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1867 FRANKFORD ARSENAL 5 ROUND 50/70 AMMUNITION
PACKET – VERY SCARCE EARLY INDIAN WAR ISSUE:
Apparently manufactured for only one year as no other
dates have been noted on these early labels, it is not
surprising that these five round packets of 50/70
ammunition have survived in very limited numbers. This
5 round packet was originally packaged as one of eight
such packets for a total of 40 rounds contained in a
paper wrapper (see photograph below). Although the
reason for this manner of packaging has not been
absolutely determined, when considered in light of the
cartridge boxes in use at the time, all eight of the 5
round packets could be carried in the Civil War Infantry
Cartridge box with two of the packets in the lower
section and two in the upper section of each of the two
tin liners in the cartridge box. Thus carried, one
soldier could store his full issue of forty rounds and
only unwrap those cartridges needed in the immediate
future, keeping the rest protected in the paper board
wrappers. Issued for use in the US Army .50 caliber
rifles and carbines alike during the late 1860’s, this
original 5 Round “CENTRE PRIMED METALLIC CARTRIDGES
CALIBRE .50” packet was produced at the Frankford
Arsenal in 1867, and is complete with the original 5
rounds of internally primed copper cartridges. The
packet wrapper is intact and the pull string is present,
still glued under the paper wrapper. The paper label is
full form and is completely legible. This packet is one
of the scarcer, desirable, early and historically
significant Indian War ammunition packets, as one of the
early arsenal loadings for the Model 1866 Rifle and the
Sharps Conversion Carbines. Never particularly common,
these packets have become difficult to find available on
today’s market, and this specimen will be a nice
addition to your collection. $750
NOTE: The 40 Round wrapper is not
included in this offering.
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