H case

[kcox418]

Henry?

 

[UCVRelics]

Yes indeed. You will see these with an H for Henry and a U for Union Cartridge Co.

 

[kcox418]

Yes indeed. You will see these with an H for Henry and a U for Union Cartridge Co.

Sweet. Thought so . Found at ferry/ skirmish in the river. Civil war era? @ucvrelics

 

[R. Porter]

Are those marks from one firing pin or was the cartdridge reloaded and hit with a second firing pin? Or could it have mis-fired, been rotated and hit again? I had thought the H was stamped into the base and not stuck out from the base.

 

[kcox418]

Are those marks from one firing pin or was the cartdridge reloaded and hit with a second firing pin? Or could it have mis-fired, been rotated and hit again? I had thought the H was stamped into the base and not stuck out from the base.

Some shells I've seen online have those double strikes on it ?! But I'm unfamiliar as all get out …

 

[Kurtlg]

Even modern . 22 rimfires , especially Remington Thunderbolts , sometimes fail to fire but usually do if the cartridge is rotated. Very interesting . I had never thought about this issue with Civil War era rimfires but it makes sense.

 

[kcox418]

Even modern . 22 rimfires , especially Remington Thunderbolts , sometimes fail to fire but usually do if the cartridge is rotated. Very interesting . I had never thought about this issue with Civil War era rimfires but it makes sense.

And this would be 1864 timeframe. On the way to ATL. I found a Burnside, shot 3-ringers, dropped enfield, musket ball and 1845 seated dime. So it's a happening area .

 

[Booner]

Some shells I've seen online have those double strikes on it ?! But I'm unfamiliar as all get out …

I believe the Henry had a double or forked firing pin that would strike the rim at the same time, as your case would indicate. The priming compound is located in the rim of the case, and a double firing pin would increase the chance that a strike on the rim would land in an area where the priming compound was located.

Once the case is formed, the priming compound, in liquid form would be introduced into the case, and then the case would be rapidly spun on its long axis so the liquid would be forced into the rim via centrifugal force. The liquid would be evaporated off leaving the priming compound behind, and then the powder and bullet would be seated in the case. The first self-contained metallic cartridge (in the form of the .22 short rim fire) was invented in 1857 for the Smiith and Wesson Revolver, so the rimfire was new technology. Henry developed the cartridge for his carbine (patented in 1860) and the case was first made of copper, then later of brass and the ammo was offered commercially into the first third of the 20th century. In addition to the Henry, the Spencer Carbine was developed at approximately the same time as the Henry, and it too used a rimfire round especially developed for its carbine.

The problem with a rimfire round is its priming system. The rim has to be folded over in a manner to contain the priming compound and that rim has to be thin enough to be crushed by the firing pin when struck. This system worked well for low pressure cartridges, but with the invention of the center fire primer in 1866 which allowed for higher pressure cartridges, with the exception of the .22 rimfire, the era of rim fired cartridges was practically over.

 

[kcox418]

I believe the Henry had a double or forked firing pin that would strike the rim at the same time, as your case would indicate. The priming compound is located in the rim of the case, and a double firing pin would increase the chance that a strike on the rim would land in an area where the priming compound was located.

Once the case is formed, the priming compound, in liquid form would be introduced into the case, and then the case would be rapidly spun on its long axis so the liquid would be forced into the rim via centrifugal force. The liquid would be evaporated off leaving the priming compound behind, and then the powder and bullet would be seated in the case. The first self-contained metallic cartridge (in the form of the .22 short rim fire) was invented in 1857 for the Smiith and Wesson Revolver, so the rimfire was new technology. Henry developed the cartridge for his carbine (patented in 1860) and the case was first made of copper, then later of brass and the ammo was offered commercially into the first third of the 20th century. In addition to the Henry, the Spencer Carbine was developed at approximately the same time as the Henry, and it too used a rimfire round especially developed for its carbine.

The problem with a rimfire round is its priming system. The rim has to be folded over in a manner to contain the priming compound and that rim has to be thin enough to be crushed by the firing pin when struck. This system worked well for low pressure cartridges, but with the invention of the center fire primer in 1866 which allowed for higher pressure cartridges, with the exception of the .22 rimfire, the era of rim fired cartridges was practically over.

Awesome! Always love learning new things…
Question ? Would this casing be period for CW?
Thanks! @Booner

 

[Booner]

Awesome! Always love learning new things…
Question ? Would this casing be period for CW?
Thanks! @Booner

That depends on a few things. If the case was made of copper and you found other period CW items around it, like bullets or buttons, I would think the answer is yes.

If the case was made of brass, maybe not as I don't know when the made the change in the cases from copper to brass took place, (my guess was perhaps in the early 1870's). Keep in mind that these cartridges were commercially available (with brass cases) until the 1920's-1930's.

Then, your case does show the double firing-pin marks that would indicate it was shot by a Henry carbine, and if the case is of copper, then I would think it's CW related. It also appears to me that the case is copper, but others on this forum, like @ucvrelics should be able to confirm that.

 

[tbuckley]

I believe that the Winchester Model 1866 was also .44 Henry and had a double firing pin like the Henry.

 

[Booner]

I believe that the Winchester Model 1866 was also .44 Henry and had a double firing pin like the Henry.

Your probably right, since the '66 Winny evolved from the Henry.
If Winchester after the after the '66 was the '73, and I'm somewhat sure that was a centerfire, it shows the short lifespan of the rimfire, in the larger calibers.