Cartridge find.

[Jollygreen]

Hey all.
I'm a new member looking for some help on identifying and dateing a spent cartridge caseing. ( see attachments) The stamping on the bottom is a raised A in a circle. My research leads me to "American Cartridge Company" from1891 to1894. In a .32cal. Local gun shop owner and a couple of other gun enthusiast are stumped and guessed European.

Thanks all.
Jolly green.

 

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[AlienLifeForm]

Side profile photo would also be helpful.

 

[Tired Rooster]

It is a rim fire cartridge. That would most likely make it a .22 long rifle. Why do you say .32 cal.?

 

[Jollygreen]

Thanks for the quick reply.. I put a micrometer to it. C. O. L. = .80. Here are some other photos.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Here's a link (#12 is your stamp).

http://22box-id.com/Misc/American Rimfire Cartridges-1&2.pdf

 

[Jollygreen]

The caseing spects are much larger then a 22cal. Probably hard to tell from photos. Sorry. Also being around firearms my whole life it clearly jumped out at me as an odd duck.

 

[Jollygreen]

Thanks Charlie. Looks like its been around for awhile. Pretty open date span.

JG.

 

[AlienLifeForm]

It is a rim fire cartridge. That would most likely make it a .22 long rifle. Why do you say .32 cal.?

Not all rimfire is .22 caliber.

 

[AlienLifeForm]

Here's a link (#12 is your stamp).

http://22box-id.com/Misc/American Rimfire Cartridges-1&2.pdf

That is a great guide, adding that to my 'arsenal' - thank you.

 

[Duckshot]

The caseing spects are much larger then a 22cal. Probably hard to tell from photos. Sorry. Also being around firearms my whole life it clearly jumped out at me as an odd duck.

Back in the days when metallic cartridges were being developed- all cartridges were rimfire.up to 44 caliber pistol ammunition. The sole reason centerfire cartridges were invented is to allow for greater pressure. A rimfire must have a thin rim to allow the hammer to compress the fulminate. Thin cartridge walls rupture when the pressure gets up there.

So, it is definitely rimfire. If its diameter is more than a 1/4", it is not a .22 rimfire.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

All cartridges were rimfire.

Never say "all" or "always" in regards to firearms.

Pinfires came first and stayed around. There were also these neat little rimmed cartridges that unscrewed at the base and a percussion cap slid over an internal nipple. They are big-demand for collectors. Then there were in-line pinfire with internal priming.

I have a .50 cal Remington rimfire. The 'ol Model 2 Derringers used a .44 short rimfire.

There was even an oddball .30 Rimfire that is VERY collectable.

And lots of metric rimfires from Europe.

 

[Jollygreen]

Thanks all. Not a slam dunk on manufacturer identity and time frame. But it's looking like an old timer cartridge.

Jolly green.