Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Though firearm and munition related artifacts typically comprise only a small portion of the aggregate assemblage
recovered from the vast majority of historic era sites, their interpretive value is all too frequently overlooked or
underestimated by many archaeologists due to a lack of familiarity with this class of artifact. This listing draws
together a variety of useful and authoritative sources which may serve to identify an almost bewildering variety of
metallic cartridge cases, headstamps, and projectiles which may be encountered in archaeological contexts. Sources
relating to small arms ammunition cover both North America and Europe. References relating to artillery projectiles
are restricted to the United States. Sources relating to the production of small arms ammunition are also included.
This listing will be of both archaeological and forensic interest.
So much has already been written about everything that you can't find out anything about it.
- James Thurber, The New Vocabularianism , in Laterns and Lances, 1961
While firearm related artifacts are typically few in
number on the vast majority of sites examined by
archaeologists, the sheer diversity of forms, manufacturers,
and applications serve to suggest many lines of fruitful
investigation. Far too often, however, the potential
information which might be gained from these remains is
unappreciated due to a lack of familiarity on the part of
many analysts. It is the purpose of this effort to bring
together an extended sampling of the literature referable to
this artifact group to facilitate the identification and
interpretation of both antique and modem metallic
cartridge cases and the projectiles associated with small
arms and Civil War era artillery. Though this body of
literature is indeed rather voluminous, but rare examples
have appeared in mainstream archaeological publications
and it is reasonable to say that the vast majority of these
works are effectively unknown to the profession. The
present approach to organizing these materials has resulted
in the following sequence of presentation:
I. Small Arms
A Cartridges/Cartridge Cases
1. Articles and Books
2. Trade Publications
B. Headstamps
C. Bullets
D. Shot Pellets
E. Ammunition Production
1. Cartridge Case Manufacture
80
15(2000):80-99
Volume 15
2000
For general purposes, two references in particular Barnes (1997) and Barber (1987) - are essential sources
suitable for identifying most cartridge cases likely to be
recovered on both rural and urban sites. The study by
Barnes illustrates and presents appropriate dimensional
and historical data for hundreds of modern and obsolete
rim:fire and centerfire cases. Although he does not discuss
a wide variety of early proprietary (e.g., lip fire, Maynard,
and Crispin cartridges; cf Thomas 1991:94-97, Layman
1998:62-80, and McDowell 1997, respectively) and
experimental (cf. Lewis 1972; Treadwell 1873)
ammunition, his coverage of most post-1870 metallic
cartridges types is generally thorough and more than
suitable for basic identification needs. Conversely, the book
authored by Barber is devoted solely to rim:fire cartridges
which have traditionally been the least expensive rounds
available to most civilian consumers and accordingly are
among the more frequently encountered. The paper by Ball
(1997a) should serve as a convenient introduction to
cartridge identification for those not familiar with basic
case terminology. Less research has been directed toward
shotgun shell headstamps. In this regard, Ball ( l 997b) is a
useful synthesis of production and chronological data
concerning Winchester shotgun shells, one of the more
commonly encountered brands in archaeological contexts.
81
Volume 15
2000
****************************
I. SMALL ARMS
A. CARTRIDGES/CARTRIDGE CASES
1. Articles and Books
Adkins, Charles R.
1997 Late 19th and Early 20th Century Cartridge Case
Analysis in Alaska. MA thesis, University of
Alaska, Fairbanks.
Anonymous
1878 Specifications and Drawings of Cartridges for
Small Arms Patented in the United States Prior to
January 1, 1878. Washington (reprinted 1986,
Armory Publications, Tacoma, Washington).
Ball, Donald B.
1997 Things Aren't Always What They Appear To
Be: A "Case" of Mistaken Identity. Ohio Valley
Historical Archaeology 12:141-146 (notes on "lookalike" cartridge cases likely produced as caps placed
on the non-pointed ends of knitting needles).
Barnes, Frank C.
1997 Cartridges of the World (8th edition; edited by
M. L. McPherson). DBI Books, Inc., Northbrook,
Illinois (among other chapters, has sections devoted
to current and obsolete American rifle cartridges,
world handgun cartridges, world military cartridges,
British and European sporting rifle cartridges,
American rimfire cartridges, and shotgun shells; all
cartridges are illustrated and historical and metrical
data is presented; a basic reference book; 480 pp.).
Bartlett, W. A and D . B. Gallatin
1956 Cartridge Manual: An Illustrated Digest
(Introduction and Notes by Martin Rywell). Pioneer
Press, Union City, Tennessee (originally published
1878, U. S. Government Printing Office,
Washington; "Lists every cartridge patent issued in
U.S., England, and Frani;;e prior to 1878"; 53 pp.).
82
Bearse, Ray
1966 Center.fire American R~fle Cartridges, 18921963. A S. Barnes and Company, South Burnswick.
Bentsen, R. K., J. K. Brown, et al.
1996 Post Firing Visualization of Fingerprints on
Spent Cartridge Cases. Science & Justice 36(1):3-8.
Brandt, Jakob H. and Horst H. Hamann
1971 Jdentifizierung von Handfeuerwaffan-Munition
("Identification of Handgun Ammunition";
German). Jornal-Verlag, Schwend GmbH, Germany
(guide to revolver, pistol, rifle, and machine gun
cartridges; worldwide in scope; 228 pp.).
Bussard, Michael E.
1999 Finding Oddball Ammo. American Rifleman
147(8; August):26-29 (notes on contemporary
sources for rare and obsolete pistol and revolver
cartridges and cartridge cases).
Coates, Earl J. and Dean S. Thomas
1990 An Introduction to Civil War Small Arms.
Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
(short descriptions of virtually all Civil War
handguns and shoulder weapons; illustrations of
each weapon and the ammunition used therein; see
also discussion of Civil War ammunition on pp. 6768; 96 pp.).
Conway, Gordon G.
1973 Small Arms Ammunition. In Small Arms in
Profile (A J. R. Cormak, editor), pp. 1-40.
Doubleday and Company, Garden City, New Jersey.
Datig, Fred A
1956 Cartridges for Collectors - Volume I
(Centeljire) . Borden Publishing Co., Alhambra,
California (illustrates and discusses a number of
metric, British, and American centerfire
Volume 15
2000
83
84
Volume 15
2000
pp.).
Hughes, David R
1990 The History and Development of the Ml6 Rifle
and Its Cartridges. Armory Publications, Seattle,
Washington (294 pp.)
Hull, Edward A.
1986 The Burnside Breech Loading Carbines. Man at
Arms Monograph Series No. 1, Andrew Mobray,
Inc., Lincoln, Rhode Island (scattered comments and
illustrations on the distinctively shaped Burnside
cartridge; 95 pp.).
Huon, Jean
1988 Military Rifle and Machine Gun Cartridges
(English edition). Ironside International
Publishers, Alexandria, Virginia (over 1,000
illustrations; covers "From 4.5 mm to 18 mm
Enfield, Mauser and Kalshnikov, and from .17 to
.60 Remington, Winchester, and Martini ... ";
includes historical data, metrics, and applications;
xii+ 378 pp.).
Keith, Elmer
1936 Big Game Rifles and Cartridges. Small-Arms
Technical Publishing Company, Plantersville, South
Carolina.
Kent, Daniel W.
1990 German 7.9 mm Military Ammunition, 18881945 (2nd edition). Published by author, Ann Arbor,
Michigan (exceptionally detailed study of all
German cartridges produced in this caliber from
1888-1945 including numerous case markings and
variant projectiles; xiv+ 153 pp. + 11 unpaginated
appendices).
Klat, Paul
1981 American Rimfire Cartridges: Part I. American
Rifleman 129(5; May):48-51, 81.
1981 American Rimfire Cartridges: Part II. American
Rifleman 129(6; June):48-51.
Labbett, Peter
1993 British Small Arms A mmunition, 1864-1938
(Other Than .303 Inch Calibre). Armory
Publications, Oceanside, California (covers revolver,
pistol, rifle, machine gun, and anti-tank firearms;
cartridges illustrated and described in detail; with
typical headstamps shown; vi+ 352 pp.).
Layman, George J.
1997 A Guide to the Ballard Breechloader. Pioneer
Press, Union City, Tennessee (note particularly pp.
121-128 devoted to the cartridges used in Ballard
rifles; viii+ 214 pp.).
1998 A Guide to the Maynard Breechloader
(2nd/revised edition). Pioneer Press, Union City,
Tennessee (note particularly pp. 62-80 devoted to
the distinctive cartridges used in Maynard rifles; v +
148 pp.).
Volume 15
2000
85
86
Volume 15
2000
Louis, Missouri.
Stottman, M. Jay and Charles D . Hockensmith
1998 Archaeological Investigations at the 1795 Elijah
Foley House, Fayette County, Kentucky. In: Current
Archaeological Research in Kentucky (Charles D .
Hockensmith, Kenneth C. Carstens, Charles Stout,
and Sara J. Rivers, editors), pp. 265-314. Kentucky
Heritage Council, Frankfort (brief description of20
firearm related artifacts including 16 metallic
cartridge cases; see pg. 290).
Suydam, Charles R.
1965 American Pistol and Revolver Cartridges: Part
III, Frankford Arsenal Cartridges 1866-1882. The
Gun Report 11(2):28-34.
1965 American Pistol and Revolver Cartridges: Part
IV, Rim:fire Cartridges. The Gun Report 11(3): 1219.
1965 American Pistol and Revolver Cartridges: Part
V, Centerfire Revolver Cartridges. The Gun Report
11(7):30-39.
1973 The American Cartridge: A n Illustrated Study
of the Rim/ire Cartridge in the United States
(revised edition). Borden Publishing Co., Alhambra,
California (informative and well illustrated book
with much useful information though now outdated
by Barber 1987; 184 pp.).
1977 U S. Cartridges and Their Handguns, 17951975. Beinfield Publishers, Inc., Hollywood,
California.
Temple, B. A
1977 The Boxer Cartridge in the British Service.
Published by the author, Wynnum Central,
Australia ("This book relates the history of the
Boxer cartridge as used by Britain and her colonies
from 1866 to the 1930's, with reference to colonial
production, including Australia' s"; viii+ 200 pp.).
1986 Identification Manual on the .303 British
Service Cartridge: No. I -Bal/ A mmunition.
Published by the author, Burbank, Australia (xii+
84 pp.).
1986 Identification Manual on the .303 British
Service Cartridge: No. 2 - Blank Ammunition.
Published by the author, Burbank, Australia (xi+ 95
pp.).
1987 Identification Manual on the .303 British
Service Cartridge: No. 3 - Special Purpose
A mmunition. Published by the author, Burbank,
Australia (xi+ 82 pp.).
1988 Identification Manual on the .303 British
Service Cartridge: No. 4 - Dummy Cartridges (1) .
Published by the author, Burbank, Australia (xii +
84 pp.).
1994 Identification Manual on the .303 British
Service Cartridge: No. 5 - Dummy Cartridges (2).
pp-).
Thomas, H. H
1991 The Story ofAllen and Wheelock Firearms_
Pioneer Press, Union City, Tennessee (see pp. 94-97
for discussion and illustrations of Allen and
Wheelock proprietary lip fire cartridges; xiv + 125
pp.).
Thomas, James E. and Dean S. Thomas
1996 A Handbook of Civil War Bullets & Cartridges.
Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
(useful pictorial guide to many Civil War projectiles
and their associated paper, foil, or metallic cases; xii
+ 76 pp.).
Treadwell, Major T. J.
1873 Metallic Cartridges (Regulation and
Experimental) as Manufactured and Tested at the
Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Government Printing Office, Washington
(informative discussion and exceptionally well done
line drawings of a number of early and experimental
metallic cartridges; reprinted, n.d., The Armoury,
West Hurley, New York; 81 pp.).
White, Henry P. and Burton D. Munhall
1948 Centerfire Metric Pistol and Revolver
Cartridges. Sportmen's Press, Washington.
1950 Centerfire American and British Pistol and
Revolver Cartridges. Sportmen's Press,
Washington.
2. Trade Publications
Bounty Books
1969 1902 Edition of the Sears, Roebuck Catalogue.
Bounty Books, New York (see pp. 322-329 for
listing of cartridges, shotgun shells, and reloading
equipment).
Chelsea House
1976 1897 Sears Roebuck Catalogue. Chelsea House
Publishers, New York (not paginated; see listing of
cartridges, shotgun shells, and reloading
equipment).
Dover Publications
1969 Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue and
Buyers' Guide No. 57, Spring and Summer 1895.
Dover Publications, Inc. New York (see pp. 470-4 79
for listing of cartridges, shotgun shells, and
reloading equipment; xiii+ 624 pp.).
Hoyem, George A. (compiler)
1991-1993 Catalogues, WR.A. CO., 1865-1918 (12
volumes). Armory Publications, Seattle, Washington
Volume 15
2000
B. HEADSTAMPS
Ball, Donald B.
1997a An Introduction to Metallic Cartridge Case
Terminology, Identification, and Headstamps.
Ohio Valley Historical Archaeology 12: 112-129
(includes useful listing of many 20th century
American civilian and military headstamps).
1997b Types, Headstamps, and Chronology of
Winchester Shotgun Shells, 1877-1973. Ohio Valley
Historical Archaeology 12: 130-140 (well organized
summary of data originally published in Stadt 1995).
Barber, John L.
1987 The Rimfire Cartridge in the United States and
Canada: An Illustrated History ofIts Manufacturers
and Their Products, 1857-1984. Armory
Publications, Tacoma, Washington (contains
detailed histories of 40 companies which have
manufactured rimfire cartridges in the United States
and Canada and, importantly, a wealth of
information on the headstamps used by these firms;
in some instances, cases produced without an
identifying headstamp can be attributed to a specific
company on the basis of the tool marks appearing on
the case; an invaluable resource; ix+ 221 pp.).
Corsi, Riccardo
1990 Guida per L 'Jdentijicazione delle Cartucce
(Guide to the Identification of Cartridges"; Italian).
87
C.BULLETS
Accurate Amis Company
1994 Accurate Smokeless Powder Loading Guide
Number One. McEwen, Tennessee (presents scale
drawings and measurements for a number of modem
metallic cartridges and data on the types of
projectiles used therein; xii+ 346 pp.)
Anonymous
1885 Exploding Bullets that would not Explode.
The Manufacturer and Builder 17(2; February):48
(see below).
1885 Exploding Bullets. The Manufacturer and
Builder 17(6; June:):l44 (see below).
ums fa.-ploding Dullcb. The Mamifactun:r and
Ruilder 17(8; August):l91 (comments on conkal
lead bullets "in the pointed end [of which] is
inserted a small copper tuoo 1/8 inch long; the
88
Volume 15
2000
Volume 15
2000
89
Smith, Samuel D.
1994 Excavation Data for Civil War Sites in Middle
Tennessee. In: Look to the .t:arth. Historical
90
Volume 15
2000
D. SHOT PELLETS
Anderson, Robert S. L
1985 Reloading for Shotgunners. DBI Books, Inc.,
Northbrook, Illinois (see pg. 52 for table of shot
pellet sizes and weights and table on pg. 124
for applications of various sizes of shot; 256 pp.).
DeMuth, W. E., G. G. Nicholas, and B. L. Munger
1976 Buckshot Wounds. Journal of Trauma 18:53-57.
Drake, V.
1962 Shotgun Ballistics - 1. Journal of the Forensic
E. AMMUNITION PRODUCTION
1. Cartridge Case Manufacture
Anonymous
n.d. History of Small-Arms Ammunition, 1917-1919.
Design Publications, Hyattsville, Maryland
(obviously reprinted from an unspecified U. S.
Government report, this study details the problems
faced by the companies producing ammunition for
U. S. forces during World War I; likely a copy ofB.
Crowell'sAmerica 's Munitions 1917-1918
Volume 15
2000
91
now closed).
2. Reloading and Firearm Maintenance Tools
Brown, M. L.
1980 Firearms in Colonial America: The Impact on
History and Technology, 1492-1792. Smithsonian
Institution Press, Washington (comments on and
illustrations of early bullet molds on pp. 12, 83, 245,
254, 258, 279, 311, and 328; extensive bibliography;
index; xiv+ 448 pp).
Chamberlain, R. H.
1988 Early Loading Tools and Bullet Molds. Pioneer
Press, Union City, Tennessee (heavily oriented
towards late 19th reloading equipment; viii+ 88 pp.).
Chamberlain, R. H. and Tom Quigley
1998 Cartridge Reloading Tools of the Past. Tom
Quigley, Castle Rock, Washington (heavily oriented
towards late 19th reloading equipment; 167 pp.).
Dorsey, R. Stephen and James B. Schaffer
1997 Gun Tools: Their History and Identification Volume 2. Collector's Library, Eugene, Oregon
(continued coverage of firearm related tools dating
from the 18th century forward; x + 395 pp.).
Peterson, Harold L.
1961 Early Bullet Molds. American Rifleman 109(10;
October) :45.
Salzer, J. Richard
1961 Bullet Molds of the American Civil War.
American Rifleman 109(4; April).
1963 Tompions for Early Small Arms. American
Rifleman 111(2; February).
1963 Combination Tools for Early U. S. Military
Long Arms. American Rifleman 111(3; March).
1966 Early U. S. Military Bullet Molds. American
Rifleman 114(10; October):52-53 .
Shaffer, James B., Lee A Rutledge, and R. Stephen Dorsey
1992 Gun Tools: Their History and Identification .
Collector's Library, Eugene, Oregon (exceptionally
well illustrated and clearly written, this volume
covers firearm related tools dating from the
Revolutionary War forward; xi+ 377 pp.).
92
Volume 15
2000
IL ARTILLERY
A. PROJECTILES
Bartleson, John D.
Volume 15
2000
Ripley, Warren
1984 Artillery am/Ammunition ofthe Civil War
(4th/revised edition). Battery press, Charleston,
South Carolina (well research and abundantly
93
94
Volume 15
2000
Houston, Donald E.
1972 The Role of Artillery in the Mexican War.
Journal ofthe West 12(2; April):273-284.
Hughes, Major-General B. P.
Volume 15
2000
95
96
Volume 15
2000
Volume 15
2000
97
Volume 15
2000
Accessible at "http://www.notry.com.cart.htm#PUB"
Links to cartridge collecting groups, publications, and
regional shows.
"Cartridge Identification Bibliography"
Accessible at;
"http://www.digitalpresence.com/histarch/cartridg.html"
Useful essay and bibliography prepared by Michael A.
Pfeiffer.
"Civil War Artillery Page, The"
Accessible at: "http://www.cwartillery.org/artillery. html"
Extremely informative site with files covering organization
of artillery units, weapons, ammunition, related equipment,
and a reference section containing a glossary, a
bibliography of artillery studies, and information on where
examples of artillery can be seen.
"Artillery #3"
Accessible at: "http://metalab.unc.edu/pub/academic/
history/marshaWmilitary_hist_inst/a/arty3.asc"
Useful bibliography of both U.S. and C.S.A. artillery,
related equipment, and unit organization.
"Firearm Components"
Accessible at: "http://www.yale.edu/ewhitney/:firearm.htm"
Summary of excavations and firearm related artifacts (gun
parts, ammunition) recovered in New Haven, Connecticut,
at the Eli Whitney Armory site in use from 1798-1900.
"Bibliography"
Accessible at:
"http://intemet.roadrunner.com/-jbm/biblio/biblio.htm"
Technical bibliography of interior and exterior projectile
ballistics.
Justice.
"Black Powder Cartridge Military Rifles" [commercial]
98
Volume 15
2000
:I
"freebore"
Accessible at: "http://www.gunsinfo.com:59 l/gunsinfo/
rcyicws/bullct.html"
Discussion concerning contemporary bullet expansion,
penetration, and performance.
"Gun Cartridge Books" [commercial site]
Accessible at: "http://www.bbsport.com/books/cartri.htm"
Lists a number of in-print books on cartridges, firearms,
and related topics.
"Gun Museum"
Accessible at: "http://tulsaweb.com/gunmuseum.htm"
Web site deYoted to John Monroe Davis Arms & Historical
Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a state owned and operated
facility. Charging no admission, the collection contains
numerous weapons and artifacts relating to the American
west and Civil War.
"Guns, Firearms & Ammunition History"
Accessible at: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/
blgun.htm?iam"
Summary of firearms evolution and links to other sites on
that topic.
"gunsites"
Accessible at: "http://www.gunsites.com/exploded.html"
Exploded (schematic) drawings of ca. 100 firearms; many
are 20th century but may have some utility in identifying
gun parts.
"Hornady Manufacturing" [commercial site]
Accessible at: "http://www.hornady. com/html2/reload.
html"
Information on metallic cartridge reloading and listing of
reloading related publications offered by this company.
"How do Bullets Fly?"
Accessible at: "http ://www.povn.com/~4n6/index . htm"
Very informative introduction to basic and advanced
external (in-flight) projectile ballistics.
"How To Make Gunflints"
Accessible at: http://www. propbuilders. com/wyatt/gunflint.
html"
Brief, self-explanatory text.
"IDSA BOOKS IDSA Home" [commercial site]
Accessible at: "http://www.idsabooks.comf'
This firm specializes in books about firearms and related
topics; maintains a large standing inventory of books on
cartridge case identification; mailing address is: I.D.S.A
Books, P. 0. Box 1457, Piqua, Ohio 45356.
99