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.50 CALIBER FRANKFORD ARSENAL INTERNALLY PRIMED
AMMUNITION PACKETS – A NICE SELECTION OF RARE EARLY
INDIAN WARS AMMUNITION: The short period
following the Civil War, specifically 1866 through 1873,
framed one of the most interesting, and arguably one of
the most important periods of experimentation and
development of small arms cartridges for the US Army.
The .50 caliber internally primed centerfire cartridge
which emerged from this period served the army as the
primary small arms cartridge until 1874, and then
continued to be used for many years by civilians
employed by the army, militia units, military schools,
and not least, the settlers and commercial hunters
active on the frontier.
Issued for all of the US Army .50 caliber rifles and
carbines during this period, to include the
Models 1866, 1868 and
the 1870 Trial rifles and carbines, the .50 caliber
cartridges in the various loadings and configurations
played a significant role in the early migration and
settlement of the west, and have an important place in
modern collections.
I currently have the packets
listed below for sale. Each is individually described
and priced below with accompanying photographs.
NOTE:
For individual .50-70 cartridges
produced by both Frankford Arsenal and civilian manufacturers, click on
this link for available offerings:
INDIVIDUAL .50-70 CARTRIDGES
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NO. 1 .50-70 FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION CARTON - DATED 1873:
This original 20 Round “CENTRE PRIMED METALLIC
CARTRIDGES CALIBRE .50” packet was produced at the
Frankford Arsenal in December of 1873, and is complete
with all twenty of the original internally primed copper
cartridges.
The packet wrapper is
intact and the paper label is full form
and is completely legible. One end of the packet is
missing as can be seen in the photos. The other end is
completely intact. The top, bottom, front and rear
surfaces of these packets were made of paperboard, where
as the ends were simply closed by the folds of the paper
wrapper and thus were the weak points of these packets.
As the paper aged, the end paper covering became
brittle, and if the packet was dropped or handled
improperly the weight of the cartridges would easily
damage the end panels of the wrapper. Apparently this
was a fairly common occurrence as many of the packets of
this size and design are missing at least one of the end
panels.
Still, despite the open
end, this remains a scarce, desirable, early and
historically significant Indian War ammunition packet
that is difficult to find available on today’s market,
and will be a nice specimen to add to your collection.
(0208) $750
 
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NO. 2
.50-70 FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION CARTON - DATED
AUGUST 1872:
This original 20 Round “CENTRE PRIMED METALLIC
CARTRIDGES CALIBRE .50” packet was produced at the
Frankford Arsenal in August of 1872, and is complete
with all twenty of the original internally primed copper
cartridges.
The packet wrapper is
intact and the pull string is present, still in place
under the paper wrapper. The paper label is full form
and is completely legible. Both ends of the packet
are present.
The top, bottom, front and rear
surfaces of these packets were made of paperboard, where
as the ends were simply closed by the folds of the paper
wrapper and thus were the weak points of these packets.
As the paper aged, the end paper covering became
brittle, and if the packet was dropped or handled
improperly the weight of the cartridges would easily
damage the end panels of the wrapper. Apparently this
was a fairly common occurrence as many of the packets of
this size and design are missing at least one of the end
panels.
In the case of this packet,
both ends are present and full form, however one end has
separated along the front, top and bottom edges, and
presents now as a flap which allows you to see the
contents. The other end has only some minor
separation along the edge common with the front panel,
but is otherwise intact and in place.
Still, despite these open
seams, the ends are present and this remains a scarce,
desirable, early and historically significant Indian War
ammunition packet that is difficult to find available on
today’s market, and will be a nice specimen to add to
your collection.
SOLD
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NO. 3
50-55 “UNITED STATES CARBINE” FRANKFORD ARSENAL
AMMUNITION CARTON - RAREST OF THE RARE EARLY INDIAN WAR
PACKET:
This extraordinarily rare .50-55 “UNITED STATES CARBINE”
20 Round packet is quite likely one of the few that
still exist in private or public collections today.
Produced at the Frankford
Arsenal in August of 1873, this packet contains one of
the last evolutions of the
arsenal produced .50 caliber cartridges, manufactured
immediately before the introduction of the .45-55 and
.45-70 cartridges in 1874. Undoubtedly intended for use
in the Model 1870 Trial Carbines – the Springfield,
Sharps, Remington and Ward Burton – which were still in
the hands of the frontier cavalrymen, it is unlikely
that very many of these packets were produced,
especially as they supplanted by the .45 caliber arms
and ammunition less than a year later. Those .50-55
packets that were delivered to the frontier were
certainly expended, leaving few examples to survive into
the modern collector market.
Although this packet has been opened around the top
edge, it has survived in very good condition, retaining
a full legible front label, the pull string is still
attached and the balance of the seams are all intact.
The paper label is in
excellent condition, full form and completely legible
with no loss of graphics. The packet still retains its
full form with no weak points misshaping. All twenty of
the correct Benet primed .50-55 cartridges are present –
unique cartridges, different in length and bullet shape
from the standard .50-70 cartridges. Overall, the
packet is very presentable and will display quite
nicely.
This "US CARBINE" 50-55 packet is so rare, it is quite
likely to be the only one of its kind you will ever have
the opportunity to own. While I have no doubt that
there are advanced Indian Wars collections which hold
examples of this packet, they are the same few old
extensive collections that still exist which can be
counted on one hand. This is the type of collectible
which seldom reaches the open market, rather passing
quietly from one old collection to another under a long
established gentleman’s agreement – “if you ever decide
to sell that, I’m your buyer”. In spite of being
opened, this packet presents very well, and that it is
open bears very little on the value. “THE”
packet to display with any of the 1870 Trial Carbines,
this packet would be the crown jewel in any collection
of Indian War Frankford Arsenal cartridge packets.
SOLD
 
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NO. 4
50-70 FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION CARTON - SCARCE
EARLY DATE - 1868:
This original 20 Round “CENTRE PRIMED METALLIC
CARTRIDGES CALIBRE .50” packet is significant as it was
produced at the Frankford Arsenal in 1868 – much earlier
than the more commonly encountered 1872 and 1873 dated
packets. Produced immediately following the 1867 dated
40 Round Wrappers which contained the eight, five round
packets, this packet was the next step in the evolution
of the arsenal produced .50-70 cartridges.
This packet has survived in
very good condition with the wrapper is intact and the
pull string is present and still in place under the
paper wrapper. The paper label is in excellent
condition, full form and completely legible. The packet
is still sealed and still retains its full form with no
weak points or broken seams. The top, bottom, front and
rear surfaces of these packets were made of paperboard,
where as the ends were simply closed by the folds of the
paper wrapper and thus were the weak points of these
packets. The top edges of both end panels of the paper
wrapper have been rubbed open by the rim of the adjacent
cartridges – wear that is commonly found on packets of
this type and characteristic due to the lack of
paperboard reinforcement as described above. These
small openings neither affect the integrity, nor detract
from the appearance of the packet.
This 1868 dated box is the one that would have been
issued with the Models 1867 and 1868 Sharps Carbines,
the Model 1868 Rifle, and all of the 1870 Trial Guns,
both carbine and rifle. I have had perhaps one or two
of these early dated packets in the last 40 years of
collecting antique cartridges, and it is unlikely you
would ever need, or have the opportunity to upgrade this
scarce packet.
SOLD
 
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NO. 5
.50-45 FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION PACKET – VERY RARE
20 ROUND PACKET OF BENET PRIMED CARBINE AND CADET
CARTRIDGES:
This packet of .50-45 Internally Benet Primed Centre
Fire Cartridges, is one of the rarer loadings produced
by the Frankford Arsenal and one of the
key cartridges in the
progression of the .50 caliber internally primed rounds
used by the Indian Wars army. While
individual
.50-45 cartridges do surface on occasion, full 20
Round packets of this cartridge are
almost never
encountered on the open market.
Based on available Ordnance
Department correspondence of the time, this reduced
loading of the standard .50-70 cartridge seems to have
been first introduced for the Model 1866 Cadet Rifles,
and later for the Model 1869 Cadet Rifles with an
additional 10 grains of powder. Further, as documented
in correspondence between Gen. Sherman, Gen. Dyer and
Col. Benton, by 1869 and 1870 the leadership of the
army, in particular the Ordnance Department, was
considering and recommending this reduced loading for
use in carbines and an experimental trapdoor pistol.
The opinions in play felt the reduced loading would be
best for these smaller arms, although recommending that
the carbines (the pistols were never adopted) be capable
of firing the heavier .50-70 cartridge should a shortage
of the smaller cartridge occur.
This excellent packet is
still sealed and retains its full form, and the fully
legible label is complete and intact on the front of the
box. One upper corner has been rubbed open by the rim
of the adjacent cartridge, but this small opening
neither affects the integrity nor detracts from the
appearance of the packet.
Whether the scarcity of
these smaller .50 caliber cartridges is due to the fact
that they were not produced in any great numbers or they
were issued and consumed during the period of use is not
definitely known. While the ten round packets of .50-45
cartridges without a label that were produced by
Frankford Arsenal do surface on infrequent occasions,
surviving 20 round packets of this loading are quite
rare and are seldom found in only the most advanced
Indian War cartridge collections.
SOLD
 
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NO. 6
.50-45 FRANKFORD ARSENAL AMMUNITION PACKET – VERY SCARCE
10 ROUND PACKET OF BENET PRIMED CARBINE AND CADET
CARTRIDGES:
This packet of .50-45 Internally Benet Primed Centre
Fire Cartridges, is one of the scarcer loadings produced
by the Frankford Arsenal and one of the
key cartridges in the
progression of the .50 caliber internally primed rounds
used by the Indian Wars army. While
individual
.50-45 cartridges do surface on occasion, full 10
Round packets of this cartridge are
almost never
encountered on the open market.
Based on available Ordnance
Department correspondence of the time, this reduced
loading of the standard .50-70 cartridge seems to have
been first introduced for the Model 1866 Cadet Rifles,
and later for the Model 1869 Cadet Rifles with an
additional 10 grains of powder. Further, as documented
in correspondence between Gen. Sherman, Gen. Dyer and
Col. Benton, by 1869 and 1870 the leadership of the
army, in particular the Ordnance Department, was
considering and recommending this reduced loading for
use in carbines and an experimental trapdoor pistol.
The opinions in play felt the reduced loading would be
best for these smaller arms, although recommending that
the carbines (the pistols were never adopted) be capable
of firing the heavier .50-70 cartridge should a shortage
of the smaller cartridge occur.
This excellent packet
measuring 3" long, 1 13/16" high and 1 1/8" wide, is full form,
with all the seams intact save for one end panel which
opens, but is still attached by the paper wrapper on one
side. These smaller 10 round packets were never
provided with a label, and the few of these that I have
seen all appear in the same form.
Whether the scarcity of
these smaller .50 caliber cartridges is due to the fact
that they were not produced in any great numbers or they
were issued and consumed during the period of use is not
definitely known. These ten round packets of .50-45
cartridges were produced by
Frankford Arsenal in some number, but they are
relatively scarce and are seldom found but in the most advanced
Indian War cartridge collections.
SOLD
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