Im excited about this SHOTSHELL guys, I cant find it ANYWHERE!!

[GavinoGambino]

Im waiting on you, the man..the myth..the legend...Mr. Turtlefoot!!! I scanned over Turtlefoots shotgun shell database and I cant seem to find this shell in his collection. Its a U.M.C Co. ACME but its a No.10 and not a No.12. I searched the web and found one picture of a No.10 ACME but it has a different headstamp than mine. Let me know if you guys have found one or have any info like the rarity and/or dates manufactured. As you can see in the pictures this thing is in absolutely incredible condition, the print has very little wear, head has absolutely no bending or chipping and the edges at the bottom have one spot with a tiny bit of chipping. Id LOVE to hear what you guys have to say about this shell! - Gavin

 

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[Davers]

Nice 10 gauge..
I like to hear info on it as well.

Nice find..

 

[coinman123]

UMC co was around from 1867 until 1911, when Remington bought them and formed "REM-UMC". In terms of rarity, I'm guessing 3/5 (rarest being 5/5, and least rare being 1/5. Cool shotgun shell, I have a container full of the ones I have found, and am not sure I have that kind, but I have found many other UMC co headstamps. My rarest one is an "American Eagle" made between 1902-1904, probably a 5/5. I have also found some other rarer ones made for only a year or two.

 

[NHBandit]

Yep UMC is Union Metallic Cartridge Co. A very common brand. Likely was a paper type shell and the paper has long since rotted away. UMC Headstamps

 

[GavinoGambino]

Ive got quit a few UMCs in this new spot ive located, ive been able to identify all of my shells with Turtlefoots database but since i couldnt find this shell on there i decided id post on here to see if any of you have found this exact shell or at least have specific info on it. Im actually starting to film my hunts and finished editing this hunts video but im holding off on posting it until i can get more info on this shell. When i finally get the info ill post my video on here. This spot of mine is 100% modern and vintage garbage free so its been an absolute treasure trove for very old shells. Lots of fun!

 

[NHBandit]

Ive got quit a few UMCs in this new spot ive located, ive been able to identify all of my shells with Turtlefoots database but since i couldnt find this shell on there i decided id post on here to see if any of you have found this exact shell or at least have specific info on it. Im actually starting to film my hunts and finished editing this hunts video but im holding off on posting it until i can get more info on this shell. When i finally get the info ill post my video on here. This spot of mine is 100% modern and vintage garbage free so its been an absolute treasure trove for very old shells. Lots of fun!

Did you click on the link I posted ? Your shell is shown on the top row, 4th from the left.. Doing a Google search for that name shows it being available in an 1896 catalog. Another source says it was used prior to 1910. Quoted from another source.. "UMC "Club" was Union Metallic Cartridge Co.'s lower priced brass case for hand loading blackpowder shot shells. "New Club" was UMC's paper case loaded black powder shell. "Nitro Club" was UMC's low brass smokeless powder shell, and the "Trap" was their high brass loaded smokeless powder shell. Over the years the "Trap" was replaced by the "Arrow" shell. In the early years of the 20th century, just to make sure someone didn't mistake a handload for thier factory loaded "New Club", "Nitro Club", "Trap" and "Arrow" shells they headstamped the new primed empties (NPEs) they sold differently -- the NPE equivalent of a "New Club" was "Union" -- the NPE equivalent of the "Nitro Club" was "Challenge" with a base wad for bulk smokeless powder and "Monarch" with a base wad for dense smokeless powder -- the NPE equivalent of the "Arrow" was "Magic" with a base wad for bulk smokeless powder and "Acme" with a base wad for dense smokeless powder -- the NPE equivalent of the "Trap" which was only offered with bulk smokelss powders was "Expert". By 1910 they dropped this practice and sold NPEs headstamped "New Club", "Nitro Club" and "Arrow" with "HAND LOADED" stamped on the paper tube.

None of the Union Metallic Cartridge Co. paper I have specifies the brand of black powder in their "New Club" shells. Both their "Nitro Club" and "Arrow" shells were offered with Laflin & Rand Infallible dense smokeless powder."

 

[turtlefoot13]

You have a nice find! The Acme line of shells was offered for sale in their catalogs from 1896-1908. Although using vintage catalogs is not always 100% accurate in dating shotshell headstamps, I feel that this date is accurate for this line. Now for your specific headstamp...you have a rather scarce/rare variety. Yours has dashes before and after the word Acme. I have only seen that one other time, on a different line. Yours is the first that I have seen on an Acme. At this point, as a recovered headstamp, I would rate it on a scale of 1-10, an 8, possibly rarer.

Congratulations on an amazing find. I am happy that you have found a great place to find shotshell heads.

Doug

 

[port ewen ace]

NH BANDIT it appears you know a bit about this topic, so I need to get your opinion on this Win. 10 ga. dug at an 1833 parcel loaded with CW stuff. solid brass 2 3/4" and weighs 25.7 grams, or .91 ounces. local gun shop had no "eye deer" on dates used.

 

[turtlefoot13]

View attachment 1072050View attachment 1072051View attachment 1072052NH BANDIT it appears you know a bit about this topic, so I need to get your opinion on this Win. 10 ga. dug at an 1833 parcel loaded with C-W stuff. solid brass 2 3/4" and weighs 25.7 grams, or .91 ounces. local gun shop had no "eye deer" on dates used.

You have a nice find there too. Your shotshell will date from between 1879-1949. There really is no way to tighten the date range on these as Winchester did not change the headstamp on these. To get an approximate date, I would normally say to compare it to the age of other items you are finding, but when you are finding items over a vast time period, that makes it even harder. BTW - It appears that you have a "small font" variety.

Doug

 

[turtlefoot13]

Did you click on the link I posted ? Your shell is shown on the top row, 4th from the left.. Doing a Google search for that name shows it being available in an 1896 catalog. Another source says it was used prior to 1910. Quoted from another source.. "UMC "Club" was Union Metallic Cartridge Co.'s lower priced brass case for hand loading blackpowder shot shells. "New Club" was UMC's paper case loaded black powder shell. "Nitro Club" was UMC's low brass smokeless powder shell, and the "Trap" was their high brass loaded smokeless powder shell. Over the years the "Trap" was replaced by the "Arrow" shell. In the early years of the 20th century, just to make sure someone didn't mistake a handload for thier factory loaded "New Club", "Nitro Club", "Trap" and "Arrow" shells they headstamped the new primed empties (NPEs) they sold differently -- the NPE equivalent of a "New Club" was "Union" -- the NPE equivalent of the "Nitro Club" was "Challenge" with a base wad for bulk smokeless powder and "Monarch" with a base wad for dense smokeless powder -- the NPE equivalent of the "Arrow" was "Magic" with a base wad for bulk smokeless powder and "Acme" with a base wad for dense smokeless powder -- the NPE equivalent of the "Trap" which was only offered with bulk smokelss powders was "Expert". By 1910 they dropped this practice and sold NPEs headstamped "New Club", "Nitro Club" and "Arrow" with "HAND LOADED" stamped on the paper tube.

None of the Union Metallic Cartridge Co. paper I have specifies the brand of black powder in their "New Club" shells. Both their "Nitro Club" and "Arrow" shells were offered with Laflin & Rand Infallible dense smokeless powder."

Headstamp research, especially shotshell headstamp research is an obsession of mine. It is also the most challenging research that I have ever undertaken partially due to the EXTREME inconsistencies that many of the companies had with brands, loads, powders, etc. Depending on the year, the Nitro Club was offered with as many as ten different powders for dense loads and seven for bulk to no choice (one brand) with the name not given for bulk only. In addition, the Trap and the Arrow were made at the same time for at least five years.

Winchester is another company with huge inconsistencies. Take a look at the '1901' headstamps. In the beginning, the headstamp was used to separate the factory loaded from the hand loaded shells. By the end most of the '1901' headstamps were offered in both factory loads and empties. Contrary to popular belief, the '1901' did not replace the Winchester headstamp, but was made at the same time.

There have been nights that I have gotten so frustrated with my research that I had to just save and close everything and go to something else.

Doug

 

[GavinoGambino]

Again, you are THE MAN Turtlefoot! Thanks for the info, i can now update my video thanks to you! Ill post it on here when its uploaded in case you guys wanna see where i found this and other shells. Went out yesterday and found some more UMCs, winchesters and westerns. Havin a blast! - Gavin

 

[I-DIG-IT]

Nice