48 Same, for Enfield rifle. L 1.81 

49* Same, for Sharps' carbine. L 2.06 

50* Same, for Army revolver. L L75 

51* Same, for Navy revolver. 

52 Linen and paper for Sharps' carbine. L 2.06 

53 Same, for Starr's carbine. L 1.96 

54 Same, for Union carbine. L 1.63 

Powder 

(grains) 

12 

10 

55 

Diameter 

(inches) 

.36 

.36 

.58 

Weight 

(grains) 

135 

150 

475 

40 

50 

60 

70 

55 

60 

.54(.525) 

.54 

.58 

.577 

.58 

.58 

395 

420 

450 

500 

610 

500 

60 

50 

25 

17 

60 

50 

40 

.574 

.52 

.44 

.36 

.52 

.54 

.54 

480 

445 

240 

150 

450 

430 

390 
NUMBER 11 15 

Third Drawer: Transition and Patent Types (Fixed) 

Bullet 

No. Name or Arm 

55* Hazard, compressed for R.M. 1842 

56 Same, for Springfield R.M. L 1.82 

57 Same, William's ball. L 1.70 

58 Same, for Colt's rifle. L 1.85 

59 Same, for U.S. rifle, Ml841. L 2.045 

60 Same, for Sharps' carbine. L 1.845 

61 Same, Army revolver. L 1.3 

62 Same, Navy revolver. L 1.19 

63* Hayes' patent for rifle. L 2.5 (Skin, reinforced 

with crisscrossed thread, and enclosed in paper tube with cloth tear strip.) (Figure 63 is 

cal. .57.) 

64 Same, for Army revolver. L 1.1 

65 Same, for Navy revolver. L 1.63 (Case marked: 

Capt. M. Hayes RN patent, skin cartridge, 

manufactured by Broux & Moll, London.) 

66 Hotchkiss compressed for Army revolver. L 1.5 

67 Same, for Navy revolver. L 1.4 

68 Same, for Requa Battery. (Billinghurst 8c Requa 

volley gun. Specimen shown is Hazard-type, 

believed for Hall's carbine, or perhaps Sharps 

rifle.) 

69 Same, for Savage Navy revolver. L 1.42 

70* Bartholow's patent, compressed for Ml842 

smoothbore musket. No specimen. 

71* Same, for RM, Ml842, conical ball. L 1.88 

Description 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Collodion 

varnish 

Skin wrapped 

Powder 

(grains) 

70 

60 

60 

55 

70 

50 

25 

21 

60 

Diameter 

(inches) 

.69 

.577 

.57 

.57 

.54 

.52 

.44 

.36 

.54 

Weight 

(grains) 

745 

490 

465 

480 

450 

450 

210 

140 

410 

Skin wrapped 

Skin wrapped 

Skin wrapped 

Skin wrapped 

? 

22 

17 

22 

17 

65 

.44 

.36 

.44 

.36 

.54 

205 

150 

210 

150 

390 

Skin 

Silk and 

shellac 

Silk and 

shellac 

10 

65 

70 

.36 

.69 

150 

500 

750 
16 

No. 

SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

Bullet 

Name or Arm 

72 Same, for Springfield RM. L 1.75 

73* Same, for Army revolver. L 1.34 

74* Same, for Navy revolver. L 1.09 

75 Smith's rubber case for Smith carbine. L 2.00, 

case 1.47 

76 Poultney's foil for Smith's carbine. L 1.75, case 

1.34 (straight seam) 

77 Same, diagonal seam. L 2.0, case 1.44 

78 "Same, small chamber." (This specimen appears to be the cartridge for Gallager's carbine. Diagonal seam. L 2.12, case 1.69.) Recess in drawer would not fit a normal Smith 

cartridge. 

79 Poultney's foil for Burnside carbine. L 1.87 to 

1.90 

80 Same, for Maynard's carbine. Straight seam. 

L 1.69, case 1.19 

81 Same, for Gallager's carbine. Straight seam. 

L 2.12, case 1.69 

82 Same, with soldered foil case. L 1.925, case 1.619 

83 Jackson's patent, tinned iron case, for Gallager's 

carbine. L 2.66, case 1.619 

84 Gallager's carbine, paper-lined. L 2.02, case 

1.692 

85 Same, without paper liner. (Has more pointed 

bullet. Case has rounder base, with smaller 

diameter concavity.) L 2.087, case 1.692 

86 Maynard, for Maynard carbine. (A number 

were made at Frankford Arsenal in 1860, with 

40-grain charge and 343-grain bullet. The 

cases were tinned. An experimental type was 

made on special machines in 1865. This had a 

longer case, with front lubrication.) 

Description 

Silk and 

shellac 

Silk and 

shellac 

Silk and 

shellac 

Powder 

(grains) 

65 

20 

14 

Diameter 

(inches) 

.58 

.44 

.36 

Weight 

(grains) 

490 

260 

140 

Rubber 

Foil inside 

of paper 

Foil inside 

of paper 

Foil inside 

of paper 

Brass case 

Brass case 

Brass case 

40 .50 

40 .50(.52) 

40 .50(.52) 

40 .50 

Foil and paper 40 .54(.56) 

Foil and paper 40 .50(.52) 

Foil and paper 60 .50(.52) 

Foil 60 .50 

Paper over tin 55 .50(.52) 

60 .50 

60 .50 

40 .50(.52) 

380 

380 

380 

380 

370 

330 

440 

410 

430 

435 

435 

340 
NUMBER 11 17 

Bullet 

No. Name or Arm Description 

87 Burnside, for Burnside carbine. (Has more Brass case 

conical vent than usual. Some also made at 

Frankford in 1860, with 45-grain charge and 

400-grain bullet tinned cases.) 

88 Berdan sporting, 1865. (Hexagonal paper case Paper; brass 

to match twist of bore. Hole in head for ex- base 

ternal ignition.) 

89 Guncotton, Austrian (Baron von Lenk's de- Woven 

velopment. Woven to control burning rate; guncotton 

stick to assure proper chamber space.) For 

photo see plate 2h. 

90* Same, but without "button." (Small projection Woven 

on bullet nose.) guncotton 

91 Barlow guncotton paper. (Nitrated purple pa- Rolled paper 

per wrapped to form cartridge.) charge 

Powder Diameter 

(grains) (inches) 

48 

20 

28 

40 

.54(.56) 

.55 

.54 

.58 

.57 

Weight 

(grains) 

380 

410 

526 

540 

Fourth Drawer: Rim Primed and Miscellaneous 

Rather uniform lack of identifying markings or 

other characteristics on the cartridges of this period 

requires that detailed measurements of some items 

be given, in addition to the obvious distinctions 

evident through photographs, sketches, or verbal 

descriptions. Even so, a few cannot be distinguished 

except by dissection or an x-ray photograph. As the 

extra details will only interest the researcher, they 

will be condensed as much as possible and given 

at the end of the description of each cartridge. Th e 

following code will be used throughout: 

O over-all length in inches 

C case length 

R rim diameter 

H head diameter 

N neck diameter, where pertinent 

M mouth diameter 

B bullet diameter, at point of greatest size accessible 

In connection with bullet diameter note that the 

caliber first mentioned in the description is the 

nominal one, as stated in the original text of the 

collection catalog. This is presumed to be the bore 

diameter of the weapon, but in practice this often 

varied considerably from the measured bore. Many 

of the specimens have their bullets crimped into 

the case in such a manner that the largest diameter 

of the tapering bullet is covered by the case mouth. 

When possible, the largest part of the bullet has 

been measured. In other cases, the diameter listed 

will be at the case mouth or largest exposed diameter. 

Section I: Caliber .50, Service Musket Size 

No. 

92 

93 

94 

95 

Description 

Poultney (Crispin) foil. Brass foil with iron 

head and separate brass primer pocket inserted, clinching the reinforcing wad. 

0-2.293, C-1.850. [Figure 1.] 

Poultney (Crispin) foil. Zinc foil with iron 

head and separate brass pocket inserted, but 

not clinching the wad. Otherwise like No. 

92. [Figure 1A.] 

Poultney (Crispin) foil. Brass foil with brass 

base in one piece with impressed pocket. 

[Figure 2.] 

Hotchkiss solid head, by Winchester. Primer 

pocket is pressed up from interior of base, 

enclosing small anvil of various patterns. 

Similar cartridges made at Frankford Arsenal in November 1868. [Figure 3.] 
1(92) 

4(96) 

8(101) 

12(105) 

1A(93) 2(94) 3(95) 

tf 0 

6(99) 

9(102) 

7(100) 

11(104) 

13(106) 14(107) 

lltrrnn. fff/itifPi 

Q 17(119) 

15(109) 16(118) 

FKUU8 1-17. 
NUMBER 11 19 

No. Description 

96 Hotchkiss solid head reloader. Pocket and 

Berdan-type return anvil pressed up from 

solid head. Base rounded at outer edge, 

square at inner. [Figure 4.] 

97 Remington Martin-primed copper Service cartridge, made in 1872 for the field trials of 

the Remington rifles then being tested by 

the Army. These Martin cartridges as made 

by different plants vary only in minor details. Th e Remington version has the reentrant fold under the head, smaller primer 

cavity leaving more open space around the 

button at head end, and larger flat at bullet nose. Internally, the anvil is a notched 

copper disk. 0-2.211, C-1.782, R-.670, 

H-.573, M-.537, B-.493. [Figure 5.] 

98 Remington, 1874. Brass case with Berdantype folded head. Reinforcing cup on binder's board wad around pocket. 0-2.211, 

C-1.782, R-.670, H-.573, M-.539, B-.498. 

99 Winchester (Millbank) primer. Thick folded 

flange. The primer is a flanged percussion 

cap inserted in a pocket without anvil. The 

primer is copper. 0-2.279, C-1.779, H-.658. 

[Figure 6.] 

100 United States Cartridge Company. Solid head 

copper case, inside-primed in a pocket 

pressed up from solid metal of the base, 

the walls of the pocket then closed down 

on the priming, forming an anvil. Cast bullet. This specimen has the headstamp characteristic of the Meigs' patent cartridges— 

"U.S. Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass. Pat'd" 

plus "JM" in monogram. The last are the 

initials of Josiah V. Meigs, the patentee, 

who was superintendent of the U.S. Cartridge Company plant. [Figure 7.] 

101 U.S. Cartridge Company. Solid head brass 

case, with outside priming, using Farrington's patent "improved" primer (slightly 

dished surface). Shallow primer pocket 

without anvil; smooth flat head. O-2.240, 

C-1.764, R-.663. [Figure 8.] 

102 U.S. Cartridge Company. Solid head, outside 

primed, as furnished on order for 2,000,000 

of 24 November 1873. Differs from No. 101 

in the base being convex and thicker, and 

the bullet longer, with deeper cannelures. 

0-2.358, C-1.776, R-.669. [Figure 9.] 

No. Description 

103 Union Cartridge Company (Martin primed). 

Tested 2 November 1871. Single-fold rim, 

with copper-bar anvil. Bullet has rounder 

ogive than other Martin-type cartridges. 

0-2.286, C-1.761, R-.664, H-.560, M-.534, 

B-.513. [Figure 10.] 

104 Berdan, early form, brass, slightly necked case, 

with folded flange and shallow outside 

pocket. The burr of the pierced vent forms 

the anvil. Inside cup reinforce. Typical 

Berdan head as made by UMC. Flatnosed bullet, flat .175 diameter. O-2.360, 

C-1.748, R-.675, H-.565, M-.535, B-.515. 

[Figure 11.] 

105 Union Cartridge Company (Berdan-type), as 

furnished on order for 2,500,000 of 2 April 

and 24 November 1873. Reinforcing ring 

and return nipple anvil of the Berdan system. Bullet flat, .134 diameter. 0-2.233, 

C-1.753, R-.652, H-.560, M-.541, B-.510. 

[Figure 12.] 

Section II: Miscellaneous Center Primed 

Musket and Carbine Cartridges 

No. Description 

106 Early form of Berdan patent for .57 caliber. 

Inserted, thick brass, outside primer pocket, 

with flash hole and projecting burr off 

center. Copper case with flat head and flatnosed bullet, flat .308. 0-1.684, C-1.225, 

R-.647, B-.600. [Figure 13.] 

107 Brass case, Berdan type, caliber .57, with shallow impressed primer pocket. Burr of vent 

forms the anvil. Flat-nosed bullet; flat .308. 

O-1.704, C-1.340, R-.730, H-.648, B-.605. 

[Figure 14.] 

108 Caliber .44, Berdan type, with bottleneck brass 

case. Impressed shallow primer pocket, 

closed with primed disk; paper-patched bullet. 0-2.383, C-1.689, R-.653, H-.517, 

N-.515, M-.450, B-.443. 

109 Berdan type, made by Union Cartridge Company for Russian government. Caliber .42, 

charge 77 grains black powder, 375-grain 

bullet, paper patched. Bottleneck brass case 

with typical UMC Berdan head. O-2.908, 

C-2.257, R-.632, H-.517, N-.515, M-.450, 

B-.443. [Figure 15.] 
20 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. Description 

110 Ward Burton caliber .45, Berdan type, made 

by Union Cartridge Company. Load 85 

grains powder, 400 grain bullet, paper 

patched. 1872 tests. 0-2.318, C-1.796, 

R-.755, H-.658, N-.612, M-.481, B-.462. 

111 Ernest's caliber .45 rifle, Berdan type, by 

Union Cartridge Company. Charge 52 

grains, bullet 290 grains, paper patched. 

1872 tests. Slightly bottlenecked brass case. 

0-2.148, R-.639, H-.518, N-.507, M-.482, 

B-.476. 

112 Mead's explosive bullet cartridge, as used in 

1874 Gatling gun tests. Service cartridge dimensions. Mead's patent, 10 December 1872, 

with fulminate charged capsule (cal. .22 cartridge less bullet) inserted in nose. Case like 

No. 104, with four pierced flash holes. 

113 Remington cartridge for Navy carbine, Model 

1868. Inside-primed with iron cup, indents 

.264 from base. Readily confused with 

Frankford Arsenal cup-primed cadet cartridge, No. 451. 0-1.753, C-1.320, R-.640. 

H-.559, M-.541, B-.543. 

114 United States Cartridge Company, made for 

Navy. Solid head with Farrington's improved primer. Front lubrication (case 

covers bullet) otherwise Service case. Space 

in front of bullet filled with lubricant. 

C-2.235, R-.665, H-.567, M-.538. 

115 Winchester solid head, slightly bottlenecked 

case, with very thick head and rim. Outside 

primed, with cruciform anvil, large center 

flash hole. Paper patched bullet. O-2.850, 

C-2.260, R-.635, H-.518, N-.497, M-.464, 

B-.442. 

116 Morse's arch anvil, made for Navy, 1860. 

Morse patent No. 20,214 of 1858. The Army 

Ordnance Department made extensive tests 

and adopted the Morse system for converting muzzle-loaders to breechloaders. Only a 

few were so altered, however, before the 

Civil War delayed further work on modernizing for several years. The muskets converted to use the Morse cartridge at Springfield were caliber .69, a few rifles also being 

converted in caliber .54. These last were 

No. Description 

never tested but remained at the Armory. 

The caliber .69 Morse cartridges for the 

Army were made on contract (Muzzy), but 

it is likely that the smaller size was made 

at Frankford Arsenal to familiarize them 

with making metallic cartridges. There are 

two unexplained facets of this Morse production. First, no other mention has ever 

been noted of Navy interest in Morse. Second, the common Morse cartridge in collections is the caliber .58 size, tinned, said to 

have come from a case of them found years 

ago at Springfield Armory. Tinning was the 

Frankford practice in 1860, but the cartridge in the collection and that shown in 

Ordnance Memorandum 14 is the caliber 

.54. This has a bronze case, the anvil being 

of flat stock instead of the round wire found 

in other Morse cartridges. The thin rim is 

a flattened fold in contrast to the usual 

simple rim. It also uses a revolver cap, 

whereas the Army in using the Morse system insisted that the standard musket cap 

be used. No Morse arm has been mentioned 

that used a caliber .58 cartridge, though it 

was then the standard United States caliber. 

0-1.984, C-1.505, R-.687, H-.578, M-.575, 

B-.542. 

117* Bolt anvil, cap perforating an India-rubber 

base, like Morse's. (This specimen is now 

missing from the collection. It may have 

been the caliber .58 Morse, illustrated, 

which fits the inlet in this drawer.) 

118 Williams' caliber .45 rifle, having his patented 

bore-cleaning bullet with base plug and 

zinc washer on its rear. The copper case 

has an inside disk anvil, crimped into 

the flange. Superficially it resembles a rimfire cartridge. 0-1.925, C-1.612, R-.583, 

H-.503, M-.480, B-.450. [Figure 16.] 

119 Spiral-wrapped off-white paper case, with fiber 

base and outside metal pocket for cap and 

anvil. Cap and base protected by a metallic cover (now missing) that forms the 

flange. Copper cap in zinc primer pocket. 

C-2.205, B-.450. [Figure 17.] 
NUMBER 11 21 

Section III: Rimfire Musket and Carbine 

Cartridges 

No. Description 

120 Caliber .58, for Allen's alteration of Springfield rifle musket. Rimfire, copper case, with 

60 grains of powder and 500-grain bullet 

having small flat tip. Made at Springfield 

Armory in 1865 and marked on head ".58 

CAL." Small radial marks on the head were 

made by the fixture which spun the cases 

to distribute the priming composition in 

the rim. O-1.705, C-1.208, R-.711, H-.633, 

M-.622, B-.600. [Figure 18.] 

121 Caliber .50, straight case rimfire; made in 1865 

at Springfield Armory. Powder 60 grains, 

bullet 400 grains; head stamped "50 CAL." 

Three long crimps .500 from case mouth 

and .224 apart. 0-1.893, C-1.472, R-.642, 

H-.560, M-.512, B-.520. [Figure 19.] 

122 Caliber .50, bottleneck rimfire case, made in 

May 1866 at Springfield Armory. Charge 65 

grains, bullet 480 grains. Marked same as 

no. 121. O-2.095, C-1.333, R-.658, H-.569, 

N-.565, M-.538, B-.520. [Figure 20.] 

123 Caliber .45 straight rimfire case, made in May 

1866 at Springfield; one of Col. Laidley's 

experiments. Marked "45 CAL." Charge 65 

grains, bullet 480 grains. 0-2.939, C-1.829, 

R-.571, H-.498, M-.475, B-.473. [Figure 

21.] 

124 Caliber .45, bottle-shaped rimfire case, same 

series as no. 123. Charge 70 grains, bullet 

480 grains. Marked "45 CAL." 0-2.451, 

C-1.574, R-.619, H-.534, N-.530, M-.488, 

B-.459. [Figure 22.] 

125 Caliber .44 straight rimfire case, same series, 

experiment no. 2,1865-66. Charge 45 

grains, bullet 500 grains. O-2.507, C-1.409, 

R-.506, H-.453, M-.456, B-.459. 

No. Description 

126 Caliber .44, bottle-shaped rimfire case, same 

series, experiment no. 4,1865-66. Charge 

45 grains, bullet 350 grains. O-2.022, 

C-1.138, R-.572, H-.518, N-.518, M-.477, 

B-.475. 

127 Similar, experiment no. 5,1865-66. Charge 40 

grains, bullet 300 grains. O-1.710, C-1.010, 

R-.600, H-.518, N-.517, M-.477, B-.475. 

128 Similar, experiment no. 6,1865-66. Charge 

40 grains, bullet 350 grains. 0-1.712, 

C-.880, R-.648, H-.565, N-.564, M-.460, 

B-.470. 

129 Same as last, except 300-grain bullet. 

0-1.575. 

130 Caliber .50 straight rimfire case, same series, 

no. 8. Charge 55 grains, bullet 500 grains. 

G-2.159, C-1.238, R-.590, H-.502, M-.527, 

B-.519. 

131 Spencer no. 56, caliber .56-56 rimfire, carbine cartridge. About 50,000 made at Frankford 1865-66. Charge 40 grains, bullet 450 

grains. O-1.680, C-.910, R-.629, H-.555, 

M-.554, B-.550. Note that this cartridge entry refers to Ordnance Memorandum no. 14 

in which a different cartridge is shown for 

the FA Spencer—one with longer case and 

most of the bullet covered, resembling the 

usual .56-50 Spencer. Two specimens 

marked "FA" are like no. 131, however, and 

several cartridges said to have been given 

to W. C. Dodge at Frankford as samples of 

their manufacture appear to be identical. 

The caliber .50 carbine (Spencer and others) cartridge was made experimentally at 

Springfield Armory in 1865. 

132 Spencer .56-50, made by Leet 8c Company, 

1865. Tested April 1870. Charge 40 grains, 

bullet 395 grains. Three crimps, .375 from 

18(120) 19(121) 20(122) 

FIGURES 18-22. 

21(123) 22(124) 
22 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. 

133 

134 

135 

136 

Description 

mouth and .320 apart. 0-1.617, C-1.15, 

R-.642, H-.550, M-.516, B-.506. 

Spencer .56-56, made by Smith 8c Wesson, 

1865. Charge 40 grains, bullet 440 grains. 

Small flat on bullet nose, with center bullet 

band wider than in other makes. 0-1.641, 

C-.902, R-.646, H-.563, M-.562, B-.546. 

[I believe this specimen was made by Crittenden, Tibballs 8c Co., not by Smith 8c 

Wesson. The source of error may stem from 

its being cited under the license and labels 

of "Smith Sc Wesson patent."] 

Caliber .52 for Sharps and Hankins rifle, as 

made by Leet Sc Company, 1865. Charge 55 

grains, bullet 460 grains, with round nose, 

two exposed grooves, and linen patch, secured by boss on bullet base. 0-1.754, 

C-1.154, R-.651, H-.557, M-.554, B-.543. 

Caliber .44, for Ballard's carbine, made by 

Smith 8c Wesson in 1865. Charge-25 grains, 

bullet 205 grains. 0-1.534, C-.969, R-.505, 

H-.432, B-.440. Note: some of these are 

"heel" bullets, the reduced part fitting inside the case mouth, and the larger part 

being greater in diameter than the case. 

Caliber .44, for Henry carbine, by New Haven 

Arms Company, 1864. Headstamp a raised 

"H." Charge 30 grains, bullet 210 grains. 

0-1.374, C-.830, R-.515, H-.443, M-.442, 

B-.455. 

Section IV: Pistol Cartridges 

No. Description 

137 Inside cap, bolt anvil, single arch, caliber .44. 

This is for the French Perrin revolver, 

which was purchased by the U.S. during 

the Civil War. The nominal size is 11 mm 

(.438); case length .59. [Figure 23.] 

138 Inside cap, bolt anvil, double arch, caliber 

.44. This is another French revolver cartridge, for the 12mm (.450) Rafael, also 

used in the Civil War. No rim or groove on 

case. Case length .53. [Figure 24.] 

139 Outside cap, solid base, caliber .44. This is 

F. Alexander Theur's patent for the first 

alteration of Colt's Army revolver, Model 

1860. Front loading was made necessary by 

the Rollin White patent, controlled by 

Smith 8c Wesson. Specimen no. 382 is an 

inside, cup-primed version of this same 

cartridge. [Figure 25.] 

140 Outside cap, center flange, caliber .36. This is 

for the centerfire Crispin revolver. 

141 Outside cap, front flanged, caliber .30, front 

loading. This revolver cartridge has a 

primer resembling I. M. Milbank's. [Figure 

26.] 

142 Outside cap, square-end case, caliber .36, exposed nipple. A Martin-primed revolver 

cartridge now occupies this space. (A car23(137) 24(138) 25(139) 26(141) 27(148) 

FIGURES 23-27. 
NUMBER 11 23 

No. Description 

tridge which answers this description is 

for J. V. Meigs' magazine pistol, caliber .36. 

L-1.535, C-1.393, straight case .438, no rim, 

with steel-insert head, having a steel nipple.) 

143 Teat primed, caliber .44 spheroidal base, front 

lubricated, front flanged. Made under D. 

Williamson's 1864 patent, No. 41183. This 

is for the National caliber .45 front-loading 

revolver. C-1.520, H-.473. 

144 Teat primed, caliber .36, similar, except flattened teat. Made by National Arms Company, New York, in 1860. C-1.520, H-.329. 

145 Similar, with round teat. C-1.268, H-.330. 

146 Cup primed, caliber .40, no flange, concave 

No. Description 

base, front lubricated. Made under the Ellis 

8c White 1859 patent, No. 24726. For Plant's 

and other caliber .36 revolvers. C-1.118, 

H-.413. 

147 Similar, but caliber .30, front flanged. 

C-.930, H-.305. 

148 Rim primed, caliber .24, no flange, solid base, 

front lubricated. An unknown front-loading 

cartridge, probably made under the Ellis 8c 

White patent, for the system known as cup 

priming. C-.900, H-.270. [Figure 27.] 

149 Rim primed, caliber .30, center flange, spheroidal base. This is the caliber .31 Crispin 

cartridge. 

Fifth Drawer: Foreign and Sporting Cartridges 

No. Description 

150 English Boxer Snider, caliber .577; parts and 

stages of manufacture, showing sealed front 

cavity in bullet. This is the Mark VII 

cartridge. 

151 Assembled round, from components of No. 

150, caliber .577, Mark VII Snider. Case 

usually identified by a single black band, 

as is the Mark VI, which has the wooden 

nose plug of bullet exposed. 

152 English Boxer Henry (forerunner of the Martini Henry) caliber .45. Long foil and paper 

case, with 360-degree cannelure .555 from 

mouth. Paper-patched 1.283", 480-grain bullet. This case proved too fragile in Service 

tests. 0-3.247. 

153 Same, foil only; bullet 1.265". 

154 English Boxer Henry, caliber .45 (Martini 

Henry). Bottle-shaped foil case. Charge 85 

grains, bullet 484 grains. Tested by Small 

Arms Caliber Board in 1872, being No. 51 

of their report. Cupped wad under bullet. 

The Mark II cartridge. 

155 Similar, shortened, as made by Eley Brothers, 

for the Martini Henry caliber .45 carbine. 

The Mark I carbine cartridge. 

156 French Chassepot paper cartridge (more often 

made of paper and silk), caliber .43 (11-mm). 

Charge 74 grains, bullet 388 grains. The 

cap is covered by a thin metal disk, in turn 

No. Description 

enclosed in the paper base. Used in the 

Franco-Prussian War of 1872. 

157 French mitrailleuse, pasteboard with Pottettype metal head. About caliber .50. Powder 

180 grains, bullet 750 grains. The charge 

is compressed in six short cylinders. There 

was also a multiple ball load. 

158 Prussian needle gun, M1872; paper; cylinder 

choked in front of bullet which is eggshaped and carried in a compressed paper 

sabot. This sabot contains the cap in its 

base. Charge 74 grains, bullet 325 grains. 

O-2.20. 

159 Same, but with explosive bullet having a percussion element in front. Charge 70 grains, 

bullet 431 grains, this cartridge has yellowish paper and is about .125 longer than the 

ball round; 0-2.33 from base to tie string. 

160 Prussian new metallic; solid base, flange similar to Berdan type, with the powder space 

extending to the rear of flange. Paperpatched 438-grain bullet with round nose. 

This is the Ml871 Mauser cartridge. That 

for Ml871/84 had a flat-nosed bullet. [Figure 28.] 

161 Russian, made in Russia; phosphor bronze 

case (reddish); with Berdan anvil. Charge 

about 80 grains, bullet about 375 grains, 

patched. Lubricant at first a disk on bullet 

base. 0-2.958, C-2.260. 
24 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

28(160) 29(163) 30(164) 31(165) 

FIGURES 28-31. 

No. Description 

162 Same, by Union Cartridge Company. Brass 

case, caliber .42. Charge 77 grains, bullet 

373 grains, paper-patched, with lubricant 

disk on base and also dipped. 0-2.978, 

C-2.256. 

163 Austrian "Werndl," copper case; copper annular anvil in outside pocket, caliber about 

.44 (11.36-mm). Charge 65 grains, bullet 318 

grains. Fired by Small Arms Caliber Board 

in 1872, and No. 53 of their report. 

0-2.396, C-1.643 (41.34-mm). Head marked 

"iv 1870 GR." [Figure 29.] 

164 Dutch Beaumont rifle musket, caliber .45 

(11.4-mm). Solid brass head, pocket cap, and 

anvil. Anvil has protruding extension 

through flash hole to use in knocking out 

the fired cap for repriming. Powder 68 

grains, bullet 337 grains, caliber board test 

No. 31. O-2.407, C-2.004 (50.9-mm), B-.455 

(11.6-mm). [Figure 30.] 

165 Dutch carbine, caliber .45 (11.4-mm). Brass 

case with folded head and reinforcing 

cup; anvil similar to No. 164. Charge 50 

grains, bullet 337 grains, with one wide 

and one thin cannelure. O-2.260, C-1.750 

(44.5-mm). [Figure 31.] 

166 Swiss, caliber .41, copper cased rimfire carNo. Description 

tridge, as first used in the Milbank-Amsler 

conversion of small-bore Swiss muzzle-loading rifles, M1863/67. Later used in the boltaction Vetterli rifle. Charge 60 grains, bullet 

312 grains. Caliber Board No. 52. Head 

marking "T." O-2.200, C-1.498, R-.613, 

H-.536, N-.512, M-.434, B-.430 (10.9-mm). 

167 Berdan sporting, for shot; return pocket and 

anvil, center flash hole plus four punctures, 

cap primed. Brass case, without head marking. Made by U.S. Cartridge Company. 

168 Eley sporting, for shot. Pocket and anvil, cap 

primed. Pasteboard, with metal base. No. 

12 (= 12 gauge). 

169 Same, but No. 20 ( = 20 gauge). 

170 Same, except Le Faucheux (pinfire) priming; 

No. 10 ( = 10 gauge). 

171 Leet sporting, for shot. Pocket and anvil, cap 

primed. Pasteboard, reinforced with metallic foil near metal base. Marked "c. D. LEET, 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS." 

172 Same except pinfire. 

173 Same as No. 171, except whole case reinforced 

with brass foil, plus 7/8-inch cardboard cup 

at base. 

174 Le Faucheux (pinfire) pistol cartridges, three 

calibers. 

Sixth Drawer: Modification of Charge 

Caliber .50 Cartridges 

During the period when most of these cartridges 

were being developed, the tendency was toward 

ever decreasing calibers and higher velocities. Under these circumstances, the length of the powder 

charge became a critical matter. As it was of greatest 

importance to diminish the length of the powder 
NUMBER 11 25 

column, both to facilitate manufacture and to assure uniform ignition, extensive experiments were 

conducted at Frankford Arsenal. It had already 

been established that compressing the powder column would not give satisfactory ignition unless a 

central hole or some other means was provided to 

get the flash of the primer to the powder uniformly 

and rapidly. Tests were made to determine the effect of different degrees and kinds of compression, 

as well as the best method of perforating the charge. 

Because dense and light musket powders were found 

to act differently, two makes, Hazard's (densest and 

most highly glazed) and Oriental (lightest and dullest), were selected and prepared. DuPont's rifle 

powder was tried in one series. It appeared that the 

depth to which compression penetrated diminished 

rapidly, hence the final cylinder of powder was 

densest next to the end where movement had been 

applied. 

Three systems of compression were tried, cylinders compressed from the rear, from the front, and 

from both ends. Two ignition systems were compared, first a cylindrical hole entirely through the 

powder, of about 0.25 of-an-inch at its base, and 

second, a hole extending about nine-tenths of the 

powder length from the rear. This means of ignition, investigated by Ordnance, had also been tried 

by Colonel G. M. Boxer in his Snider cartridge (see 

p. 8). Th e exterior of the compressed powder had 

to conform to that of the cartridge case with enough 

clearance to allow for manufacturing variables. 

With this clearance allowance and the hole, enough 

powder space was wasted so that considerable compression was required just to equal the old loose 

charge. As the two types of powder compressed differently, adjustment was made in the cavity to 

equalize density. Charges were diminished by tenths 

of an inch, from 1.17 inch, the Service length, to 

0.87 inch. Oriental powder being that used in the 

Service cartridge, was used for the first series of 

tests. Hazard's was used in the second, eliminating 

from the second series the fourth degree of compression, that having been found of no value in the 

first series. 

It was found that compressed powder gave more 

uniform velocities, compression at both ends being 

preferred. Th e perforated charge was the best. 

Though some advantage was found with compressed 

charges, the expected reduction of length did not 

materialize, as the perforation and clearance used 

tip most of the space saved. Pressures and velocities 

both increased with compression, the former at a 

considerably higher rate. Considering these disadvantages and the added trouble in loading, the 

compressed charge idea was dropped. Th e British 

government, in 1888, used a compressed perforated 

charge of black powder in its first caliber .303 cartridge, in an attempt to attain maximum performance in a rather small case. Availability of newly 

developed smokeless powders made further efforts 

with black powder futile. 

Pressure for these tests was determined by the 

Rodman pressure plug, the breech mechanism being 

tapped on the upper surface, about in the center, 

to receive the pressure piston fixture (Figure 32). 

Each cartridge intended for pressure test had a 

round opening in its side, temporarily covered with 

paper. This came opposite the opening of the pressure apparatus in the top of the chamber, the cartridge requiring indexing in loading. 

With the earlier rimfire cartridges, this opening 

was made concentrically in the base of the case. 

Then the piston was in prolongation of the bore 

to the rear, in a solid housing which replaced the 

breech mechanism. In this arrangement it was necessary to unscrew the breech to load, then screw it 

up again. This system was very troublesome when 

using a fixed rest, while taking both pressure and 

velocity from the same shot. But the most serious 

objection was that it could not be used with centerfire ammunition. 

In the sixth drawer, the first four specimens (nos. 

175-178) are small bottles of the powder types used, 

Oriental, Hazard, and DuPont musket powder, and 

DuPont rifle powder, each protected by a cartridge 

case. The last five cartridges (nos. 240-244) show 

"patent" powders submitted by Sleeper and Gomez. 

Of these, numbers 240-243 vary only in the size of 

the charge; 15, 20, 25, and 30 grains respectively. 

The remaining space is taken up by cardboard 

wads. Number 244 is loaded with Gomez' "iron 

powder," in 20-grain pills. These were detonating, 

or very fast powders, placed between rolls of paper 

strip or with some other sort of arrangement to 

delay burning. These were tried in Europe but not 

adopted, as a small overload would burst the gun. 

In the main series of cartridges (nos. 179-227), 

the only practical differences that can be observed 

are the method of priming and the case lengths. 

There is a perceptible difference in the appearance 
26 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

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IPUtRS , PHOTO-UTHOOflAPHCn. WASHINQTON, 0 C 

FIGURE 32. 
NUMBER 11 27 

of the compressed powder, the dense Hazard powder retaining its granular appearance under compression, whereas the Oriental powder broke up 

considerably, with an appreciable proportion reduced to dust. This, however, is believed to be of 

only academic interest. Seven different case lengths 

and seven corresponding powder cylinder lengths 

(all 70 grains) are involved in numbers 179 to 227, 

all of them centerfire, inside-primed copper cases, 

with tinned-iron cup anvil. Thus there are really 

only seven distinct varieties identifiable as complete 

rounds, and one of these is the standard Servicelength cartridge, varying only in the compressed 

charge inside. This form of charge can be detected 

in an x-ray photograph. 

The tests of compressed powder for the main 

series were reported on 28 March 1870. The next 

series of specimens, numbers 228 to 239, are copper 

rimfire cartridges, loaded with powder having various degrees of compression. These have all been 

prepared for pressure tests by having a .375-inch 

hole made in the base, and covered with paper before loading. There are two series of six different 

case lengths each, varying only in the powder 

granulation. 

No. Description 

179-182 Loaded with Oriental powder, perforated 

and compressed from the front. Powder 

lengths 1.17, 1.07, .97, and .87 inches, 

and case lengths 1.75, 1.65, 1.55, and 

1.45 inches respectively. [Figure 33.] 

183-186 Same as last, but compressed from the 

rear; same lengths. 

187-190 Same, but compressed from both ends; 

same lengths. 

191-194 Oriental powder, with conical rear cavity, 

compressed from front; same lengths. 

[Figure 34.] 

No. Description 

195-198 Same as last, but compressed from rear 

cavity, same lengths. 

199-202 Same, but compressed from both ends; 

same lengths. 

203-205 Hazard's powder, perforated, and compressed from front. Powder lengths 

1.17, 1.07, and .97 inches; case lengths 

1.75, 1.65, and 1.55 inches, respectively. 

206-208 Same, compressed from rear; same 

lengths. 

209-211 Same, compressed from both ends; same 

lengths. 

212-214 Hazard's powder, conical rear cavity, compressed from front; same lengths. 

215-217 Same as last, but compressed from rear; 

same lengths. 

218-220 Same, but compressed from both ends; 

same lengths. 

221-227 DuPont's rifle powder, compressed from 

rear, perforated. Powder lengths 1.17, 

1.12, 1.07, 1.02, .97, .92, and .87 inches. 

Corresponding case lengths are: 1.75, 

1.70, 1.65, 1.60, 1.55, 1.50, and 1.45 

inches. This short series with rifle powder was tried for comparison with the 

others. 

228-233 Hazard's FFG powder, 70 grains, compressed in the case, varying in the 

amount solidified from .05, .1, .15, .2, 

.25, and .3; and in corresponding case 

lengths of 1.67, 1.57, 1.52, 1.47, and 

1.42 inches. 

234-239 Same, except FFFG powder; same compression and case lengths. Obviously only 

the six different case lengths can be distinguished. These last tests were fired 

on 3 September 1870. 

33(179) 34(191) 

! 

1 , 

1

 1 11 

FIGURES 33-34. 

1 1 

\ 1 

I 1 

1 1 
28 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. Description 

240-243 Sleeper's chlorate powder, 15-, 20-, 25-, 

and .30-grain charges. 

244 Gomez' iron gunpowder, 20-grain pills. 

Plate 32.s shows the original charge of 

No. Description 

three pills (as illustrated from General 

John Pitman's notes, n.d.) superimposed upon the empty cartridge case 

which is in the collection. 

Seventh Drawer: Modifications in Bullet and Lubricant 

Specimens numbered 245 through 291 show the 

details of various experimental bullets and lubrication systems tested in the centerfire caliber .50 Service cartridge. Numbers 292 through 310 were listed 

as "vacant" spaces in the original exhibit. Presumably, these were left vacant to allow spaces for future specimens at later exhibits. Many of these bullets vary only in the part covered by the case. In 

order to facilitate identifying cartridges thought 

to be from this series, the external differences are 

tabulated before listing the specimens. 

Case variants 

Standard 1.760-inch copper cases: nos. 245-247, 250-

253, 255-259, 261-264, 271-273, 275-277, 279-290. 

Shorter than standard case: 1.725 inch: no. 278; 

1.749: no. 246. 

Longer than standard cases: 1.840: no. 248; 1.850: 

nos. 267, 274, 276; 1.860: nos. 268, 269; 1.890: no. 

291; 1.940: no. 266; 1.960: nos.^249, 251, 254, 260, 

265, 270. 

Primer variants 

Tinned iron bar anvil: nos. 245-246, 262-264, (Indents .105" from base). 

Copper cup anvil: nos. 261, 279, 289-291 (Indentations .2" from head); 274-275, 278, 284-288 (Indentations .25" from head); all indents are .21" apart. 

Tinned iron cup anvil: all others. 

No. Description 

245 Bullet used in most bar anvil ammunition up 

to 1868. 

246 Experimental bullet with cannelure deepened 

to .04 inch to hold more lubricant. 

O-2.190, 1867. 

247 Experimental bullet with cannelures deepened to .045, 1867. 

248 Bullet determined by Lt. Stockton's experiments. Used in Service from March 1868 to 

July 1870. 

249 Experimental, a disk of lubricant with wad 

No. Description 

under the bullet, added to the usual lubrication in the cannelures. 

250 Same, without the lubrication in cannelures. 

251 Experimental front lubrication case, projecting on the front of bullet. Space filled with 

lubricant in addition to that in cannelures. 

252 Experimental star patch of banknote paper, 

covering base and cylindrical surfaces of 

bullet; lubricant in cannelures. 

253 Similar, plus a disk of lubricant at base of 

bullet. 

254 Similar, but the base disk applied outside the 

patch. 

255- Experimental wrapped patch of banknote pa257 per instead of star patch. These three correspond to numbers 252-254, except for type 

of patch. 

258 Experimental, the diameter of the bullet re-f 

duced by .005 inch. 

259 Experimental, the bullet hardened by addition of one-twelfth tin. (Note: The bullets 

with extra tin added have retained a clean 

bright surface, while the others have oxidized or darkened perceptibly). 

260 Experimental bullet, smooth, with lubricant 

in disk on base; wrapped patch. 

261 Similar, but smooth ellipsoidal bullet nose. 

262 Experimental bullet, smooth, hardened with 

one-twelfth tin, patched and lubricated with 

wax disks and wads, like the earlier MartiniHenry. 

263 Experimental bullet, with two broad cannelures (Benet) instead of the usual three 

narrow ones. 

264 Same, except lightened by 40 grains by cavity 

in base. 

265 Same, but lengthened to 2i/2 calibers (1.250), 

the weight preserved at 450 grains by base 

cavity. 

266 Same as last, but hardened by one-twelfth tin. 
NUMBER II 29 

No. Description 

267 Like No. 265, except 214 calibers (1.125), 450-

grain bullet. 0-2.345. 

268 Same, tin added. 

269 Like No. 267, except diameter reduced by .01 

inch, 450 grains. 

270 Same, tin added. 

271 Experimental sectional bullet (Farley's); front 

of bullet dowelled into rear; lubricant between sections. 

272 Similar, except rear of bullet dowelled into 

front. (Neither of these worked well.) 

273 Experimental bullet; a conoidal frustum on a 

reduced conical frustum, flushed with lubricant. Bullet 1.0. 

274 Similar, 1.1 inches long. 

275 Experimental bullet; imitation of Swiss "Federal" bullet, Service weight, lubrication in 

cannelures. 

276 Resembling the Service bullet, but diameter 

ahead of front cannelure equal to the general diameter, the reduction to be effected 

by crimping the case. Used in Service ammunition from 21 July 1870. 

277 Experimental Roberts bullet; blunt ellipsoidal front, broad shallow cannelure, and cavity in base. Lubrication in cannelure. 

278 Experimental; Dimmick bullet No. 1; frustum 

of a conoid on frustum of a cone. 

279 Same, but No. 2; frustum of a cone on a cylinder, two cannelures. 

280 Same, but No. 3; shallow dished cavity in base. 

No. Description 

281 Experimental; Weeks bullet No. 1; conoidal 

frustum on cylinder; three bearing rings, 

lubricated by greased wrapped patch. 

282 Same, but No. 2; two bearing rings, lubricated 

by circular greased patch. 

283 Same, but No. 3; smooth bullet. 

284 Experimental carbine, reduced from rifle 

musket, 450 grains to 430 grains, by conoidal cavity in base. 

285 Same, except reduced to 415 grains. Fired with 

various charges. 

286 Same, but reduced further, to 400 grains. Various charges. 

287 Same, reduced to 385 grains. Various charges. 

288 Experimental carbine, reduced from 450 to 

415 grains by making the front ellipsoidal. 

Fired with two different charges. 

289 Same, but reduced to 430 grains. Fired with 

two different charges, that of 55 grains being 

adopted as the standard carbine load, in 

1872. 

290 Experimental; Hubbell's adaptation of the 

Prussian needle-gun bullet and sabot to 

metallic case. Fired with slight modifications, in three forms. A similar bullet-sabot 

combination was tried in the .45-70 cartridge. 

291 Experimental gas-check bullet; substantially 

like the Service, but made with an extension 

or lap around mouth of case, outside. 

292-310 Vacant. 

Eighth Drawer: Anvils and Cap-primed Cases 

Section I: Disk and Bar Anvils 

(Standard 1.750 copper case unless otherwise noted). 

No. Description 

311 Center swell-base; copper disk anvil, two 

vents; short .969-inch copper case. Charge 40 

grains, bullet 450 grains. FA 1865. [Figure 

35.] 

312 Iron disk anvil, chamfered and crimped into 

flange; 360-degree ring crimp at base. Anvil 

has slot vent. Springfield, 1867. C-1.780. 

[Figure 36.] 

313 Broad bar anvil, iron, chamfered and crimped 

into flange. Same crimp as last. Slot vent. 

Springfield, 1867. C-1.770. [Figure 37.] 

No. Description 

314 Martin bar anvil, reinforced; tinned iron anvil with Benton's reinforce, held in place 

by two indents, .092 inch from base to 

center, .480 inches between ends of indents. Springfield, 1867. O-2.270, C-1.762, 

R-.668, H-.568, M-.544. (First made at 

Springfield in 1866, but without the reinforcing cup.) [Figure 38.] 

315 Similar to no. 314, but as made at Frankford 

for Service use from October 1866 to March 

1868. No reinforce. Indents .110 from base 

and .480 between, and the mark made by 

crimping tool edge is wider. Bullet 450 

grains, with three cannelures. 0-2.262, 
35(311) 36(312) 

39(315) 

43(318) 

47(323) 

37(313) 

^z^ 

(X) ! I 

V

 ' ^V7T7a^TTjm^ 

42(317A) 

40(316) 

41(317) 

^^W 

44(319) 45(320) 46(322) 

48(324) 

49(326) 50(330) 

!k^m> JUaul JUSBNI 

51(331) 

C^> 

FIGURES 35-51. 
NUMBER 11 31 

No. Description 

C-1.765, R-.667, H-.565, M-.540. [Figure 

39.] 

315A Variant, as used in Service. Appears to be a 

little longer overall than no. 315—2.284 vs 

2.262—the latter having the bullet in no. 

245, the former that of no. 248. 0-2.284, 

C-1.785, R-.650, H-.563, M-.542. 

316 Copper bar anvil, chamfered ends held by 

re-entrant fold, seen as ring at base. Springfield, 1870. C-1.783, R-.659, H-.565, 

M-.540. [Figure 40.] 

317 Copper disk anvil, plain square edges, held in 

by indents .110 from base and .264 between. 

Frankford, August 1871. C-1.775, R-.665, 

H-.564, M-.545. [Figure 41.] 

317AThere is a variant of no. 317, in which the 

disk is beveled towards the rear. Indents are 

.100 from head and .259 apart. The head 

shows a pronounced ring opposite the disk 

chamfer, about .530 in diameter. Frankford, 

August 1871. C-1.785, R-.658, H-.563, 

M-.542. [Figure 42.] 

318 Copper disk anvil in reinforcing cup, both 

held by two large stab crimps .125 from 

base. One of Col. Treadwell's experiments 

with gas checks. The head has a .125 hole 

to increase sensitivity over the primer area. 

C-1.750. [Figure 43.] 

319 Copper disk anvil, chamfered, held in by reentrant fold, seen as ring at base. Frankford, October 1871. C-1.757, R-.663, 

H-.568, M-.544. [Figure 44.] 

320 Copper disk anvil, expanding, held in by indents .154 from head and .180 between. 

Head shows ring .360 in diameter. Frankford, 1871. C-2.780, R-.664, H-.560, 

M-.543. [Figure 45.] 

321 Copper disk anvil, expanding, held in by 

knurl all around; has fold underneath. The 

360-degree crimp is .155 from base, case reduced at front. Frankford, October 1871. 

322 Copper disk anvil, corrugated, held in by 

knurl all around, .105 from base, which is 

corrugated. Frankford, September and October 1871 for test and Service. C-1.780, 

R-.659, H-.565, M-.542. [Figure 46.] 

323 Covered base anvil, primed outside of base, 

priming covered by a flat cap embracing 

No. Description 

flange. Case 1.775, reduced at front. Frankford, February 1872. [Figure 47.] 

324 Needle, or disk and bolt, anvil. Primer in base 

of bullet. Disk held by fold at head. Bolt is 

iron and pointed like a firing pin. Disk is 

brass. Looks like a rimfire cartridge. 

C-1.768. [Figure 48.] 

325 Like last, but bolt squared up in front, like 

winding arbor. Frankford Arsenal. The first 

type tried, with a round bolt, simply flattened at the end, gave poor ignition. These 

cartridges can be distinguished from rimfires by their attraction to a magnet, but 

they cannot be told from each other by external characteristics. 

326 Martin primer pocket, made by a complex 

fold of the head. Short wide copper bar anvil, held in place by fold of pocket. Head 

has plain fold (not re-entrant). Inside reinforcing cup. Springfield—the original Martin primer cartridge. 0-2.234, C-1.739, 

R-.672, H-.564, M-.542. [Figures 49.] 

There was trouble with the head of this 

type cartridge. Tooling slightly out of adjustment would compress the flange too 

tightly. Then when fired, the case would fail 

at the rim, the crimped bullet sometimes 

pulling the case off the head, dragging it 

into the rifled part of the bore, and requiring considerable work to extract it. Th e 

same thing could be caused by defective 

metal. As this sort of defect could not be 

found in inspection testing short of firing 

several thousand rounds to find one bad 

case, the manufacture of this type case for 

Service use was terminated at Frankford in 

December 1871. 

327 Similar, but without reinforcing cup. Anvil 

either copper or tinned iron. Springfield, 

1869. 0-2.245, C-1.760, R-.667, H-.563, 

M-.542. 

328 Same, except brass case. Sprinefield, 1869. 

0-2.261, C-1.740, R-.663, H-.526, M-.548. 

329 Same, with re-entrant fold above flange. Copper bar anvil, copper case. Springfield, 1870. 

0-1.143, C-1.760, R-.657, H-.565, M-.548. 

330 Same, but with double-indented copper 

disk anvil. Made at Frankford for Service 
32 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. Description 

use from November to December 1871. 

T h e usual Martin-primed .50-70. 0-2.265, 

C-1.755, R-.653, H-.563, M-.541. Deeper 

cup than in no. 329, hence appears to have 

more space around "button" at head. Rim 

tends to be a little thicker than in no. 

329-.060 vs .050. [Figure 50.] 

331 Martin pocket, single-fold head, reinforced 

with solder in flange. Frankford, 1872. 

C-1.739, R-.667, H-.563, M-.544. [Figure 

51.] 

332 Martin pocket, closed down without anvil. 

Frankford, 1873. C-1.750, R-.662, H-.574, 

M-.547. 

Section II: Cap-primed Cases 

No. Description 

Numbers 333 and 334 vacant. 

335 Benet narrow pocket saddle anvil, with small 

(.186 inch) cap. Short copper, folded-head 

case. Bullet similar to that used in the Service carbine. Single flash-hole at side of 

pocket. Frankford 1866. 0-1.575, C-1.114, 

R-.644, H-.559, M-.556. [Figure 52.] 

336 Similar, but brass case with larger (.245") 

primer, same bullet. Frankford, 1866. 

0-1.583, C-1.065, R-.656, H-.559, M-.562. 

337 Solid nipple head; iron nipple in pocket in 

solid brass base of short brass case. Frankford, 1865. C-1.318. [Figure 53.] 

338 Crispin foil and paper; pocket pressed in 

brass cup attached to base of wrapped case. 

Different thicknesses of foil tried, using different color paper—yellow and green have 

been noted. Service bullet, having one cannelure exposed. Height of base .300. Frankford, 1867. 0-2.245, C-1.532, R-.653, 

H-.561, M-.530. [Figure 54.] 

339 Laidley arch anvil; iron "H " anvil reaching 

to bullet. Springfield 1866. Resembles rimfire cartridge. 0-1.832, C-1.326, R-.666, 

H-.563, M-.528, B-.502 (ahead of crimp). 

[Figure 55.] 

340 Laidley capped bar; inside cap on an arched 

iron bar, held in place by narrow indents, 

about .150 from base. Springfield, 1866. 

C-1.769. [Figure 56.] 

No. Description 

341 Star cap receiver; inside cap and anvil contained in a star-shaped pocketed receiving 

plate. Th e base plate is held in position by 

the rim fold. Looks like rimfire cartridge 

superficially. Frankford, 1866. 0-2.248, 

C-1.765, R-.662, H-.561, M-.545. [Figure 

57.] 

342 Cup cap-receiver; inside cup and anvil, contained in a pocket of the brass reinforcing 

cup. Cup held by two stab crimps .179 

from base. Made at Frankford, February 

1872. C-1.775, R-.667, H-.563, M-.546. 

[Figure 58.] 

343 Reinforced pocket, brass case. Cup reinforce 

held in by pressing back the primer pocket, 

which is a separate piece from head. Frankford, 1872. C-1.757. [Figure 59.] 

344 Plate flanged; brass base held on by a separate 

clinched primer pocket. This pocket is 

heavy brass, inserted from inside and 

clinched outside. Outside cap with spearshaped anvil. Bottleneck brass case with 

paper-patched bullet. Frankford, 1872. 

O-3.014, C-2.365, R-.574, H-.500, N-.483, 

M-.439, B-.414. [Figure 60.] 

345 Similar, except held together by primer 

pocket, inserted from outside and clinched 

on inside. Frankford, January 1872. [Figure* 

61.] 

346 Wrapped brass metal foil, soldered into pocketed base cup. Outside cap and spearhead 

anvil. Base cap .288 inch. Frankford, January 1872. C-1.780. 

347 Front ignition; wrapped brass foil case, soldered into brass base cup .310 inch high. 

Primer pocket extended nearly to bullet. 

Outside cap and bolt anvil. Frankford, 1872. 

C-1.940, R-.665, H-.562, M-.534. [Figure 

62.] 

348 Front ignition; copper case, pocketed for cap 

and spearhead anvil. Th e pocket prolonged 

in a small tube, nearly to the bullet. Base 

filled with solder. Frankford, 1872. C-1.759, 

R-.662, H-.561, M-.540. [Figure 63.] 

349 Treadwell cube anvil; brass case, reinforced 

with inside ring. Pocketed for outside cap 

containing a cubical anvil. Plain flat head. 

Frankford, 1872. C-1.767, R-.667, H-.565, 

M-.540. 
NUMBER 11 33 

55(339) 

58(342) 59(343) 60(344) 61(345) 

62(347) 

jwyb 

63(348) 

^ 

FIGURES 52-64. 
34 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. Description 

350 Same, except head reinforced with solder, 

without ring. No external means to distinguish between these last two. 

351 Treadwell spherical anvil. Case reinforced 

with solder in flange. Pocketed for outside 

cap and spherical anvil. Frankford, 1872. 

Same as last two and indistinguishable from 

them externally. 

352 Cast base; wrapped brass case, with soft metal 

base cast on. Pocketed for outside cap and 

spherical anvil. C-1.819, R-.667, H-.559, 

M-.545. [Figure 64.] 

353 Berdan base, with typical Berdan pocket and 

reinforcing. Appears to be gliding metal 

case. Frankford, 1872. C-1.740, R-.667, 

H-.564, M-.540. 

354 Berdan anvil, wrapped metal (appears to be 

gilding metal); base cup with pocket and 

Berdan return anvil. Usual reinforcing ring 

replaced by the wrapped metal and solder. 

Base cup .322 inches high. Frankford, 1872. 

C-1.792, R-.664, H-.560, M-.543. 

Section III: Cup Anvils 

No. Description 

355 Tinned cup anvil; straight case. Held in by 

crimps or indents, .255 from base and .186 

apart. Service cartridge from March 1868 

to September 1869. Frankford. 0-2.236, 

C-1.760, R-.669, H-.563, M-.547. [Figure 

65.] 

356 Tinned cup anvil; cylindrical, slightly 

throated (.010) or necked case. Tinned cup 

held in by two crimps .255 from base and 

.186 apart. Service cartridge from September 1869 to August 1870. From this date, 

the standard case retained this .01 reduction, about .575 from mouth. Frankford. 

0-2.242, C-1.766, R-.665, H-.564, M-.533. 

357 Side-vent, iron cup anvil (no hole in center), 

flutes leading from priming to sides. Cup 

shown below no. 355 is photo of eighth 

drawer. Cup held by indents. Indistinguishable externally from no. 356. 

358 Copper cup anvil; substituted for tinned iron. 

Held by crimps .257 from base and .214 

apart. Service cartridge from August 1870 

No. Description 

to November 1871. Frankford. 0-2.268, 

C-1.764, R-.663, H-.564, M-.544. 

358- Cups of various materials and vents. Experibis mental. Frankford December 1870. [Plates 

15, 38/', 45k.] 

359 Corrugated base, copper cup anvil. Annular 

depression near edge of base. Springfield 

and Frankford, October 1870. 

360 Plain base; double-crimped copper cup anvil; 

360-degree crimp above cup .255 from base. 

361 Corrugated base and double crimp .273 from 

base, combining characteristics of last two. 

Flatter bullet nose than no. 360. 0-2.254, 

C-1.760, R-.670, H-.565, M-.545. 

362 Corrugated base with indents in front of cup 

instead of crimp, .241 from base and .178 

apart. Springfield and Frankford, November 1870. 

363 Reduced case, copper cup anvil; held by reducing case diameter in front of it by .02 

inch. Frankford, December 1870. 0-2.274, 

C-1.769, R-.660, H-.566, M-.533. 

364 Reduced case, copper cup anvil; similar to 

last, but reduced only .01 inch. Frankford, 

January 1871. 

365 Shallow copper cup, reduced in depth and 

held by two crimps .197 from base and .175 

apart. Service cartridge from December 1871 

to January 1872. Frankford. 0-2.291, 

C-1.765, R-.667, H-.564, M-.540. 

366 Solder reinforce to copper cup anvil. Ring 

in head makes trough for solder on inside. Two crimps .210 from base and .192 

apart. Frankford, January 1872. 0-2.291, 

C-1.785, R-.665, H-.564, M-.540. 

367 Cup anvil, with re-entrant fold at head as 

used on Martin cartridge. Reinforcing cup 

between cup and head. Cup held by 360-

degree crimp .324 from base. Bottleneck 

copper case, caliber .45. Springfield, January 1872. [Figure 66.] 

368 Solid head, copper-cup anvil. Flat head with 

square rim; cup held by two wide crimps 

.264 from base. Frankford, 1868. C-1.786. 

[Figure 67.] 

369 Double case copper cup anvil, reaching to 

bullet. Looks like a rimfire externally. Single center vent. (A variant case is shorter 

and has two vents at sides of primer.) Frank-
NUMBER 11 35 

65(355) 

69(370) 

67(368) 68(369) 

71(372) 72(373) 

73(374) 74(375) 75(376) 

FIGURES 65-76. 

76(382) 

No. 

370 

371 

372 

Description 

ford, January 1872. 0-2.212, C-1.782, 

R-.665, H-.565, M-.542. [Figure 68.] 

Brass cone cup anvil; reinforcing cup between 

anvil and head. Center of head has .225 indent opposite priming. Cup held by two 

crimps .287 from base and .200 apart. Frankford, January 1872. C-1.760. [Figure 69.] 

Similar to last, but has hole through base instead of indent. [Figure 70.] 

Outside cup; case itself the anvil. Priming inside, covered by a .275-inch flanged cup. 

No. 

373 

374 

Description 

Frankford, 1872. C-1.804. [Figure 71.] 

Copper cup, held against concave base, which 

yields on firing. Cup held by two wide 

crimps .264 from base and .225 apart. (This 

was also made in .45-70 size.) Frankford, 

June 1872. C-1.760. [Figure 72.] 

Treadwell open base, double cup, as made 

for .45 caliber. Brass case. Copper cup anvil 

inside long reinforcing cup, held by two 

crimps .250 from base. Hole through base 

.146 inch. Frankford, 1873. [Figure 73.] 
36 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. Description 

375 Moore's collar flange, also .45 caliber. Plain, 

unflanged copper case, enclosed in .570-inch 

brass flanged collar. Copper cup anvil, held 

by two indents .230 from base and .08 apart. 

Inner case shows through .372 hole in head. 

Frankford, 1874. [Figure 74.] 

376 Caliber .45 brass case, plain flat head, with 

Berdan-type anvil. Frankford, July 1874. 

0-2.533, C-2.096, R-.608, H-.508, M-.483. 

[Figure 75.] 

377 Vacant. 

378 Remington breechloading pistol. Tinned iron 

cup anvil. Caliber .50. C-.874. 

379 Same, except Martin primed. C-.904. 

No. Description 

380 Colt caliber .44 revolver. Martin primed. 

C-1.076. 

381 Smith 8c Wesson caliber .44 revolver. Martin 

primed. C-.905. 

382 Colt's caliber .44 revolver. Franklin's front 

extraction. Cup anvil held by usual two 

crimps. (Note: This system is F. Alexander 

Theur's patent no. 82258-General W. B. 

Franklin was vice president and general 

manager of the Colt Company, to whom the 

Theur patent had been assigned.) Made at 

Frankford, November 1868. C-.842. [Figure 76.] 

383 Colt's caliber .38 Navy Revolver. Tinned iron 

cup anvil held by crimps .250 from base. 

C-1.020. 

Ninth Drawer: Modification in Caliber (Reductions) 

Section 1: Caliber .45 

(All cases bottleneck, copper, tinned iron cups, 

made at Frankford unless otherwise noted.) 

No. Description 

384 Charge 80 grains, 400-grain cannelured, 1.108-

inch bullet. O-2.600, C-2.105. 

385 Same, but 75-grain charge. 0-2.527, C-2.010. 

386 Same, but 70-grain charge. O-2.330, C-1.787. 

387 Charge 80 grains, 420-grain, cannelured, 1.103-

inch bullet. O-2.600, C-2.020. 

388 Same, but 75-grain charge. O-2.500, C-2.010. 

389 Same, but 70-grain charge. 0-2.346, C-1.786. 

390 Charge 80 grains, 440-grain, cannelured, 1.133-

inch bullet. 0-2.579, C-2.025. 

391 Same, but 75-grain charge. O-2.540, C-2.015. 

392 Same, but 70-grain charge. 0-2.365, C-1.780. 

393 Copper, shallow-cup anvil; 80-grain charge, 

425-grain, smooth, patched 1.153-inch bullet, dipped and inserted .4 inch. 0-2.688, 

C-1.985. 

394 Same, but 75-grain charge; bullet inserted .5 

inch. O-2.604, C-1.990. 

395 Martini-Henry imitation. Martin-primed, with 

single fold head, reinforcing cup, and copper bar anvil. Hardened bullet, with patch 

and wad, to resemble Henry ammunition. 

Springfield. Raised headmark "70 GRS." 

O-3.055, C-2.255. 

No. Description 

396 Section bullet, hardened front, lead base to 

drive up the Schenkle sabot. (It was noted 

that this design failed entirely.) 0-2.534, 

C-2.014. 

397 Charge 75 grains, bullet 440 grain, cannelured, 

and inserted only .2 inch. Base wad (lubricated) and dipped. Two cannelures exposed. 

Report of 1872 Caliber Board No. 26. 

0-2.715, C-1.805. 

398 Similar, but 425-grain smooth bullet, inserted 

.15 inch. Board No. 28. O-2.680, C-1.807. 

399 Similar, but 485-grain smooth bullet, Laidley 

bullet, cannelured; six exposed. Caliber 

Board No. 29. O-2.804, C-1.718. 

400 Same, but inserted .45 inch, with 4 cannelures 

exposed. No. 30. 0-2.829, C-2.000. 

401-402 Vacant. 

403 (This and the next four all have straight 

cases, with Martin-type primers, copper 

bar anvils, and single fold heads.) Bullet 400 

grains, four cannelures; one exposed. 

Charges 60, 70, 75, and 80 grains, all in 

same length case. Springfield, No. 39. 

O-2.780, C-2.188. 

404 Similar, all cannelures covered. Charge 70 

grains. Springfield, No. 47. O-2.680, 

C-2.178. 
NUMBER 11 37 

No. Description 

405 Similar, but case shortened. Springfield Caliber Board No. 50. O-2.500, C-2.015. 

406 Similar to last, with hardened 405-grain bullet. Charge 70 grains dense musket powder. 

Lubricant in cannelures. Bullet seated .61 

inch. Springfield Caliber Board No. 58, and 

recommended for adoption. 0-2.548, 

C-2.100. 

407 Similar, but as first made at Frankford Arsenal, after adoption by War Department. 

Bullet has slightly dished base in contrast 

to ellipsoidal cavity in base of Springfield 

bullet. O-2.680, C-2.175. 

Section II: Caliber .42 

No. Description 

408 (Missing) 80-grain charge, 350-grain bullet, 

cannelured. 0-2.6. Numbers 408 to 421 

inclusive are all bottle-shaped. 

409 Charge 75 grains, bullet 350 grains, cannelured. O-2.500, C-1.985. 

410 Similar, with 70-grain charge. 0-2.361, 

C-1.788. 

411 Large Martin primer, with copper bar anvil, 

re-entrant fold head. Bullet 370 grains, 1.115 

inch. 0-2.616, C-2.033. 

412 Like No. 409, except 370-grain bullet. 

O-2.404, C-2.005. 

413 Like No. 410, except 370-grain bullet. 

0-2.352, C-1.786. 

414 Like No. 409, except 80-grain charge, 385-

grain bullet with rounder ogive, 1.088-

inches, slightly dished base. 0-2.535, 

C-1.994. 

415 Like No. 409, except bullet like No. 414. 

0-2.465, C-2.015. 

416 Like No. 410, with 70-grain charge, except 

bullet like No. 414. 0-2.414, C-1.847. 

417 Copper cup primed, charge 80 grains, bullet 

350 grains, 1.060 inch, smooth, patched, 

inserted .4 inch. Base lubrication disk. 

O-2.650, C-2.028. 

418 Similar to last, but bullet inserted .5 inch, 

with 75-grain charge. 0-2.591, C-2.055. 

419 Similar to last, but 1.115-inch, 370-grain bullet, inserted .4 inch; charge 80 grains. 

0-2.685, C-2.012. 

No. Description 

420 Similar to last, but inserted .5 inch, with 75-

grain charge. 0-2.598, C-2.015. 

421 Large Martin-type primer, copper bar anvil, 

re-entrant fold head. Bullet 1.1 inch, 373 

grains, with ratchet grooves. Charge 75 

grains. O-2.460, C-2.140. 

422^27 Vacant. 

428 Straight case, small Martin-type primer, with 

copper bar anvil. Bullet 370 grains, with 

four shallow cannelures; one exposed. 

Charges 70, 75, and 80 grains, using same 

case size. Springfield Caliber Board numbers 20, 21, and 22. O-3.088, C-2.455. 

429 Similar, except 365-grain bullet with four deep 

cannelures (.02); one exposed. Charges of 

60, 65, 70, 75, and 80 grains in same case. 

Springfield Caliber Board numbers 23, 34, 

35, 36, and 38. O-3.095, C-2.465. 

430 Similar, except cannelures all covered, charge 

65 grains. Springfield Caliber Board number 

48. O-3.000, C-2.450. 

431 Similar, except shorter case, with 65, 70, and 

75-grain charges. Springfield Caliber Board 

numbers 49, 54, and 55. 0-2.782, C-2.327. 

Section III: Caliber .40 

(All cartridges in this section have small Martin-type 

priming, with a copper bar anvil. Numbers 432 and 433 

have the re-entrant fold head; 434 and 435 have single 

fold heads with reinforcing cups; 439 through 447 have 

single fold heads without reinforcing cups. Springfield 

Caliber Board numbers 432 to 435 are bottlenecked, 

the rest straight cases.) 

No. Description 

432 Charge 75 grains, bullet 350 grains, smooth, 

with paper patch. Base disk of thick felt wad 

with lubricant. Springfield, 1871. O-3.03, 

C-2.387. 

433 Similar to last, but 80-grain charge and thin 

wad to increase powder space. Springfield, 

1871. 

434 Like 432, except added reinforcing ring at 

head, Springfield, 1871. 0-2.992, C-2.378. 

435 Like last, except 80-grain charge. 

436-438 Vacant. 

439 Charges 65, 70, 75, and 80 grains; bullet 350 

grains, 1.101 inch, smooth, greased patch. 

Springfield Caliber Board numbers 2 to 9. 

0-3.214, C-2.484. 
38 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

No. Description 

440 Charge 80 grains, 400-grain bullet, 1.255 inch, 

with seven cannelures (four exposed). 

Springfield Caliber Board number 10. 

O-3.430, C-2.502. 

441 Charges 65, 70, and 75 grains. Bullet 350-

grain, 1.093 inch, with four cannelures all 

covered by case. Springfield Caliber Board 

numbers 11, 12, and 13. O-3.042, C-2.510. 

442 Charge 60, 65, and 70 grains. Bullet 350 grains, 

1.094 inch, with five shallow (.01) cannelures, three covered by case. Springfield 

Caliber Board numbers 14-18. 0-3.152, 

C-2.504. 

443 Charge 65 grains; bullet 340 grains, 1.084 inch, 

with five deep (.02) cannelures, three covered by case. Springfield Caliber Board numbers 19 and 44. 0-3.177, C-2.487. 

No. Description 

444 Like last, but bullet 1.110 inch, and inserted 

to cover four cannelures. Springfield Caliber Board number 45. O-3.100, C-2.505. 

445 Like last, but bullet inserted to cover all cannelures. Springfield Caliber Board number 

46. 0-2.962, C-2.505. 

446 Charge 70 grains. Very light 1.025 inch bullet, 290 grains, smooth, greased patch. 

Springfield Caliber Board number 24. 

0-3.100, C-.480. 

447 Charges 65 and 70 grains. Bullet 340 grains, 

1.197 inch, hardened with one twelfth tin, 

five deep cannelures, all covered by case. 

Springfield Caliber Board numbers 59 and 

60. O-3.004, C-2.476. 

448-449 Vacant. 

Tenth Drawer: Service Ammunition and Stages of Manufacture 

No. Description 

450 Caliber .50 musket; 70 grains of powder, 450-

grain bullet, 143-grain copper case. Shallow 

copper cup primer anvil, held by two 

crimps .200 from base and .202 apart. Th e 

Service cartridge from January 1872 to 29 

December 1873. O-2.250, C-1.760, R-.665, 

H-.562, M-.538. 

451 Caliber .50 cadet musket; 45-grain charge; 

385-grain bullet. Made originally for the 

short chambered Remington Navy carbine, 

Model 1868. Copper cup primed, indents 

.257 from base and .175 apart. O-1.740, 

C-1.330, R-.661, H-.568, M-.543. Can be 

confused with Remington inside primed 

with iron cup cartridge No. 11. 

452 Caliber .50 carbine; 55-grain charge, 430-

grain bullet with ellipsoidal front. Adopted 

January 1872. Shallow cup primer, indents 

.208 from head and .200 apart. O-2.170, 

C-1.790, R-.665, H-.563, M-.540. 

453 Caliber .50 pistol (Remington breechloader); 

25-grain charge; 300-grain bullet. Made for 

Army Remington pistol after July 1871, 

and a similar one for the Navy (The Army 

type is bottlenecked, the Navy straight 

No. Description 

taper). Copper cup primed copper case, 

crimps .264 from base and .179 apart. 

0-1.229, C-.881. 

454 Caliber .50 musket blank; 70- or 80-grain 

charge; case 1.5 inch closed by tar composition (later with wad and shellac). Iron cup 

primed. Adopted September 1868. 

455 Caliber .50 Gatling blank; charge 100 grains. 

Copper cup primed case 2.25 inches long. 

Powder compressed and mouth closed with 

varnish. 

456 Caliber .45 rifle; charge 70 grains; bullet 405 

grains, hardened. Th e cartridge adopted by 

the Board, as made at Frankford in 1874. 

0-2.555, C-2.102. 

457 Caliber .45 carbine; charge 55 grains; bullet 

405 grains, hardened. Copper case, copper 

cup primed, indents .210 from base and .200 

apart. Made at Frankford from September 

1873 to about 1876. Marked "u.s. CARBINE" 

on head to distinguish it from the rifle 

round. O-2.560, C-2.100. 

458 Caliber .45 Colt revolver; charge 30 grains; 

bullet 250 grains. Copper case, cup primed, 

with indents .200 from base. Frankford 
NUMBER 11 39 

No. Description 

from September 1873 to about 1878. 

0-1.615, C-1.291, R-.503, H-.480, M-.480. 

459 Caliber .45 blank, rifle and carbine; cup 

primed, crimps .215 from base, .175 apart. 

C-1.600, R-.608, H-.503, M-.484. 

460 Caliber .45 revolver blank. Copper, cup 

primed case, crimps .215 from base, .175 

apart. C-1.066, R-.484, H-.462, H-.458. 

461 Caliber .44 revolver (Smith 8c Wesson); charge 

40 grains; bullet 225 grains. Copper case, 

cup primed, crimps .194 from base, made 

at Frankford from August 1871. 0-1.466, 

C-.897, R-.485, H-.444, M-.442. 

462 Caliber .44 revolver blank; charge 40 grains. 

No. Description 

Copper cup primed case. C-.895, R-.489, 

H-.447, M-.415. 

463 Musket powder for all small arms cartridges. 

Light "Oriental" for caliber .50, dense "Hazard" for caliber .45. Ingredients: sulphur, 

potassium nitrate, and charcoal. 

464 Lead bar for bullets of all cartridges except 

the caliber .45 rifle and carbine. 

465 Alloy bar for bullets: Tin 1, lead 16. For bullets of caliber .45. 

466 Japan wax. Generally used for bullet lubrication. 

467 Bayberry wax: 8 parts wax to 1 part graphite. 

Preferred when Bayberry obtainable. 
Compiler's Comments 

Those who atempt to check other cartridge specimens against the measurements given in the foregoing catalog must remember that in most instances 

there was but a single sectioned specimen to measure. There were manufacturing tolerances on all 

these dimensions, some of which had to be held 

rather close, others did not matter. It will be noted 

that head and rim diameters were controlled rather 

well. Tolerances in other dimensions would normally be zb.004 inch from the standard specification 

dimension. 

A further complication in dealing with experimental types stems from the practice (still in effect) 

of keeping small stocks of empty primed cases on 

hand for convenience in making special small scale 

experiments or tests. Thus, in drawing such cases 

from stock, minor variations in case or priming 

might be introduced. Bar anvil, iron or copper disk 

or cup anvil, different types > of retaining crimp, 

Martin priming, and the like, might be encountered 

in a test lot of cartridges assembled to investigate 

a new bullet, or a different powder charge. As 

these elements function similarly, the variants made 

little difference in the tests being conducted, but 

do make it difficult for the collector or researcher 

in these fields to classify specimens. 

In addition to the varieties officially used in the 

Service, many of the experimental cartridges were 

sent to the field unofficially in small quantities of 

a case or more in order to get a quick check on 

their effectiveness. Thus some of these types which 

were never officially adopted have been found at 

battle sites with Indians in the West. 

A chronology of officially approved cartridge 

types for U.S. rifles and carbines during the period 

1865 to 1876 has been extracted from the preceding 

data. 

Service Ammunition, Rifle and Carbine, 1865-1876 

No. Description Date 

120 Allin conversion of caliber 1865 

.58 musket to use rimfire cartridge, .58-60-500, made at 

Springfield and marked on 

head ".58 CAL." 

121 Caliber .50 rifle. Straight- 1865 

cased rimfire cartridge, .50-

60-500, made at Springfield 

and marked on head ".50 

CAL." (Limited use.) 

Various experimental types 1865-1866 

for caliber .50 rifle. (Includes 

122, 130, 312-314.) Centerfire, both inside and out40 

No. Description 

side primed. Springfield and 

Frankford. (Limited use.) 

315 Caliber .50-70-450, with 

Martin's tinned iron bar anvil, inside primed. Indents 

.110 inch from base. 

355 Caliber .50-70-450, with 

tinned cup inside priming, 

in straight case. Indents .255 

inch from base, and .186 

apart. 

356 Caliber .50-70-450, with 

tinned cup, in slightly 

Date 

October 1866 

to 

March 1868 

March 1868 

to 

September 1869 

September 1869 

to 
NUMBER 11 41 

No. Description 

necked case. Indents .255 

from base, and .186 apart. 

358 Caliber .50-70-450, copper 

cup anvil. Indents .255 from 

base and .214 apart. 

322 Caliber .50-70-405, with 

copper disk anvil, 360-degree 

crimp, and corrugated head. 

50,000 made for Service test. 

330 Caliber .50-70-450, Martinprimed, with reentrant fold. 

452 Caliber .50-55-430 carbine, 

shallow cup primer indents 

.206 from head and .200 

apart. 

450 Caliber .50-70-450, with 

shallow copper cup, indents 

Date 

August 1870 

August 1870 

to 

November 1871 

September 1871 

to 

October 1871 

November 1871 

to 

December 1871 

January 1872 

to 

August 1873 

January 1872 

to 

No. 

406 

457 

456 

Description 

.200 from base and .202 

apart. Final Service cartridge for the .50-70. 

First .45-70 rifle cartridge in 

about final form made for 

trial by Springfield. Copper 

cup primed case. 

First carbine cartridge caliber .45-55-405, made at 

Frankford. Cup primed, indents .200 from base. Marked 

on head "u.s. CARBINE," to 

tell from rifle. 

First Frankford Arsenal production of Service cartridge 

for caliber .45-70-405 rifle. 

Cup primed, indents .200 

from base. No marks. 

Date 

December 1873 

1872-1874 

September 1873 

1874-1882 

Performance of Arms and Ammunition 

1865-1875 

In recent years much has been made of misfired 

and separated cartridge cases which have been 

found on sites of battles between U.S. troops and 

Indians during the years after the Civil War. At 

that time the Government was experimenting to 

determine the optimum arms and ammunition for 

use in the Service. In recent decades the quality of 

small arms and their ammunition has been so uniformly high that such excellent performance is 

taken for granted. This was not always the case. 

Arms and ammunition selected for Service use were 

tested by the Ordnance Department under the direction of special boards of officers appointed for 

the purpose. Before final approval extensive field 

tests in Army units were required. 

One of the most important series of tests for selecting new weapons was conducted by the Board 

on Breechloading Small Arms, appointed on 28 

June 1872 pursuant to an act of Congress and sometimes known as the "Terry" Board (from Brigadier 

General Alfred H. Terry, its senior member). 

T he tests conducted for arms subjected them to 

repeated firing and to the effects of dust and sand, 

rust, and defective ammunition to test their reserve 

strength. Ease of manipulation was judged by the 

maximum rate of fire obtainable. Accuracy was 

checked at various combat ranges. The Service caliber .50 cartridge was used whenever it was practical 

to do so. The tests were as follows.15 

Rapidity with aim: The number of shots, which 

fired in one minute struck a target of 6 feet by 2 

feet, at a distance of 100 feet. Any cartridge missing 

fire was examined to determine the cause. (Only 

four or five cartridges in over 20,000 thus expended 

failed to fire from causes not due to the arm.) 

Rapidity at will: The number of shots that could 

be fired in one minute, irrespective of aim. 

Endurance: Each gun was fired 500 continuous 

rounds, without cleaning. The state of the breech 

mechanism was examined after each 50 rounds. 

Defective cartridges: Each gun was fired once with 

each of the following types of defective cartridges: 

(1) cross-filed on head to nearly the thickness of the 

metal; (2) cut at intervals around the rim; and (3) 

with a longitudinal cut the whole length of the cartridge, from the rim up. A fresh piece of paper was 

laid over the breech to determine if gas escaped. 

Such tests showed whether the gun tested was 

15

 United States Government, Ordnance Memorandum No. 

15, pp. 70-71. 
42 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

sufficiently sturdy and gas-tight to be safely fired 

with defective cartridges, which allowed gas-pressure to escape from the case. The simulated defects 

were representative of those occasionally introduced 

in manufacture and overlooked by routine inspection. Statistically, a few such defective rounds will 

pass undetected by the inspector. 

Dust: The piece was exposed in a box to a blast 

of fine sand-dust for two minutes; fired 50 rounds, 

replaced for five minutes, removed and fired 50 

rounds more. 

Rust: The breech and receiver were cleaned of 

grease and the chamber greased and plugged. The 

butt end was then inserted up to the chamber in 

brine for two days, exposed two days in the open 

air standing in a rack, and then fired 50 rounds. 

Excessive charges: The arm was fired once with 

85 grains of powder (normal load, 70 grains) and 

one 450-grain bullet, once with 90 grains and one 

such ball, and once with 90 grains and two balls. 

The piece was closely examined after each discharge. These loads corresponded to normal "proof" 

loads. Ability to withstand the excessive pressures 

thus produced assured safe functioning with regular 

loads and would presumably show up any dangerous defect. 

The Board had begun its studies with a total of 

99 rifles on hand for test and evaluation. These included all the principal foreign systems available, 

nine in all. These were the French Chassepot, the 

German needle-gun (two models), needle-gun carbine, German Mauser (Model 1871), Austrian 

Werndl, Bavarian Werder, Italian Vetterlin, and 

the British Martini-Henry. The initial series of tests 

had reduced the contenders to 21: Peabody, Whitney, Springfield-Stillman, Elliot, Ward-Burton, 

Epdegraff, Sharps (Civil War model converted to 

.50-70), Springfield, Remington-Ryder, BerdanRussian, Freeman, Dexter, Lee, Roberts, Remington, Winchester, Broughton, Sharps (New Model), 

Remington Navy rifle (made at Springfield), the 

British Martini-Henry, and the Austrian Werndl. 

When it became apparent that further tests would 

be needed to reach a decision, the following supplemental tests were performed. 

First: The piece was fired with two defective cartridges (types 1 and 2, see p. 41), and then dusted 

for five minutes, the mechanism being in the mouth 

of the blow pipe and closed, the hammer being at 

half-cock. It was then fired six times, the last two 

shots again being defective types 1 and 2. Without 

cleaning, it was dusted with the breech open for 

five minutes, and then fired four more shots. The 

piece was freed from dust only by wiping with the 

hand or pounding with the bare hand. 

Second: The piece was rusted for four days after 

immersion as before (see "Rust"), and fired five 

rounds with a Service cartridge. Without cleaning it was fired five more rounds with 120-grain 

powder charge and a ball weighing 1200 grains. The 

gun then stood for 24 hours without cleaning, and 

was subsequently thoroughly examined. 

Third: Ease of manipulation was tested by members of the Board. 

The supplemental tests further eliminated many 

of the entries. A few examples will indicate the results obtained. The Sharps (Civil War converted 

model) failed the supplemental tests, being very 

hard to open; the lever was broken in the attempt. 

The Winchester could not be opened. The Remington Navy model was stiff and hard to operate after 

the second exposure. The Remington-Ryder failed; 

the hammer would not stay back, the extractor had 

to be pounded with a hammer to move, and the 

action opened with the foot. The Peabody passed 

the tests satisfactorily. In the first series of tests, 

the Springfield showed some gas escape at the sides, 

but worked well throughout. The cam stuck slightly 

after the first defective cartridge, but after freeing, 

worked well thereafter. In supplemental tests it 

opened and worked easily throughout and was in 

working order at the conclusion of the tests. It was 

fired an average of 11.59 shots per minute by soldiers and 8.51 by recruits. 

Meanwhile, a "Small Arms Caliber" Board 

headed by Major J. G. Benton began studies on 13 

May 1872 to determine the proper caliber for small 

arms. In this series of trials, the Board exhaustively 

tested

 16

 three new calibers, .45, .42, and .40 in comparison with the caliber .50. In the .45, nine forms 

of barrels and 25 forms of ammunition were tried. 

In the .42, 11 forms of barrels and 26 of ammunition. In the .40, seven forms of barrels and 27 of 

ammunition. Seven styles of rifling were included, 

with ten different twists. Chambering and throating 

were modified. Powder charges varied from 60 to 

85 grains, in 5-grain increments. Bullets varied from 

290 to 484 grains, in various forms, cannelured, 

19

 United States Government, Ordnance Memorandum No. 

15, pp. 437^38. 
NUMBER 11 43 

plain, and patched, with lubrication applied in 

various manners. Straight and bottlenecked cases 

were compared. 

T h e ammunition tests of the Caliber Board determined that the cartridge design later known as 

the .45-70 was the best available. Th e Terry Board 

then selected the best six arms being tested and had 

them altered to caliber .45. These guns were the 

Springfield (modified Ml870), Elliot, Remington 

(modified Ml871), Freeman, Peabody, and WardBurton magazine carbines. After further testing 

and extensive trial by the Army in the field on 19 

May 1873, the Board recommended the Springfield 

breechloading system in caliber .45 be adopted for 

small arms. As the Elliot had exhibited very great 

ease of operation with one hand, the Board recommended that some be made for further Cavalry trial. 

It also recommended the Ward-Burton as the best 

magazine gun tested, though not fully meeting the 

requirements. It suggested that a small number be 

made for further field trial.17 

T he Springfield carbine, caliber .50 (Ml870), was 

tested in competition with Spencer, Sharps, and 

Remington carbines. It was found scarcely inferior 

to the Springfield rifle (Ml868), and in all points 

except recoil was greatly superior to the others 

tested. However, a new caliber .45 carbine was 

adopted in 1873. 

Many Service cartridges were test-fired at Frankford Arsenal in connection with routine acceptance 

inspection tests, and special tests of experimental 

cartridges. Results of such tests give a good idea 

of the reliability of this ammunition, at least while 

reasonably new. Storage stability must be determined by actual trial for protracted periods under 

adverse conditions. Most of the type ammunition 

here discussed became obsolete within a few years 

because of new developments; hence deterioration 

in storage was not fully determined, being of academic interest only. It was later found, however, 

that the fulminate type priming stood up better in 

tinned components. The critical area was the primer 

and primer-pocket, but it was easier to tin the entire case by dipping in an electroplating bath. In 

1957 Frankford Arsenal received a report from an 

individual who had purchased a case of this tinned 

FA 1884 ammunition about 1925. He had just fired 

the last 250 rounds of it in 1957 and had experi17

 United States Government, Ordnance Memorandum No. 

15, p. 49. 

enced only a few misfires with the whole case. 

Between 1867 and 1868, 92,891 test cartridges 

had been fired in routine acceptance tests. Of 79,517 

which had the bar anvil, 68 misfired, or one out of 

every 1,169. Of 13,374 with cup anvil, 7 misfired, 

or one out of every 1,910. Between March 1868, 

when cup priming was standardized, and 1 July 

1870, 49,252 more cartridges were fired in tests, 

with only 8 failures from all causes. Only three 

were from Service cartridges, which comprised 

about two-thirds of the number tested. This rate 

was less than one per 6,000. Note that it is the 

custom to use for such "in house" tests, which are 

mostly done in machine rests or pressure fixtures, 

the cartridges rejected during manufacture for 

minor defects. Hence those accepted and shipped to 

the field should be a little better than those tested. 

As the primers of these types were inside the case, 

inspection after assembling the primer components 

was difficult. If the mix was a little too dry and the 

tooling a little out of adjustment, an occasional 

primer was fired during the tapering operation. 

This, of course, could not fire a second time, when 

attempted. An anvil not pressed quite hard enough, 

or a slight amount of oil in the case could also 

cause a misfire. In spite of these problems, the U.S. 

Service cartridge was then the best in the world. 

As other types (foreign or domestic private interests) 

came to the attention of the Frankford Arsenal, 

they were tested, and none outperformed the U.S. 

model—most were substantially inferior in reliability. 

Minor modifications solved the problem of breaking firing pins in the caliber .50 rifles, Model 1868. 

No fracture occurred in test firing some 12,000 

rounds of ammunition through six rifles. One rifle, 

Model 1868, was fired at Frankford over 10,000 

times, using the same firing pin throughout, and 

replacing only one ejector spring. 

With the lubrication then available—Japan wax 

and graphite—good results were obtained for targets 

of 20 to 25 shots, without cleaning. With continuous firing of 100 or more shots, the performance 

fell off rapidly, especially in dry weather. Bayberry 

wax was much better as a lubricant. The bayberry, 

however, is a wild plant and its annual production 

varies making it an uncertain source. This problem 

was the reason for the extensive tests of lubricants 

and methods of application that were described in 

drawer seven. 
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et Leurs Munitions. Paris: L. Baudoin, 1894. 

. [Bound Briefs and Notes on Various Patent Suits.] 

New Haven, Connecticut: Winchester Library (n.d.). 

Bartlett, W. A., and D. B. Gallatin. Digest of Cartridge Patents. 

Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1878. 

[See also Appendices 1, 2, and 3 of Berkeley R. Lewis, "Small 

Arms and Ammunitions in the United States Service." 

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, volume 129.] 

British War Office. Textbook of Small Arms. London: H. M. 

Stationery Office, 1904. 

Deane, J. Deane's Manual of the History and Science of Firearms. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans & Roberts, 1858. 

Greener, W. W. Modern Breechloader. London: Cassell, Petter, 

& Galpin. 

. The Gun and Its Development. 8th edition. London: 

Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. 

Hackley, F. W., W. H. Woodin, and E. L. Scanton. History of 

Modern U.S. Military Small Arms Ammunition. Volume 1 

(1880-1939). New York: The Macmillan Co., 1967. 

Lewis, Berkeley R. "Maynard Arms and Ammunition." The 

American Rifleman (Washington, D.C), vol. 99, no. 8 

(August 1951). 

. "Meigs and the U.S. Cartridge Co." The American 

Rifleman (Washington, D.C), vol. 103, no. 6 (June 1955). 

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Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections (Washington, D.C: 

U.S. Government Printing Office), volume 129. 

. "The Volcanic Arms." The American Rifleman (Washington, D.C), vol. 105, no. 11 (November 1957). 

Logan, Herschel C. Cartridges. Huntington, West Virginia: 

Standard Publications, Inc., 1948. 

Mattenheimer, Von A. Die Patronen der Ruckladungs-Gewehre. Darmstadt and Leipzig: Edward Zemin, 1868. 

Metcalfe, Henry. The Ordnance Department, U.S. Army, at 

the International Exhibition. Washington, DC : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1884. 

Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. "Letter of Col. S. C. Lyford, 

2 January 1877" Report of the Executive Department on 

the International Exhibition, 1876. 2 volumes. Washington, 

D C : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1884. 

Pepys, Samuel. Pepys's Diary. Lord Braybrooke edition. London, 1825. 

Pitman, John. Notebooks, West Point Museum. 16 volumes 

(unpublished). 

Reid, W. "Pauly, Gun Designer." Journal of the Arms and 

Armour Society (London), vol. 2, no. 9. 

Schmidt, Rudolph. Handfeuer Waffen. Basel: B. Schwabe, 

1875. 

Scofern, J. Projectile Weapons of War. London: Longman, 

Brown & Co., 1859. 

Smyth, John. Certain Discourses ... Concerning Divers Weapons. London: Richard Johnes, 1590. 

Suydam, Charles R. The American Cartridge. Santa Ana, 

California: G. Robert Lawrence. 

Tackels, C J. Armes de Guerre. Paris: Ch. Tannera, 1868. 

United States Government. Ordnance Memorandum No. 8: 

Metallic Ammunition. Washington, DC : U.S. Government 

Printing Office, 1868. 

. Ordnance Memorandum No. 14:Metallic Cartridges. 

Washington, D.C: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1873. 

. Ordnance Memorandum No. 15: Board for Selecting 

A Breech-System. Washington, DC : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1873. 

. Ordnance Memorandum No. 21: Ammunition, Fuses, 

Primers. Washington, DC : U.S. Government Printing Office, 

1878. 

Weygand, Herrman. Die Technische Entwickehmge der Modemen Pracision-Wafjen der Infanterie. Leipzig: Fr. Luckhardt, 1872. 

White, Henry P., and Burton D. Munhall. Centerfire American 

and British Pistol and Revolver Cartridges. Washington: 

Sportsmen's Press, 1950. 

. Centerfire Metric Pistol and Revolver Cartridges. 

Washington: Sportmen's Press, 1948. 

Winant, Lewis. Early Percussion Firearms. New York: William 

Morrow & Co., 1959. 

44 
Glossary 

Ball, bullet: These terms are used for the same thing in this 

catalog, though the former, strictly speaking, should be 

reserved to describe a round ball as used in smooth-bore 

guns. 

Cap, primer: These terms are interchangeable, meaning the 

small metallic cup containing a detonating composition 

which is used for igniting a cartridge. In the United States 

the word primer is more often employed today, though 

cap was the preferred term in the late 19th Century. The 

British still use cap. 

Crimp: A deformation made in a cartridge case to retain some 

element of the cartridge in position. Crimping has been used 

to hold the primer in the primer pocket, to hold a bullet in 

place, and to hold the anvil of an inside-primed cartridge 

securely. A ring crimp goes completely around the case and 

was at times called a knurl crimp, being put on with a 

rotating tool. Stab crimps may be simple circular punch 

marks, or may extend longitudinally for some distance. A 

roll crimp, often used at the case mouth, leaves the edges 

of the case slightly reduced in diameter, and turned in. 

Externally-primed: Priming not an integral part of the cartridge, which has merely a hole in its base to admit the 

flame from the primer. An example is the old-fashioned 

percussion cap, placed on a steel nipple in the vicinity of 

the breech. 

Inside-primed: Priming composition placed inside the cartridge case, struck by the firing pin either transmitting its 

blow through the head itself, or by an internal pin extending to the priming. 

Obturation: Sealing to prevent gas leakage. May be accomplished by a mechanical fit or by expansion and subsequent 

contraction of relatively thin metal. 

Outside-primed: Priming placed in a pocket on the exterior 

surface of the case, the flame passing through one or more 

small openings (vents) to the powder inside. 

45 
46 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 1.—a, Powder container from musketeer's bandolier. 

Courtesy Winchester Museum, b, Auxiliary chamber from 

wheel-lock breechloader 1638. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

c, Pauly cartridge using patch or pellet of detonating compound, d, Pauly cartridge using nipple for percussion cap. e, 

Pauly shot cartridge. /, Galy-Cazalat cartridge, g, Same;X-ray 

of interior (Lewis, 1956, pl.35). h, Pottet cartridge, i, Mark I 

Snider cartridge, with Potter-type head, j , Demondion cartridge. 

PLATE 2.—a, Le Page cartridge, b, Beringer self-primed cartridge. Primer disk shown to side of head. Head marked "BERINGER BVT, PARIS," one of earliest use of headstamp. c, Beringertype cartridge. Specimen may be Minesinger's. d, Cartridge 

for Voss (Danish) breechloader, e, Original type Le Faucheux 

pinfire cartridge. /, Prussian needle-gun cartridge, Ml842. g, 

Sabot and bullet for f. h, Guncotton cartridge, i, Chadun's 

improved pinfire cartridge. ;', Chaudun "tailgate" cartridge for 

Robert and Le Faucheux guns, h, Lenoir horizontal (inside) 

pinfire cartridge. /, Flobert cartridge, m, Hunt cartridge, n, 

Adams revolver cartridge, o, Marston rifle cartridge. 
NUMBER 11 47 

PLATE 3.—a, Needham needle-fire shotgun cartridge, b, Lancaster inside-primed shotgun cartridge, c, Gaupillat "charged 

ball" cartridge, d, Smith & Wesson No. 1 Volcanic cartridge. 

e, Smith & Wesson No. 2 Volcanic cartridge. /, Maynard's first 

patented cartridge, with base cover, g, Morse, rubber base 

cartridge, caliber .54 (Frankford Arsenal), h, Morse, solid base 

cartridge, with rubber obturator disk, i, Morse, solid head 

cartridge, cap for seal. /, Smith & Wesson's patent rimfire 

cartridge, for Ballard carbine. 

PLATE 4.—a, Smith rubber case cartridge, for caliber .36 rifle. 

b, Cartridge for Genhart revolver, c, Gallager and Gladding 

cartridge for Schubarth converted musket, d, Foster's grease 

ring as used on Burnside cartridge, e, Daw shotgun cartridge. 

/, Poultney and Trimble (assignees of Crispin) foil and paper 

cartridge, g, Selwyn's patent centerfire cartridge for Burnside 

rifle, h, Boxer cartridge, Mark II Snider. /', Berdan cartridge, 

early form with inserted primer pocket. /, Dupee cartridge 

with extracting groove at head. 
48 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 5.—U.S. government exhibit building at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Brady photo. 

PLATE 6.—U.S. government exhibit of cartridge making machinery at the 1876 Centennial 

Exhibition. Brady photo. 
NUMBER 11 49 

INTERNATIONAL £22S:TIdi 

ORDNANCE D|;PJM^|^T.| | 

Sp>x;imcns Rbawingjgie 

~ - -•.manoftctutc'aiu! 

PLATE 7.—a, Souvenir box of specimens showing stages of 

manufacture of the U.S. caliber .45 cartridge, as made on the 

Exhibition grounds, b, Blank disk from which case is made. 

c-g, Successive draws in forming the case, h, Trimmed case. 

i, Anvil, j , Bullet, k, Headed case. I, Complete cartridge, showing head marking. 
50 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 9.—Second drawer: Paper ammunition (fixed), specimens 26 to 54. 

PLATE 10.—Third drawer: Transition and patent types (fixed), specimens 55 to 91. 
NUMBER 11 51 

PLATE 11.—Fourth drawer: Rim primed and miscellaneous, specimens 92 to 149. 

PLATE 12.—Fifth drawer: Foreign and sporting cartridges, specimens 150 to 174. 
52 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 13.—Sixth drawer: Modification of charge, specimens 175 to 244. 

in in ii in til ill in till 

242466 247 248 249 250 251 252 25253 3 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 iiii mi Hill I III 

269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 

PLATE 14.—Seventh drawer: Modifications in bullet and lubricant, specimens 245-310. 
NUMBER 11 53 

IIHIIIJTTI ij i.v.w.TM": 

311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 

JSMETALUC CARTRIDGE* 

I 383 : 382 

339 340 34. 342 343 344 " 378 379 34S m ,„ m m _,_,;._ _ 3 H 

M 

m & 

jfi£>ff. m g&t I m

f j« IJ mf iL If|| aS u E ffliS II E I M u 

359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 - 375 376 ®77 

WBaamaaasmsssBsasem 

PLATE 15.—Eighth drawer: Anvils and cap-primed cases, specimens 311-383. 

PLATE 16.—Ninth drawer: Modifications in caliber (reductions), specimens 384-449. 
54 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

m^'^mm^rrwfrrr 

PLATE 17.—Tenth drawer: Service ammunition and stages of manufacture, specimens 450-467. 
NUMBER II 55 

e g 

PLATE 18.—Specimens from first drawer: a, No. 1; b, No. 2; c, 

No. 3; d, No. 4; e, No. 5; /, No. 7 (for caliber .69); g, No. 8; 

h, bullet for No. 8. 

i 

^ 

•v. 

4A P?^ 

•L 

<m 

*v 

i •' J 

t g 

PLATE 19.—Specimens from first drawer: a, No. 9; b, No. 10; 

c, No. 11; d, No. 12; e, No. 13; /, No. 14; g, No. 15; h, No. 16; 

i, No. 17. 
56 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

g I J 

PLATE 20.—Specimens from first drawer: a, No. 18; b, bullet 

for No. 18; c, No. 19; d, No. 20; e, No. 21; /, No. 22; g, No. 22A; 

h, No. 23; i, No. 24; /', No. 25, bullet above. 

PLATE 21.—Specimens from second drawer: a, No. 26; b, bullet 

for No. 26; c, bullet for No. 27; d, bullet for No. 28; e, bullet 

for No. 29; f, No. 30 (bullet above); g, No. 31; h, No. 32, i, 

No. 33; ;', bullet for No. 35; k, No. 34; /, No. 35; m, No. 36; n, 

No. 37; o, No. 38; p, No. 39. 
NUMBER 11 

57 

PLATE 22.—Specimens from second drawer: a, No. 42; b, No. 

44; c, bullet for No. 44; d, No. 45; e, No. 46; /, bullet for No. 

46; g, No. 47; h, No. 48; i, No. 49; ;', No. 50; k, No. 51; /, No. 

52; m, No. 53; n, No. 54. [o, p, bullet above n, unidentified; 

they are not in any of the Frankford Arsenal drawers.—CRG.] 

m n 

PLATE 23.—Specimens from third drawer: a, No. 55; b, No. 56; 

c, No. 57; d, No. 58; e, No. 59; f, No. 60; g, No. 61; h, No. 63; 

i, below No. 63; /, No. 64; k, No. 65; /, below No. 65; m, No. 

66; n, No. 67; o, No. 68; p, No. 69. 
58 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

m n ^m 

PLATE 24.—Specimens from third drawer: a, No. 71; b, No. 72 

c, No. 73; d, No. 74; e, No. 75; /, bullet for No. 75; g, No. 76 

h, No. 77; i, No. 78; /, No. 79; k, No. 80, /, No. 81; m, No. 82 

n, No. 83; o, No. 84; p, bullet for No. 84; q, No. 85; r, bullet 

for No. 85. 

PLATE 25.—Specimens for third drawer: a, No. 86; b, bullet 

for No. 86; c, No. 87; d, bullet for No. 87; e, Frankford Arsenal 

type; /, No. 88; g, No. 89; h, No. 91. 
NUMBER 11 59 

PLATE 26.—Specimens from fourth drawer: a, No. 92; b, No. 

93; c, No. 94; d, No. 95; e, No. 96; /, No. 97; g, No. 98; h, No. 

99; :, No. 100; ;, No. 101; k, No. 102 /, No. 103; m, No. 104; 

n, No. 105; o, No. 106; p, No. 107; q, No. 108; r, No. 109; s, 

No. 110; t, No. 111. 

PLATE 27.—Specimens from fourth drawer: a, No. 112; b, No. 

113; c, No. 114; d, No. 115; e, No. 116; /, No. 117; g, No. 118; 

h, No. 119; i, No. 120; j , No. 121; k, No. 122; I, No. 123; m, 

No. 124; n, No. 125; o, No. 126; p, No. 127; q, No. 128; r, No. 

129; s, No. 130. 
60 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 28.—Specimens from fourth drawer: a, No. 131; b, No. 

132; c, No. 133; d, No. 134; e, No. 135; /, No. 136; g, No. 137 

(anvil above); h, No. 138 (anvil above); i, No. 139; j , No. 140; 

k, No. 141; /, No. 142; m, No. 143; n, No. 144; o, No. 145; p, 

No. 146; q, No. 147; r, No. 148; 5, No. 149. 

PLATE 29.—Specimens from fifth drawer: a, No. 151; b, No. 

152; c, No. 153; d, No. 154; e, No. 155; /, No. 156; g, No. 157; 

h, No. 158; i, No. 159; j , No. 160; k, No. 161; /, No. 162. 
NUMBER 11 61 

PLATE 30.—Specimens from fifth drawer: a, No. 163; b, No. 

164; c, No. 165; d, No. 166; e, No. 167; f, No. 168; g, No. 169; 

h, No. 170; i, No. 171; /, No. 172; k, No. 173; /, No. 174. 

PLATE 31.—Specimens from sixth drawer: a, No. 175 Oriental 

musket powder; b, No. 176 Hazard musket powder; c, No. 177 

DuPont musket powder; d, No. 178 DuPont rifle powder; e, 

No. 183, example of 1.75-inch case; /, No. 183, example of 

Oriental powder series perforated grains; g, No. 184, 1.65-inch 

case, example of Oriental powder series perforated grains; h, 

No. 185, 1.55-inch case, example of Oriental powder series 

perforated grains; i, No. 186, 1.45-inch case; /, typical perforated change; k, No. 212, 1.65-inch case, Hazard series with 

conical cavity; /, No. 219, Hazard series with conical cavity; 

m, No. 214, 1.55-inch case, Hazard series with conical cavity; 

n, No. 214, 1.55-inch case; o, Typical conical cavity charge. 
62 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 32.—Specimens from sixth drawer: a, No. 221, 1.75-inch 

case; b, No. 222, 1.70-inch case; c, No. 223, 1.65-inch case; d, 

No. 224, 1.60-inch case; e, No. 225, 1.55-inch case; /, No. 226, 

1.50-inch case; g, No. 227, 1.45-inch case; h, No. 234; i, No. 235; 

;', No. 236; k, No. 237; /, No. 238; m, No. 239; n, No. 239, 1.45-

inch case; o, No. 240; p, No. 241; q, No. 242; r, No. 243; s, No. 

244. 

PLATE 33.—Specimens from seventh drawer: a, No. 245, bullet 

to right; b, No. 246; c, No. 247; d, No. 248, bullet to right; e, 

No. 249; /, No. 250; g, No. 251; h, No. 252; i, No. 253; /', No. 

254; k, No. 255; /, No. 256; m, No. 257; n, No. 258; o, No. 259; 

p, No. 260, bullet to right; q, No. 261, bullet to right. 
NUMBER 11 63 

J 

PLATE 34.—Specimens from seventh drawer: a, No. 262; b, No. 

263, bullet to right; c, No. 264; d, No. 265, bullet to right; e, 

No. 266, bullet left of /; /, No. 267; g, No. 268; h, No. 269; i, 

No. 270; /, No. 271, bullet to right; k, No. 272; /, No. 273, 

bullet to right; m, No. 274; n, No. 275, bullet to right; o, No. 

276. 

PLATE 35.—Specimens from seventh drawer: a, No. 276 (dupli 

cate); b, No. 277, bullet to right; c, No. 278, bullet to right; d 

No. 279, bullet to right; e. No. 280; /, No. 281, bullet to right 

g, No. 282; h, No. 283, bullet to right; i, No. 284; /, No. 285 

k, No. 286; /, No. 287; m, No. 288; n, No. 289; o, No. 290; p 

No. 291. 
64 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

* i • i fU *I Pi 

m n 

PLATE 36.—Specimens from eighth drawer: a, No. 311, anvil 

above; b, No. 312, anvil below; c, No. 313, anvil below; d, No. 

314; e, No. 315, anvil below; /, No. 316; g, No. 317, anvil below; h, No. 318, anvil below; i, No. 319; ;, No. 320; k, No. 

321; /, No. 322; m, No. 323; n, No. 324, disk and anvil to right; 

o, No. 325, disk and anvil to right; p, No. 326; q, No. 327; r, 

No. 328. 

m 

PLATE 37.—Specimens from eighth drawer: a, No. 329; b, No. 

330; c, No. 331; d, No. 332; e, No. 335; /, No. 336; g, No. 337; 

h, No. 338; i, No. 339; /, No. 340; k, No. 341; I, No. 342; m, 

No. 343; n, No. 344; o, No. 345; p, No. 346; 9, No. 347; r, No. 

348. 
NUMBER 11 65 

Br- #9* " " ••?"• .'' 

•i n n 

m 

PLATE 38.—Specimens from eighth drawer: a, No. 349; b, No. 

350; c, No. 351; d, No. 352; e, No. 353; /, No. 354; g, No. 355; 

h, No. 356; i, No. 357; j , No. 358; k, No. 359; /, No. 360; m, 

No. 361; n, No. 362; o, No. 363; p, No. 364; 9, No. 365. 

I m n o p q 

PLATE 39.—Specimens from eighth drawer: a, No. 366; b, No. 

367; c, No. 368; d, No. 369; e, No. 370; /, No. 371; g, No. 372; 

h, No. 373; i, No. 374; 7, No. 375; k, No. 376; Z, No. 377; m, 

No. 378, n, No. 380; o, No. 381; p, No. 382; <7, No. 383. 
66 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 40.—Specimens from ninth drawer: a, No. 384, bullet 

to right; b, No. 385; c, No. 386; d, No. 387; e, No. 388; /, No. 

389; g, No. 390; h, No. 391; i, No. 392; /, No. 393, bullet to 

right; k, No. 394; /, No. 395; m, No. 396, bullet to right; n, No. 

397; o, No. 398; p, No. 399; q, No. 400, bullet to right. 

PLATE 41.—Specimens from ninth drawer: a, No. 403; b, No. 

404; c, No. 405; d, No. 406, bullet to right; e, No. 407; f, bullet 

to No. 407; g, No. 410; h, No. 411; i, No. 409; /, No. 412, bullet 

to right; k, No. 413; /, No. 414; m, No. 415; n, No. 416; o, No. 

417; p, No. 418, bullet to right; q, No. 419; r, No. 420. 
NUMBER 11 67 

i 

PLATE 42.—Specimens from ninth drawer: a, No. 421, bullet 

above; b, No. 428; c, No. 429; d, No. 430; e, No. 431; /, No. 

432; g, No. 433; h, No. 434; i, No. 435; /, No. 439; k, No. 440; 

/, No. 441; m, No. 442; n, No. 443; o, No. 444; p, No. 445; q, 

No. 446; r, No. 447. 

PLATE 43.—Specimens from tenth drawer: a, No. 450, bullet 

above; b, No. 451, bullet above; c, No. 452, bullet above; d, 

No. 453, bullet above; e, No. 454; /, No. 455; g, No. 456, bullet 

above; h, No. 457; i, No. 458, bullet above; /, No. 459; k, No. 

460; /, No. 461, bullet above; m, No. 462. 
68 SMITHSONIAN STUDIES IN HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 

PLATE 44.—Specimens from tenth drawer: a, No. 450, bullet 

above; b, No. 451, bullet above; c, No. 452, bullet above; d, 

No. 453, bullet above; e, No. 454; /, No. 455; g, No. 456, bullet 

above; h, No. 457, bullet above; i, No. 458, bullet above; /, No. 

459; k; No. 460; /, No. 461, bullet above; m, No. 462. 

m n o p q r 

PLATE 45.—Case and head types. Cases: a, Remington's Martinprimed with re-entrant fold at head (No. 97); b, Springfield 

Martin-primed with simple fold at head (No. 327); c, Barprimed variant, crimps .092 inch from head (No. 120); d, 

Frankford Arsenal type bar anvil, crimps .110 inch from head 

(No. 315A); e, Wide indents for disk anvil (No. 317); /, Stab 

crimp (No. 318); g, Disk anvil, 360-degree crimp (No. 322); 

h, Double crimp (No. 361); i, Case reduced above cup anvil 

(No. 363); j , Shallow cup, crimps .197 inch from base (No. 

365); k, Deep cup, crimps .257 inch from base (No. 358). Heads: 

/, Remington head, Martin primer (No. 97); m, Springfield 

head, Martin primer (No. 327); n, Springfield head, Martin 

primer, cal. 45 (No. 403); o, Winchester Millbank's patent 

primer (No. 99); p, Corrugated base (No. 361); q, USC Company, Meigs headstamp (No. 100); r, Typical Berdan head by 

UMC Company (No. 104); s, Springfield "58 CAL" marking 

(No. 120); t, Springfield "50 CAL" marking (No. 121); u, 

Springfield "45 CAL" marking (No. 122); v, Frankford "U.S. 

CARBINE" marking (No. 457); w, USC Company Farrington's 

patent primer (No. 114); x, Winchester Hotchkiss' patent 

primer (No. 95) [Note line where primer is inserted is barely 

visible]. 

•fr U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1972 O 452-760