WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY GREEN LABEL BOX
OF .44-90 BN (.44 -2 ¼ INCH) CALIBER CARTRIDGES – “FOR
SHARPS RIFLE” – 10 ROUND BOX IN VERY GOOD CONDITION:
Bearing the desirable Winchester Repeating Arms Company
green label which includes the bold font “FOR SHARPS
RIFLES” callout, this is a rare .44 – 2 ¼” Bottleneck
caliber Sharps Rifle ammunition ten round cartridge
box. Introduced by the Sharps Rifle Company in 1875,
this cartridge immediately found popularity with the
Western hunters on the buffalo range.
Giles and Shuey, in their definitive work, Winchester
Cartridge Boxes, 1856-1956, describe these
particular 44-90 BN boxes as fairly rare and having been
produced beginning in 1878. They go on to note that
when found, these boxes normally contain the cartridge
found in this box which is loaded in a 2 ¼” case which
is headstamped “W.R.A. 44-90”. The paper patched bullet
appears to be a 470 grain bullet which is loaded “proud”
in the case in order to allow the full 90 grain powder
charge. From all appearances, the cartridge is original
to the box. This packet was made for a very short
period of time before being replaced by the vertically
packed 20 round boxes.
The box is in very good condition with a full, legible
cover label as can be seen in the photographs below.
The box is full form, and while it has been opened, it
shows very little evidence of the normal wear and tear
to which these early boxes were subjected. The end
label is still in full form and legible with 99% of the
graphics present. The seams of both the lid and the
body are intact and the box holds its full form. The
box retains the Winchester guarantee label pasted on the
bottom of the packet, and it is complete and fully
legible. It is very possible with enough time and
searching, this packet could be filled with original
cartridges.
This is a very nice specimen of a rare ten round
Winchester packet of the .44-2 ¼” BN cartridges bearing
the desirable Sharps Rifle reference on the label.
Seldom appearing on the open collector’s market, you
should think twice before passing on this opportunity to
add this box to your collection to display with your
rifle. (1104) $550
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