local gunstore find

[doc1876]

I went to my local gun store yesterday, and found some estate brass. In there were some 44-40, and I decided to offer them $7 for the ziploc bag. Took them home, and started to sort through them, found several that were boogered up, and started to get irritated until found these!!! ( I had 6 more, but they became special presents) I just added the lead, and now they will display great


132067

[Blammer]

ok, can you tell us what we are looking at?

[bruce drake]

Looks like original balloon-head primed 44-40 brass

[BrianL]

I found a wooden box with a few of those in it back when I was a kid. I used my dad's bullet hammer to pull a couple of them and found Black powder in two types. One was like the charcoal in a freshwater fish tank filter and the other was in long strands (cordite?).

[doc1876]

original 44-40s made in the 1870s

[MtGun44]

Hmm. Don't think that old. They were called ".44 WCF" in the 1870s. Not sure where the .44-40 change over
came, but probably about WW1.

Quick online check shows ".44 W.C.F." headstamp on early Win ammo, altho one source adds
that UMC initiated the .44-40 name so as to not give Win advertising, and adds that
Winchester changed to that term "around WW2". Not sure if this is accurate info, tho.

Not meaning to burst the bubble, but I'd sure want to do some careful research before
being so sure that is from the 1870s. Hard to read but I think it says WC CO, which
would be Winchester Cartridge Company, I am thinking, and that should mean that they are
later since Winchester called it .44WCF, probably later than competitors.

[doc1876]

MANY thanks, I was only able to find one source, and it seems to be wrong, however thanks for the corrected info.
This is one of the reasons that I enjoy this site.

[mattw]

Those are still great looking rounds, I am a very basic collector of cartridges and to me finding one would be a small treasure.

[JB Weld]

It is nice when you find the little treasures of life.

[MtGun44]

Well, being "ONLY" about 110-115 yrs old isn't to be sneezed at, still pretty historical
rounds and I sure would hang on them if I had them.

[woody1]

Check with John Kort, he's the guy. I think he's something like .30WCF on here. Regards, Woody

correction: w30wcf