Headstamp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A headstamp is the markings on the bottom of a cartridge case designed for a firearm. It usually tells who manufactured the case. If it is a civilian case it often also tells the caliber: if it is military, the year of manufacture is often added.

The left cartridge's headstamp says "FC 223 REM" which means that is was made by Federal Cartridge Co. and it is in the caliber ".223 Remington". The cartridge on the right has a headstamp that says "LC 99" with a symbol that consists of a cross in a circle. This cartridge was made in 1999 by the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, in Independence, MO, USA. The symbol on this headstamp means it meets NATO specifications.
The headstamp is punched into the base of the cartridge during manufacture. A resource for identifying where the ammunition originated can be found at Cartridge Collectors.

Military Headstamps

Military cartridge headstamps do not usually have the caliber and cartridge name on it. The headstamp may have a 2- or 3-symbol letter, number, or alphanumeric code indicating the place of manufacture.[1] This is usually followed by two digits indicating the last two digits of the year of manufacture. Early 20th century cartridges may have additional digits or a letter indicating the month of manufacture. The packaging usually has the manufacturer code, 2-digit year, and a lot number on it so bad or suspect batches can be removed.

American Cartridges

Civilian Contractors

Commercial Cartridges

The US military used commercial cartridges for its training rifles, non-standard weapons, and shotguns. These usually had different headstamps than the military ammunition (usually their civilian one) and were shipped in commercial crates rather than military packaging.

British Cartridges

Canadian Cartridges

Arsenals

  • C-I-L or CIL Canadian Industries Ltd. (1955-1976). A corporation formed in 1910 from a merger of five Canadian explosives companies and their assets. It ran the Defence Industries Ltd. munitions plants from 1940 to 1946. It owned the Dominion, Imperial and Canuck commercial ammunition brands. It used the CIL headstamp on its cartridges from 1955(?) until 1976, when IVI bought out its commercial ammunition production.

Civilian Contractors

Commercial Manufacturers

  • DCCO, Dominion Dominion Cartridge Co. Ltd. (1886-1955) - Brownsburg, Quebec, Canada. A division of Dominion Arsenal that produced ammunition for the civilian market. It was made part of the Canadian Explosives Company (CXC) in 1911, which became Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL) in 1928. During World War II it made military ammunition for CIL under the DCCO headstamp. It changed its headstamp to Dominion in 1947 and to CIL in 1955, but was still sold under the Dominion brand. It was sold to IVI in 1966.
  • Eatons Eaton's Department Store (1924-1950s?) - A line of commercial cartridges made by Dominion Cartridge Co. for the Eaton's Department Store chain.[6]
  • F.W.L & Co F.W Lamplough & Co (1903-1917) - Montreal, Quebec. A wholesale hardware and cutlery company (1902-@1936). They assembled their own cartridges from components made by ammo manufacturers but under their own headstamp.
  • Gévelot Canada Gévelot of Canada (1961-1973)[7] - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The short-lived Canadian branch of the French sporting ammunition firm Gévelot (1823-1997?).
  • HSA Hingston Smith Arms Co. Ltd. (1879 - 1920's?) - Winnipeg, Manitoba. A general store that sold firearms, ammunition, hunting and camping gear, taxidermy supplies, and police equipment.
  • Imperial A commercial brand of ammunition manufactured by Canadian Industries Ltd. (CIL); it later used the headstamp CIL-Imperial from 1954 to 1976. It was bought out by IVI Inc. in 1976, restarted production in 1977, and ceased production in 1991(?).

Czech Cartridges

  • PSB, Ŏ, or S&B Ŏ Sellier & Bellot - Vlašim, Prague, Czechoslovakia.

German Catridges

  • GECO Gustav Genschow & Co. - (1887 - ?). Produces a wide range of pistol and rifle cartridges, shotshells, and air gun pellets. Part of the RUAG Ammotec group.
  • RWS Rheinisch-Westfälischen Sprengstofffabriken ("Rhenish-Westphalian Explosives Factory") - . Makes rimfire cartridges, centerfire hunting rifle cartridges, and air gun pellets. Owns the Rottweil shotshell brand.

Italian Cartridges

Mexican Cartridges

  • Aguila Aguila Ammunition, a division of INDUSTRIAS TECNOS ("Tecnos Industries") - Cuernavaca, Mexico (1961- Present).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sharpe, Philip B. Complete Guide to Handloading (1953) Funk & Wagnalls p.75
  2. ↑ Davis, William C., Jr. Handloading (1981) National Rifle Association p.21
  3. ↑ The Tell-Tale Dash: James Files and the Dented Cartridge Case by Allan Eaglesham
  4. ↑ The Tell-Tale Dash: James Files and the Dented Cartridge Case by Allan Eaglesham
  5. ↑ The Tell-Tale Dash: James Files and the Dented Cartridge Case by Allan Eaglesham
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cartridge Headstamps Canada
  7. ↑ IAA Forums: Gevelot made in Canada catalogue
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.