What kind of cartridge is this?

Knifecollector

I measured the case, its exactly 1.00 inch long, the rim is .650, the case is .560 at the back and necked down to .550. The overall length is 1.65 inches. Theres no primer in the center, but I'm not sure that its a rimfire either. There are no markings or stamps at all.

jtmarine0831

Cartridges in the 1800's were rimfire regardless of caliber. Here is a link from CCI that gives alittle history of the rimfire. I has a bit about conversion of 58 cal muzzleloader convereted to fire a fixed cartridge. Hope this points you in a good direction!



http://www.cci-ammunition.com/education/rimfire_evolution.aspx


Here is another link, it mentions a .56-56 round from firearms produced by Ethan Allen.


http://cartridgecollectors.org/glossary.htm

Had here is another link yet with pics! Check out pic #15 and the .56 Spencers!

http://members.shaw.ca/cartridge-corner/idpics2.htm



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=84189681

mongrel1776

And "Cartridges Of The World" (Barnes/Skinner) says....

Probably a 56-52 Spencer, necked. The photo of the cartridge in "COTW" is a dead ringer for what you have pictured, except in the book there is no picture of the base to compare with yours. The Spencer was, by the way, a rimfire hull. The dimensions given are: caliber, .525"; neck diameter, .547"; shoulder, .558"; base, .560"; rim, .642"; case length, 1.02"; and overall length, 1.66". Not the precise-to-the-nth-degree same measurements as you list, but that's the closest thing in the book.

Knifecollector

Wow, look what this guy is asking for his Spencer bullet.
http://www.ammo-one.com/56-56Spencer.html

heavyiron

Hi,

My advice is to post your photos on the International Ammunition Association website. There is no charge for this and the website is inhabited by true experts in the discipline of cartridge collecting. Some can also suggest a value. I would also suggest that you try to get a clear photo of the case head.

http://www.cartridgecollectors.org/

Not all cartridges from the 1800's are rimfires. There were Allins, Burnside, cupfires, teatfire, lipfire, Gallaghers, Thuers, Crispins, pinfires, Maynards, etc, etc, etc. Some of the patent ignition cartridges even looked like rimfires but were centerfires such as the Benet primed and cup and anvil primed cartridges.

The partial reason for the staggering variety of early ignition types of primers was due to the Rollin White Patent, i.e., a cylinder that allowed the use of rimmed cartridges to be loaded from the rear. Smith and Wesson was the first and only gun maker to establish an agreement with Rollin White in 1856 to use his patent and paid him 25 cents royalty per gun. As a result there was a plethora of new ignition types of self-contained cartridges to circumvent the patent.

Hope this helps.

Heavyiron

Tailgunner1954

When comparing pricing, like you did with the one on Dave Call's website, you need to look at more than just the condition. IE: a later one made by UMC won't be worth nearly as a early one made by C.D.Leet. Even the style of the bullet has an effect on the price.

There were several dozen ammo manufactures back than, all putting out similar ammo, some may have produced hundreds of thousands of a given cartridge while others produced less than 1000 of the same cartridge.
I like rim fires, but not enough to ID the maker of yours. However I can tell you that that base style will identify the maker and approx age of yours.

Yes, books have been written on just US/Canada made rimfire cartridges