Early & Transitional

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Last updated: October 30, 2024

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Legend: BP=Black Powder, 2pc=Two piece lift-top box, Sld=Sealed, Lbl=Label, Pr=Primer HS=Headstamp, NHS=No Headstamp Color Codes: BL, GRN, WH, YEL, BLK, PLD (PLAID), ETC.
Caliber	Description	$
Colt Cartridge Works, "10 PATENT METALLIC FOIL / Cartridges for Col. Colt's Patent REVOLVING BELT PISTOL Containing 10 .28 (.265) Colt Tinfoil Cartridges in Colt Logo Sleeves	Colt Cartridge Works, "10 PATENT METALLIC FOIL / Cartridges / for Col. Colt's Patent / REVOLVING BELT PISTOL / Address / Sam Colt's Cartridge Works / Hartford, Conn." One of the rarest of all Colt packets is this SEALED packet of "Tinfoil powder envelope cartridge in soft wrapper, 1855-1858" as described in Malloy, Thomas and White's Percussion Ammunition Packets, p.10 fig.28. The rarity is graded "E" (EXTREMELY RARE") on page 127 of the same reference work. It is said that this packet is one of 3 known and meant enough to the authors, who were (and remain today) considered the leading experts in these packets, to make it one of the 3 pictured on the dust jacket of the most respected reference work ever written on percussion packets. Included in the price is this single example taken from an identical (but open) packet found with the sealed packet shown. I am personally aware of individual cartridges such as these having sold as high as $800 (and that was some years ago). I'm told that there have been sales more recently as high as $1000! As RARE an example of American cartridge history as anything I've ever handled!	$10,950 sold
.31 "Col. Colt's Patent Revolving Pocket Pistol"	Colt Cartridge Works, drilled wooden block 6-pkt with full covering intact as well as the wire-pull for opening. Label overlaps front edge as can be seen in the pix. Truly "EXCELLENT" condition as opposed to so many that have been opened and pasted back and are missing the wire.	$425 sold
.31 "Col. Colt's Patent Revolving Pocket Pistol"	Colt Cartridge Works, drilled wooden block 6-pkt. The paper covering is all there with no chips or breaks and the copper wire-pull remains intact. Nice!	$385 sold
.31 "For Colt's or Remington's Revolving Pocket Pistol"	*H. W. Mason (according to Malloy, Thomas and White's Percussion Ammunition Packets, pp28-29, fig.95). Sealed & tight, been in my collection for over 25 years!*	$385 sold
.36 "Col. Colt's Patent Revolving Belt Pistol"	Colt Cartridge Works, drilled wooden block 6-pkt with full covering intact. The exterior part of the wire-pull is missing but its presence is visible and obvious beneath the right end paper. Label overlaps front edge as can be seen in the pix. An exceptionally clean specimen!	$425 sold
36 "Col. Colt's Patent New Model Revolving Police Pistol"	Colt's Cartridge Works, "Col. Colt's Patent / New Model / Revolving Police Pistol". Drilled wooden block 5-pkt, SEALED, with full covering intact. Malloy, Thomas & White, pg 13, Fig. 50. Honest, "EXCELLENT" condition" as opposed to so many that have been opened and pasted back. Nice!	$425 sold
36 Colt Pkt	Colt Cartridge Works. "6 Combustible Envelope Cartridges...for / Col. Colt's Patent / Revolving Belt Pistol..." SEALED, no tears or splits, copper wire-pull in place at right end. NICE!	$475 sold
36 Colt Pkt	D.C. Sage. "Six Seamless Skin / CARTRIDGES / for Colt, Whitney, or Remington's / NAVY PISTOLS.../...Hotchkiss Patent, Feb. 11th, 1862." SEALED, with pull-string in place, EXCEPTIONAL!	$500 sold
36 Cal. Skin Ctdg Packet	D.C. Sage. "Six Seamless Skin Cartridges, w/ percussion caps, for Colt's, Whitney, or Remington's Navy Pistol, 36-100 Caliber." Drilled wooden block packet of 6. Clean, SEALED, about as nice as they come!	$475 sold
36 "Colt's Navy Pistol"	"Robert Chadwick, Mfr." Scarce packet! While the word "Pistol" is mostly missing due to the fragility of the paper label covering, the integrity of the box is excellent with absolutely no splits or breaks in the paper along the top as frequently seen. String-pull is also intact. [Has been in my collection for over 25 years!]	$315 sold
36/38-100 cal. Combustible Ctdgs for Remington's Navy Revolver	Johnston & Dow. "Combustible Ctdgs / for Remington's Navy Revolvers, cal. 38-100 / Patented Oct 1st, 1861". Packet of 6, factory-sealed, with string pull intact. Nice!!	$475 sold
36 Whitney or Colt	Civil War era wood-block packet, wrapped & SEALED with string-pull intact. For the Whitney or Colt's Mod 1851 Navy revolvers. [From my personal collection]	$525 sold
36 Colt, Whitney or Remington's Navy Pistol	D.C. Sage. Another Civil War packet, these are the desirable "Hotchkiss Patent" (of Feb 11, 1862) "Seamless Skin Cartridges", wrapped & SEALED in a wood-block pkt of six.	$450 sold
36 Whitney (or Colt or Remington) Navy Pistol	D.C. Sage. Yet another (and different) Civil War .36 Cal. Navy packet, with the desirable "Hotchkiss Patent" (of Feb 11, 1862) "Seamless Skin Cartridges", wrapped & SEALED in a wood-block pkt of six ctdgs with string-pull intact.	$485 sold
41 Volcanic	Nice, clean specimen with hollow base. Shows light oxidation but looks from all angles as seen in pics.	$150 sold
44 Colt Packet (REPRO)	Paul R. Murphy, Boston Mass. This packet of 6 reproduction .44 Colt "Combustible Envelope Cartridges", while not a risk to being passed off as a genuine, "period" packet, it is minty and quite possibly (and feels like) it contains repro cartridges (unlike the phony packets going around). Measures 2-7/8" x 1-5/8" x 1/2". Anybody know anything about these, when they were made or who Paul Murphy was? Neat item at any rate! Update, 12/3/21: A packet exactly like this just sold at auction (Wards) for $255 (incl prem)!	$185
44 Colt Army Packet	Hazard Powder Co. Top line: "Pressed Waterproof" (which can't be seen in pic because of reflection on wrap). "Patented March 18, 1862". Nicely sealed soft pack. Has darkening at lower left and missing small bit of upper right label ("F" in "WATERPROOF"), but over-all is in very nice shape for one of these scarcer soft-packs (over 150 yrs old!). The largest of these Colt packets, these 44s are always the most expensive, usually ranging in the $500-600 area for common ones, more for rarer ones. This one priced at the level of a common .36 Colt pkt!	$350 sold
44 Colt 1861 Army/ Dragoon	Johnston & Dow, NYC. "Waterproof & Combustible / CARTRIDGES / Cal. 46-100, with Percussion Caps, / For Colt's Army Revolvers, Cal. 44-100. / Patented Oct 1st, 1861, Jan 7th, and June 24th, 1862." Early Civil War soft-pack of 6, SEALED. (Scanned, not photo'd.) [From my personal collection]	$650 sold
44 Colt & Rem	Frankford Arsenal, "Martin" [primed] Cartridges, For Colt's and Remington's Army Revolvers". Very early (1st year) SEALED 12-pack, dtd June, 1871. Pull string intact w/ none of the common edge splits. NOT a glued-edge, repaired packet as are so many of these. [From my personal collection.]	$875 sold
44 Colt & Rem	As above: "Frankford Arsenal, Martin [primed] Cartridges, For Colt's and Remington's Revolvers. Very early (1st year) SEALED 12-pack, dtd June, 1871. Pull string intact w/ none of the common edge splits. NOT a glued-edge, repaired packet as are so many of these." HOWEVER--as you can see from the close-up photo of the bottom edge of this box (pic below), it was common for box labels, which were coated with a waterproofing like shellac, to stick to one another in the wooden crates in which they were packed & shipped. This box evidently lost several letters of the word "Cartridges" when the box above it in the crate was removed. Then someone with an artistic bent reprinted the word so the labeling looks totally original upon all but the closest inspection. In fact, the previous owner, a very discerning, quality conscious collector, never noticed it during all the years he owned it. You will happy with it as well, especially at this price!	$775 sold
44 Colt & Rem	Frankford Arsenal "For Colt's and Remington's Revolvers". Early SEALED pkt of 12, dtd January 1873. Pull string intact. Spot on upper rt edge (visible in scan) is a drop of the original shellac coating. Rare in any condition, especially so this nice!	$950 sold
44 Henry	New Haven Arms (predecessor to Winchester). Circa 1863-65, these rare New Haven labelings are the "true" Henry boxes. Winchester evolved from New Haven Arms in 1866 at roughly the same time they introduced their new Model 1866, the Company's successor to the Henry Rifle. This particular box is reportedly from an original (partial) case found in the basement of the Browning Bros' Ogden, Utah building in the 1870s. The outstanding condition of this box does nothing to belie that claim. The cartridges also appear entirely native to the box. This is the exact box pictured at the top of pg 31 of Giles & Shuey and has been in my personal collection since the 1980s. Similar boxes in less condition have sold at auction in recent years for in excess of $12,000. Own the best for display with your Henry! [More pix on request but there are no other labels on these boxes.]	sold
44 S&W's Army Revolver (44 S&W American)	Frankford Arsenal, Aug 1871. Martin primed (preceded Benet priming). Possibly the earliest such dated box FA box after the discontinued National Armory labelings (pls read next listing below). Sealed, with string-pull in place. Exceptional! [From my personal collection.]	$785 sold
44 S&W's Army Revolver (44 S&W American)	National Armory. "For Smith & Wesson's Army Revolver". Very scarce, early (April 1871) SEALED box of "Martin-primed" cartridges. The National Armory, founded in Spfld MA in 1777, was George Washington's concept designed to safeguard our young nation's armament from the British. The last dated ammo I have seen from Nat'l Armory is 1871, the year of this box. Thereafter everything is from Frankford Arsenal. Aside from a minor flaw in the upper left corner, the box is tight with intact pull string and no seam splits. This is a real piece of our country's history! [This packet is virtually identical to 3 other such packets sold during the past 5 years off this very page. You may recognize that I have not changed the description from the original listing: it is reprinted here exactly as it appeared then, except for the "minor flaw" & a much lower price (was $950)]. (click to enlarge)	$675 sold
45 Colt Oct 1873 (RARE 1st date!!)	Frankford Arsenal. The very first of these month-dated Colt packets which began with this one and ended with Aug 1874. Making this date series even rarer is the fact there are no known packets dated May or July, 1874. Beyond these dates the packets were of the lighter Schofield loading and were only year-dated, 1875 being the earliest. Further, the "Colt" call-out was then dropped and "Revolver Ball" became the official title of the cartridge. Have only had 3 (and only seen 4) of these in 30 years. This one, incidentally, was bought some years ago from Ray Bentley whose fabulous collection has now been cataloged for auction by James Julia/Morphy's. The condition is sound & tight on all sides with no splits and the string pull perfectly in place.	sold
45 Colt Nov 1873	Frankford Arsenal. While Oct 1873 is the earliest of these packets, it is virtually unobtainable making this Nov offering the earliest of the dates that (occasionally, at least) come on the market. Sealed, with pull string and all seams intact. The variance in coloration of these packets is due to to the uneven lacquer coating used to weatherproof them.Nice!	sold
45 Colt Dec 1873	Frankford Arsenal. These early Benet-primed "Colt's Revolver, Cal; .45" (pre-Schofield) packets were month-dated from Oct 1873-Aug 1874 only. Thereafter, the .45 "Revolver Ball" cartridges, which were shorter and less powerful to accommodate use in the S&W Schofield as well as the Colt, were year-dated till 1882. This box is dated December 1873, the 1st month of actual Colt SAA shipments from the factory. This box is still SEALED w/ string-pull intact! The variance in coloration of these packets is due to to the uneven lacquer coating used to weatherproof them.This is one of the most sought-after of ALL Colt packets! [Photo'd in shrink-wrap]	$1250 sold
45 Colt Mar 1874	Frankford Arsenal, March, 1874. These early Benet-primed "Colt's Revolver, Cal; .45" (pre-Schofield) packets were month-dated from Oct 1873-Aug 1874 only. Thereafter, the .45 "Revolver Ball" cartridges, which were shorter and less powerful to accommodate use in the S&W Schofield as well as the Colt, were year-dated till 1882. Sealed, excellent original condition.	sold
45 Colt Apr 1874	Frankford Arsenal, April, 1874. As above, these early Benet-primed "Colt's Revolver, Cal; .45" (pre-Schofield) packets were month-dated from Oct 1873-Aug 1874 only. Thereafter, the .45 "Revolver Ball" cartridges, which were shorter and less powerful to accommodate use in the S&W Schofield as well as the Colt, were year-dated till 1882. Sealed, excellent original condition. [From my personal collection.]	$895 sold
45 Colt	Frankford Arsenal, June, 1874. These early Benet-primed "Colt's Revolver, Cal; .45" (pre-Schofield) packets were month-dated from Oct 1873-Aug 1874 only. Thereafter, the .45 "Revolver Ball" cartridges, which were shorter and less powerful to accommodate use in the S&W Schofield as well as the Colt, were year-dated till 1882. The variance in coloration of these packets is due to to the uneven lacquer coating used to weatherproof them. Great early box, CLEAN & SEALED!	$895 sold
45 Colt	Frankford Arsenal, August, 1874, the last month these "Long Colts" were produced. While the pull-string has broken off (or been cut) at the corner, it's obvious that it has never been pulled to open the box as the underlying imprint of the string remains "under the skin" (see pic). These early Benet-primed "Colt's Revolver, Cal; .45" (pre-Schofield) packets were month-dated from Oct 1873-Aug 1874 only. Thereafter, the .45 "Revolver Ball" cartridges, which were shorter and less powerful to accommodate use in the S&W Schofield as well as the Colt, were year-dated till 1882. The variance in coloration of these packets is due to to the uneven lacquer coating used to weatherproof them.Great early box, CLEAN, SEALED and CHEAP!	sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1875	Frankford Arsenal, 1875, sealed. This is the toughest date in this series except for 1876. String-pull is intact. Nice!	$565 sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1876 !	Frankford Arsenal, 1876, Colt & Schofield. This, the year of Custer's demise at the Little Bighorn, is by far the most sought after, and least encountered, date in the series, 1875-1881. While the right end edges show some glue touch-up and there are traces of tape residue at the right end of the top, it is not significantly detracting (see pix). The pull-string has definitely never been pulled and the long-side edges are unquestionably original & intact as is the left end. A great, eminently displayable example of this extremely historic, 1876-dated box!	$925 sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1876 !	Frankford Arsenal, 1876, Colt & Schofield. AS ABOVE, except no excuses as to glue and tape. As close to perfect as can possibly be found!	$1250 sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1877	Frankford Arsenal. Dated 1877, this is the .45 Colt (& Schofield) packet of the Benet-primed cartridges shipped from the arsenal to the troops from 1875 to 1882. A far rarer date than the 1878 packet, this example is still sealed with correct drawstring placement and none of the typical seam separations!	$525 sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1878	Frankford Arsenal, 1878, Colt & Schofield. Sealed packet of 12 ctdgs with none of the commonly found edge-splits/repairs, repairs which are often found with the pull-string misplaced when repaired and re-sealed. This one is guaranteed to be totally original!	$425
45 Colt & Schofield 1879	Frankford Arsenal, 1879, Schofield & Colt. The last year of the early style, coated/shellacked boxes. Much less common than the 1878 packets. The label is not well-centered (laps over front edge). Otherwise nice--sealed, clean and tight!	sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1880	Frankford Arsenal, 1880, Schofield & Colt. 1880-1882 are the only years of this original 1870s, Benet-primed, style of these packets that were not lacquered. "DEC 11 1880" date-stamped in red on top side. Much less common than the 1878 packets. Looks "case-fresh", as NEW! '	sold
45 Colt & Schofield "Horse training blanks"	Frankford Arsenal, Schofield & Colt, date-stamped on side: "Oct 30 1882" , String-pull intact and SEALED!	$85 sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1887(?)	Frankford Arsenal, Schofield & Colt, date-stamped on side illegible except "May..." (probably 1887 as all May stampings I've seen are). Sealed and tight, pull-string still in place. None of the common seam separations, very nice clean packet! These later dates are far harder to find than the 1877-81 packets.	$465 sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1891	Frankford Arsenal, "Nov 2 1891" (stamped on lid top), Schofield & Colt. This the last type packaging by the Arsenal in this caliber, a style which ended in 1892. Cartridges by this time were externally ("Boxer") primed and labeled "Reloading" or reloadable. Sealed, with string pull in place. Scarce!	sold
45 Colt & Schofield 1892	Frankford Arsenal, Schofield & Colt. Date-stamped in red on upper edge: "SEP 14 1892". This is a great, SEALED, example of the last year of the second style 2-pc 12-pack with original string-pull around center. Bright, EXCellent condition with string in place under front label.	$295 sold
45-70 "U.S. Springfield Rifle" Sept 1874	Frankford Arsenal, Sept 1874, "70 grains Musket Powder. Bullet, 405 grains." Nice, clean "Indian Wars" example. So many of these are found with the ends blown out and missing ctdgs. This one remains factory-SEALED!	$435 sold
45-70 "U.S. Springfield Rifle" May 1875	Frankford Arsenal. As above but May 1875. "70 grains Musket Powder. Bullet, 405 grains." Nice, clean "Indian Wars" example. So many of these are found with the ends blown out and missing ctdgs. This one remains factory-SEALED!	$425 sold
45-70 Blanks 1874	Frankford Arsenal 1874. "For Rifle and Carbine". No splits. SEALED and nice! Rare this early and in this pristine condition!	$175 sold
45-70 Farrington- primed	U.S.Cartridge Co. This box and loading is unusual in 3 respects: first, the cartridges are all headstamped by month (7 and 8) as well as year (1879). Secondly, this loading used the Farrington primers (flat and slightly dished), and was the only company ever to do so. Third, the box used the patented Fraziers cartridge divider, a serpentine inner cardboard divider that, to my knowledge, was used only by USC for 1-2 years and only then in 45-70 and 50-70 calibers. A truly interesting trifecta in cartridge history and development!	$435
45-80 2.4" "SHARPSHOOTER"	Frankford Arsenal. Date-stamped "JUN 13, 1883", this was developed in the late-1870s and was tested in a new military rifle based on the standard issue trapdoor models; called the Model 1881 Springfield Sharpshooter Rifle, it had a 2.4" chamber rather than the then-standard 2.1" (45-70) chamber but was never put into service either commercially or in the military. Exceptionally clean, "string-pull" mil box, SEALED AND RARE. [Pic is brighter than actual]	$350 sold
45-70 "Morse"	Frankford Arsenal. The "Morse, Model 1886" cartridge utilized a 3-part case with a removable base, rubber seal and flanged tube case, all of which was supposed to facilitate reloading in the field. And it may have worked well; but, according to the literature, it was an innovation that is said to have only lasted from March 1886 to Feb 1887. Clearly that's not quite accurate because I have a box in my collection dated Mar 3, 1887; nonetheless, it was obviously a short-lived experiment. This box is SEALED with the string-pull intact and date-stamped "Sep 26, 1886". [From my personal collection] For more on this I refer you to an excellent write-up by Guy Hildebrand, aka "Old Ammo Guy", in his June 2004 piece which can be viewed on his site [www.oldammo.com/picindex.htm], and while you're there check out the rest of his site: you MAY buy something, you WILL learn something!	$475
46 R.F. "Rem Carbine & Ballard's KY Rifle"	UMC. Here is an exceptionally RARE & EARLY 50-rd BOX!! Heavy and big, this beauty is 4.75"L x 2.5"W x 2"H. The label is the early and desirable UMC "Dog Logo". Cartridges all appear native to the box. In spite of its weight and age (approx 150 years), there are NO splits or repairs! A real find!	$695 sold
50 Remington Army	Frankford Arsenal, May, 1873. Original, sealed 10-pack of Benet-primed ctdgs for the Rem Army pistol. Usually found with the date cut out (so-called "Bannerman boxes") this box is just the way it left the Arsenal! "Bannerman boxes": referred to as such because Bannerman's NYC "army surplus warehouse", as it w/b called today, hired women to cut off the dates from 1860s-1870s ctdg packets so buyers wouldn't know how old the ammo was they were buying when Bannerman offered it at the end of the 19th and early-20th Centuries.	$450 sold
50-70 Gov't	Frankford Arsenal, 1867. This is the very first Center-Fire cartridge to be used by the US military This "Martin bar-primed" cartridge was designed for use in the 1866 Springfield Rifle. Within a year however (Mar 1868), the improved Berdan priming system was adopted and these bar-primed cartridges were immediately rendered obsolete. This SEALED 5-pack can readily and without exaggeration be called RARE! Great condition with NO problems or repairs whatsoever! [From my personal collection.]	$695 sold
50-70 Gov't	U.M.C. "U.S. Standard" Berdan-primed "Metallic Cartridges". Military style box but labeling more likely commercial, ca 1873. Box has been opened so we have a good view of the really nice original ctdgs within. Now shrink-wrapped, you can barely tell the box has been opened, looks sealed. This is the only one of these I've ever had in over 30 years of collecting and dealing!	$525 sold
54 Burnside	Burnside Rifle Co. Very RARE string-tied, Civil War era packet of "10 Cartridges with 12 Caps". Have only ever seen 4 or 5 over the past 32 years with this being the only one I've ever owned. [From my personal collection]	$765 sold
56-50 Spencer	J. Goldmark (NY). This rather fragile "soft-pack" contains 42 rds with the label on the top end of the wrapper. According to John Barber's book, The Rimfire Cartridge 1857-1984, this company was only in the cartridge business from 1864 to 1866. Later, the name is found on Winchester percussion cap tins indicating that Winchester acquired the Goldmark business at some point after the Civil War. Obviously a very scarce packet that, unlike most Goldmark pkts I've seen, has somehow held together this very heavy load in a rather delicate paper wrapping for over 150 years!	$650
56-50 Spencer	Sage Ammunition Works. Ca mid/late-1860s, this square box contains 42 ctdgs in 6 sealed, unmarked packets of 7 rds each (the magazine capacity of the Spencer). While the label shows scuffing and there are small tape removal stains at the lid corners, the box is very solid with none of the usual bottom seam splits. A great early & historical display item--CHEAP!!	sold