Need Help Identifying a Cartridge

[OldAmmo]

Folks I could use your help with identifying a paper cartridge. Last year we bought a Riker box at auction with 3 cartridges and a bunch of recovered items. The auction house we bought it from was kind enough to throw it in a box and ship with no packing. Both the paper cartridge and the linen cartridge were destroyed. The one paper cartridge is the one that we are questioning. It is 50 caliber but the bottom inside of the bullet we have never seen. 1st off we see the glint of brass in the bottom of the cartridge. Also the bottom of the cartridge appears to have a plug in the center. We are uploading 3 pictures. The Riker box is how it looked at the auction before the box was shipped. The cartridge we are questioning is the light cartridge that is in the 2nd row from the bottom and is the 2nd one on the right. Any assistance you fine folks could provide us would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mofederal]

Spencer from what I can see. you need more pictures.

 

[OldAmmo]

The caliber is .50 and not .56. Also I believe all Spencer's were metallic and not paper. Plus I have never seen a Spencer bullet that contained brass and a plug.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

IMHO, it appears to be a "Paper over Foil" Gallager Carbine cartridge.
J.

 

[mofederal]

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From The Heart Of Dixie. Better photos would be helpful but its a Smith carbine bullet, its listed in Mason & Mckee book as #80 in the cartridge section.

 

[OldAmmo]

We have had Gallagers and Poultney cartridges in the past. Again if you look at the cartridge in the Riker Box picture, the tan paper cartridge, bottom 2nd row, 2nd cartridge on the right, the length is not correct to be either cartridge. I would love to give you the exact length but since the cartridge was destroyed in shipping we can't. Also folks ask for more pictures. Since we have provide the side view and end view we are at a loss as to what other pictures we could provide.

 

[tbuckley]

There was a .50 Colt revolving rifle and the cartridges are shown in Dean Thomas' Round Ball to Rimfire Volume II. The Colt cartridges were combustible. Just a possibility.

 

[OldAmmo]

tbuckley thank you for your comment. When we had tried researching the cartridge we kept thinking that it was for the Colt Revolving rifle but what kept throwing us off was that it was .50 caliber. Our reference material showed only .34 - .36 - .38 - .40 and .44. After your comment we looked at some other reference material and do realize that there were a few .50's manufactured. I will still wait for any other thoughts from other members to see what they think.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

None of the Colt cartridges for their revolving rifles or carbines ever had a brass liner. Very simply, the brass would get stuck in the chambers upon firing, thereby rendering the arm useless!
J.