.38 Rimfire With No Headstamp

[Old Pueblo]

Today I have what I believe to be a .38 rimfire casing without a headstamp. According to what I read on Wikipedia's ".38 rimfire" article and some other random stuff online, this casing dates back to the latter half of the 1860s (when the round was developed) to the 1880s or so, when headstamps and centerfire ammunition became the norm. Is that correct? I also read on wikipedia that the .38 rimfire was used by the US military. If so, what weapons did the US military use that required this type of ammunition?

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

I'm not aware of any military use of a .38 rimfire. At least not in an issue weapon.

Both the Army and Navy did contract for converted percussion revolvers in 1871 & 1873 - that were centerfire.

There were conversions for the .36 Navy Colt Revolver that used a rimfire cartridge.

THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

 

[Old Pueblo]

I thought it was strange too when the wikipedia article said it was "in service" in the United States.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Wikipedia is sometimes worth no more than what it costs to use it.

 

[Old Pueblo]

Thats for sure.