Cartidge Headstamp Expert Needed

[Iron Buzz]

Today I dug what my MD buddy says is a "shell safe"... two brass cartridges, one inserted into the other.
The smaller is a Henry rifle shell with the firing pin dent in the rim, and the larger is a center fire cartridge that has an F at the 12 O'clock position, an 86 at abour 4 o'clock, and a 6 at 8 o'clock. It is 1/2", or 13mm in diameter and a hair over 1/2" long.

(to those that are wondering, I don't think I'll ever be able to separate them. Nothing rattles inside, but it is heavier than the combined weight of the shells. Probably just mud, although the fit is very snug and its hard to imagine that much mud getting inside)

 

[trdking]

Pictures are always nice? and some thing to reference size.

 

[Tpmetal]

pry it apart already!!!

 

[Subterranean]

Veterans and old timers did the "casing in a casing" trick to hold wooden matches. I have a shotgun set (all metal) like that! Sub

 

[trdking]

pry it apart already!!!

INDEED!!!!!!

 

[trdking]

Veterans and old timers did the "casing in a casing" trick to hold wooden matches. I have a shotgun set (all metal) like that! Sub

....or gold dust!

 

[ScubaDetector]

The shell in question without even looking at it is probably a 45-70 made in June of 1886. IF it is as long as a rifle shell. If not it is a 45 carbine.

STRANGE it only has an F. Are you positive it doesn't have an A after it? F is Federal Cartridge Corporation. A CIVILIAN company that supplied the military. FA is Frankfort Arsenal from Pennsylvania.

 

[sutphin]

PLEASE SHOW A PICTURE , FOR US OLD BUZZARDS CANT THINK OR SEE WELL ANYMORE, INTERESTING....

 

[Iron Buzz]

The shell in question without even looking at it is probably a 45-70 made in June of 1886. IF it is as long as a rifle shell. If not it is a 45 carbine.

STRANGE it only has an F. Are you positive it doesn't have an A after it? F is Federal Cartridge Corporation. A CIVILIAN company that supplied the military. FA is Frankfort Arsenal from Pennsylvania.

Absolutely nothing after the F, for sure. I'll post a picture later... wanted to get back out detecting, and then I have dinner at a friend's coming up.

To those that want me to open it, the only way I am going to be able to pry these apart would certainly damage the brass, and I don't want to do that.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Pictures are always nice? and some thing to reference size.

Something like, " It is 1/2", or 13mm in diameter and a hair over 1/2" long.", you mean?

 

[Iron Buzz]

The shell in question without even looking at it is probably a 45-70 made in June of 1886. IF it is as long as a rifle shell. If not it is a 45 carbine.

STRANGE it only has an F. Are you positive it doesn't have an A after it? F is Federal Cartridge Corporation. A CIVILIAN company that supplied the military. FA is Frankfort Arsenal from Pennsylvania.

Aha... June = 6th month of '86! I get it.

 

[Iron Buzz]

Here come da pictures!

 

[Iron Buzz]

Did I really say "half an inch long"? Strike that!

 

[Markypie]

Looks like a .45-70 from here. 1886?

 

[ScubaDetector]

Here come da pictures!

View attachment 1491429
View attachment 1491430
View attachment 1491431

Yes 45-70 as I suspected

 

[rainorshine]

I've found a few of those before myself. Never had anything inside when I separated them though. Still makes a guy get excited.

 

[Iron Buzz]

I've found a few of those before myself. Never had anything inside when I separated them though. Still makes a guy get excited.

Yeah, there isn't room for a helluva lot except maybe for some gold dust.

 

[FoxHound0985]

As has already been mentioned, the center fire cartridge is a .45/70 round made for the Springfield Trapdoor. The other round is a .44 Henry (Henry Repeating Rifle) cartridge from around the same era. Neat find!

 

[Obsessive]

Very cool indeed. Know any veterinarians or xray techs? Might be worth the satisfaction to get it xray'd and find out what (if anything) is inside.