Need Help Dating Shotgun Shell Casing!

[elusion]

Hello All,

Just did a little hunting this evening in an old cemetary (1830's - 1940's) and I came across this shotgun shell.? ?It looks very old and I was wondering if anyone could possibly date it.

It says from the top WRA?Co. ?No? 12? ? Rival

The back of the cartridge is unlike any I have seen before..? It was about 5.5" under and registered a 72 on my XLT.

Thanks for your help!
Brandon Gill

 

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[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

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SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS

 

[PBK]

Shells with this headstamp are shown in catalogs from 1895.

W.R.A. Co., the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, operated from 1866 to 1932, when it was purchased by Western.

 

[HEADHUNTER]

WINCHESTER
(formerly New Haven Arms from 1860 to 1866. From 1866 to 1932 operated as The Winchester Repeating Arms Company until it was purchased by Western in 1932. 1932 became Winchester Western which lasted until 1944. In 1944 Olin Industries re-organized the company in to Winchester Western Division of the Olin Industries

Headhunter

 

[JakePhelps]

Heres some info from new sites i found:

The first loaded Winchester shotshell was the Rival line in 1886,
followed by Star in 1887. During the 1890s and early 1900s, many
Winchester lines could be ordered with specific loads of either black
powder or nitro powder. Some lines of loaded shotshells, such as

Winchester's unloaded Rival shotshells were first sold in 1884. Their
100-shell Christmas box, shown here, is highly sought by collectors.

And Heres an all brass version of yours which iv never seen b4:
http://www.tellauto.com/BRASS-SHOTGUN-SHELL---W-R-A--CO--RIVAL-NO--12,i7176928257,c71131.html

Great find

 

[elusion]

Good Grief you guys are quick!!!!!

Thanks so much for the info! You guys are too good. This was my first time in the cemetary (actually in an unused field next to the cemetary). I am going to go a little slower and take my time there to see what else lurks below the surface.

 

[ericthedigger]

I just found a rival in Essex County, Massachusetts that looks identical! Where did you find yours and what did you do with it?

 

[turtlefoot13]

Heres some info from new sites i found:

The first loaded Winchester shotshell was the Rival line in 1886,
followed by Star in 1887. During the 1890s and early 1900s, many
Winchester lines could be ordered with specific loads of either black
powder or nitro powder. Some lines of loaded shotshells, such as

Winchester's unloaded Rival shotshells were first sold in 1884. Their
100-shell Christmas box, shown here, is highly sought by collectors.

And Heres an all brass version of yours which iv never seen b4:
http://www.tellauto.com/BRASS-SHOTGUN-SHELL---W-R-A--CO--RIVAL-NO--12,i7176928257,c71131.html

Great find

This information is true (great info), but both lines were sold as empties starting in 1884. Your Rival will date from 1884-1897. with just the shotshell head, it is impossible to know if it was sold empty or loaded. Here is a list of dates from the guide recommended by the curator of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, specifically the Harold McCracken Research Library (holder of all of the original Winchester records).

Doug

 

[turtlefoot13]

I just found a rival in Essex County, Massachusetts that looks identical! Where did you find yours and what did you do with it?

The majority that I find are in the woods. Although they have little, if any monetary value, they are my favorite thing to collect. I have around 5,000 in my collection.

Doug

 

[turtlefoot13]

Just noticed how old this thread is...

 

[bayhawk2]

(It says from the top WRA?Co. ?No? 12? ? Rival)
Winchester began making the Winchester rival paper shot shell in 1901.Can't say what date yours
is,but saw where a guy had an empty box that they came in.It was in very good condition.He had the (empty)box for sale
for $300.Just sayin.

 

[Nat Winston III]

I just now found an IDENTICAL one by the site of an old dentists off near my house! Also present in the same 3' area were TWO old pistol cartridges!

 

[Nat Winston III]

I just now found an IDENTICAL one by the site of an old dentists off near my house! Also present in the same 3' area were TWO old pistol cartridges!

I have since found an all brass 16 gauge Winchester shotgun shell at the same site...