EUROPEAN MILITARY CARTRIDGES - 1860's TO 1945 - BRITISH SNIDER, & MARTINI-HENRY, GERMAN MAUSER, SPANISH REFORMADO REMINGTON, RUSSIAN BERDAN, ETC. - SINGLE CARTRIDGES AND FULL PACKETS:  Each cartridge or packet is described individually below with accompanying photographs. 

MODEL 1869 RUSSIAN BERDAN 10.75 x 58R MM CARTRIDGES – ORIGINAL PACKET:  The 10.75 x 58mm Rimmed Cartridge was adopted by Russia in 1868, used in both the Berdan I and Krnka Model 1869 Rifles, and after 1871, it was used in the Berdan II Rifle - all single shot rifles.  This Berdan primed brass cartridge case, loaded with a lubricated paper wrapped .43 caliber bullet, was part of the weapon system designed by Hiram Berdan, an American gun maker who the Russians had recruited to improve their military weapons.  At the time of its introduction, the 10.75 x 58R was one of the more powerful cartridges in military service, and it was notable as the first military cartridge designed with an external centerfire Berdan primer, and a bottlenecked case.  Large numbers of this cartridge were manufactured in the U.S. by Remington and Winchester for the Russian government, and bore the Russian headstamp.   

The Russian Berdan (both I and II) ammunition was factory assembled in blue paper wrapped packets containing 6 cartridges which were tied with a coarse string.  As noted above, this cartridge was used in the various Russian shoulder arms, and when Russia adopted the Gorlov Gatling gun, it too was chambered in the same caliber. Cartridge types can be determined by their color - rifle cartridges had a white paper patch, carbine cartridges had a salmon pink patch, and machine gun cartridges had grayish-blue patches (and often British headstamps).  The bullets were identical in all the cartridge types.

It is interesting that in light of the extremes of Russian weather, these cartridges were issued in “winter type” and “summer type”.  The “summer” cartridges had pure beeswax wadding behind the bullet, while the “winter” cartridges had a wadding of tallow and beeswax.   

This packet has survived in respectable condition given the light weight of the paper wrapping.  It has been opened on one end, and one of the six cartridges was removed, leaving five of the original cartridges in the packet.  A corner of the wrapping on one end can be lifted to expose the rimmed head of one cartridge and it can be withdrawn from the packet.  The cartridge has the correct Russian military headstamp, which notably includes the “I” stamp, indicating this packet was assembled during the service life of the Berdan I arms - the first in this series of arms.  Later loadings would be stamped with a “II” symbol in place of the “I”, indicating the Berdan II arms.  The wrapper is solid and the string tie is still in place.  The cartridges feature a white paper patch on the bullet, indicating these were rifle cartridges.  At some point – probably when these packets were sold into the civilian surplus market – the inscription “Rifle Rimmed” was written in ink on the wrapper.  Overall, this is a very nice example of a fairly uncommon Russian Berdan Packet.  (0216)  $150

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.43 SPANISH REFORMADO (11.5 mm x 58R) – FAMOUS SPANISH AMERICAN WAR BRASS PLATED “POISON BULLET” FOR THE SPANISH REMINGTON ROLLING BLOCK RIFLE:   One of the most historic cartridges ever employed against the U.S. Armed Forces, and around which grew an aura of myth and legend, the Berdan primed .43 Spanish Reformado, also known as the 11.5 mm x 58R, features a brass plated bullet which was the unintended root of the belief that “Poisoned Bullets” were employed against our forces during the Spanish American War.  Introduced in 1867, this was the original Spanish military cartridge for the Rolling Block Rifles manufactured for Spain by Remington.   

While the brass plated bullet was never intended to be poisoned, exposure of the brass to the tropical climate, and being carried in leather cartridge boxes and looped cartridge belts caused the brass to readily develop a coating of the green verdigris – the result of the chemical reaction between the brass and the leather.  The green, waxy deposit, while not toxic in and of itself, likely did in fact contribute to infectious wounds, and gave rise to the claims of “poisoned bullets”.   Over a million of these cartridges were captured by the US troops in Cuba, along with the Spanish Remington Rifles.   

In spite of the numbers seized by our troops, today this is a relatively scarce cartridge. This is a very limited offering of collector quality specimens of these historic cartridges from the Spanish American War. 

.43 SPANISH REFORMADO (11.5 mm x 58R) SINGLE CARTRIDGE: Headstamped to include the date “87”, indicating production in 1887, this cartridge could well be one of those captured in Cuba during the war.  (0929) $20

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FULL PACKET OF 20 ROUNDS OF .43 MAUSER:  A full packet of 20 rounds OF .43 Mauser Cartridges.  The box is full form with all the seams intact and the edges sharp.  All twenty unfired cartridges are present, are loaded with cast lead bullets, and are headstamped with the caliber.  The label indicates these cartridges are loaded with Pyrodex in an amount equivalent to the black powder load.  (0326)  $150

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FULL PACKET OF 20 ROUNDS OF .43 MAUSER:  A full packet of 20 rounds produced by "Old West Scrounger Inc.", a well known maker of obsolete ammunition.    The box is full form with all the seams intact and the edges sharp.  All twenty unfired cartridges are present, are loaded with cast lead bullets, and are headstamped with the caliber.  (0333)  $150

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OLD DOMINION PACKET OF .43 MAUSER:  A partial packet of 11 rounds produced by Dominion Ammunition Company.    The box is full form with all the seams intact, with some minor shelf wear.  The original eleven unfired cartridges are loaded with cast lead bullets, and are headstamped with the maker and caliber.  (0327)  $75

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PRE-WWII 8MM x 57R MILITARY CARTRIDGE PAPER WRAPPED PACKET:  An original pre-World War Two military issue ammunition packet for the Hungarian Mannlicher Rifle in 8x56R.  The packet is paper wrapped without any label - the only identifier is a blue-green daub of colored ink which was probably sufficient within the issue system of the time to identify this packet's contents. 

The packet has been opened on one end by carefully undoing the folds of the wrapper paper.  From all appearances, the packet contains the original cartridges.  Without risking tearing the wrapper, I cannot get a full absolute count of the cartridges, but from what I can tell there is at least 18 cartridges, and very likely all 20 are there.  I'd rather leave it as is rather than risk the integrity of the wrapper. 

The lack of Third Reich markings on the packet and the headstamps suggests to me that this packet predates the onset of World War Two.  That this desirable early production packet  survived the war in this condition is notable.  (0322) $125

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8MM x 57j SPORTING CARTRIDGES - THREE BOXES:  One of the more popular sporting cartridges in Europe, these three boxes have some age, but are very similar to those I used in Germany in the 1970's.  There are two boxes of Nicorro brand and one box of the RWS brand.  The RWS box is full with the original 10 rounds.  One of the Nicorro brand boxes is full with 10 rounds and the other has eight of the ten rounds present.  All three boxes show some handling, but are otherwise full form with all the flaps.  The RWS top flap label is missing some of the text and the Nicorro boxes have fully legible labels.  (0753)  All three boxes for $125 or $45 each for single boxes - your choice while they last. 

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.455 MK II WEBLEY BALL CARTRIDGES - FULL BOX:  Full box of Fiocchi Cartridge Company .455 MK II Ball Cartridges.  Box shows some minor shelf wear but is otherwise solid throughout.  (0334)  $35

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MODEL 1877 AUSTRIAN WERNDL 11MM RIFLE CARTRIDGES - TWO STRIPPER CLIPS IN THE ORIGINAL PAPERBOARD CARTON:  This original paperboard carton contains two stripper clips of 11mm cartridges for the Austrian Model 1877 Werndl Rifle - one clip contains all five rounds, the other contains four rounds.  The cartridges are loaded with the waxed paper patched bullets and all are in very nice condition.  The stripper clips are in very good condition and the paperboard box is full form, but is missing the flap that covered the wide end.  Overall a nice example of an early Austrian ammunition packet.  (0749)  $48

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MODEL 1896 SWEDISH MAUSER 6.5 X 55MM RIFLE CARTRIDGE PACKET:  This original paperboard packet contains nine original 6.5 x 55mm Swedish Mauser cartridges.  The packet is dated 1953 and although showing some aging, is complete and full form.  (0750)  $25

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.577- .450 MARTINI-HENRY BRITISH CARTRIDGES:  These are excellent examples of the famous .577-.450 cartridge, adopted by the British as the standard military cartridge in 1871 for use in the Martini-Henry falling block, single shot rifles.  Perhaps best known for its use during the Zulu Wars in South Africa, the Martini-Henry was the standard British service rifle for many years.  These are believed to be the product of the Royal Ammunition Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal in southeast London, England. 

These original cartridges are becoming scarce, and they are increasingly more difficult to find to complete your historic display. 

NO. 1  .577- .450 MARTINI-HENRY BRITISH CARBINE CARTRIDGE:  This is a very nice specimen of the much rarer standard government produced military carbine cartridge, indicated by the red paper patching material around the bullet.  Consisting of a rolled brass, two piece case with the black lacquered base, this carbine cartridge is loaded with the paper patched bullet and a smaller powder charge.  Again, far less common than the rifle cartridges, these red paper patched cartridges seldom appear on the market.  (1027) $125

NO. 2  .577- .450 MARTINI-HENRY ELEY RIFLE CARTRIDGE:  This is a very nice specimen of a .577-450 cartridge produced by the Eley Company in England.   Loaded with a lead paper patched bullet and legibly headstamped.  (1004)  $75

.577 SNIDER KYNOCH CARTRIDGE:  A standard loading for the Snider breech loading system rifles and carbines manufactured by the famous Kynoch Cartridge Company. In excellent condition, and headstamped ".577 S.".  $45

WORLD WAR ONE GERMAN 7.92 SERVICE CARTRIDGES IN A NICKEL PLATED STEEL STRIPPER CLIP - DATED 1918:  As issued to the German soldiers during World War One, these five 7.92 caliber service cartridges are mounted in the original nickel plated steel stripper clip.  Each cartridge is in excellent condition and head stamped "C S67 8 18".  $35

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Due to the influx of single cartridges, it is no longer practical to photograph each loose cartridge.  Instead, the following is a list of the single foreign military cartridges I currently have.  Each cartridge is listed with a basic description and price. The prices indicated are per cartridge. 

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LEON BEAUX – MILANO .41 SWISS RIMFIRE CARTRIDGE BOX FOR 20 CARTRIDGES – IMPORTED BY THE WINFIELD ARMS CORPORATION ca. 1950’s:  Bearing a colorful label and box color, this square two piece paperboard box of .41 Swiss Rimfire Cartridges was manufactured in Milano, Italy by Leon Beaux, and imported into the U.S. by the famous Winfield Arms Corporation.   

In 1953 Winfield Arms made a name for themselves by buying all the Johnson Automatic Rifles held as surplus in the U.S.  Winfield refurbished the rifles and sold them through the mid-1960’s.  Winfield Arms was also known for importing and relabeling these .41 Swiss Rimfire cartridges.  Winfield sold surplus weapons from all over the world, including Remington rolling block rifles, Martinis, Mausers, Terni carbines, Ross .303 rifles, Swiss Vetterlis, Webley revolvers, Swedish Lahti pistols, as well as sabers, bayonets, and gun stocks.  There is also a vein of the company’s history that supports the story that Winfield Arms were a front for the CIA, facilitating international arms sales for the covert operations sponsored by the agency.   

The box, measuring 2 ¾” by 2 ¼” and 2 ¼” high, has been opened by carefully cutting around the bottom edge on three sides, leaving the bottom panel attached on the one side like a flap.  This method of opening the packet left the sealing tape that seals the top and bottom sections of the box around all four sides intact, and made for a very displayable box.  The box and labeling is in excellent condition with only the most minimal aging and no damage to the box or labels.   

This is a fairly scarce box and in spite of being empty, is in remarkable condition and very displayable.  (0626)  $25

GERMAN MADE CARTRIDGE TIN FOR 50 CENTRAL FIRE No. 320 CARTRIDGES:  A rectangular two piece tin box bearing a red label with black printing indicating it was made in Germany and contained 50 "No. 320" Central Fire Cartridges.  From the "Made In Germany" text on the label, this tin was imported after 1890.  The tin, measuring 3.25" long, 1.75" wide and 1" high, is in excellent condition with and the label shows wear only around the edges with all the text clear and legible.  (0751)  $25

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