What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

9mm x 19 with a GB Headstamp

Big Dave

HONOURED MEMBER RIP
Premium Member
Just acquired this 9mm ,can anyone help with who produced it ?
 

Attachments

  • DSCF3188.JPG
    DSCF3188.JPG
    164.8 KB · Views: 28
  • DSCF3187.JPG
    DSCF3187.JPG
    193 KB · Views: 75
Hello Dave GB is listed as Greenwood & Batley of Leeds on TonyEs web site.
Its well worth a look loads of info on there. Cheers Mick.
 
A coincidence that this question should come up today, just as I am updating the 9mm pages of my website.

Yes, GB is the British code for Greenwood & Batley, but in this case it does not apply.

In 1941 we purchased 30 million rounds of 9mm ball from Bolivia, and this ammo was part of it. The "GB" in this case stands for "Gubierno de Bolivia" (Government of Bolivia). The other part of the purchase was made by Hirtenberger and had the headstamp "* P * 1934".

I have added a footnote to this effect on the headstamp code page.

More details and pictures on my website here. https://sites.google.com/site/britmilammo/9mm-parabellum/9mm-parabellum-ball

When I started shooting in the 1960s there were still full fifty round boxes of both types around.

...and thanks for the kind words, Mick.

Regards
TonyE
 
Last edited:
Thanks Tony i had looked through my copy of P .Labbett ,History and Development of 9mm x19 Parabellum Ammunition in Britain 1919-1996 and could only find a reference for Greenwood & Batley producing 9mm steel cores for semi AP rounds.I never knew we bought ammunition from Bolivia and i think somewhere i have one of the P 1934 rounds
 
I found the details of the purchase from Bolivia whilst trawlling through the contracts ledger at the National Archives a few years ago.

Attached is a picture of the semi-AP round for which Greenwood & Batley made the cores.

Regards
TonyE
 

Attachments

  • semi AP.jpg
    semi AP.jpg
    46.4 KB · Views: 32
Tony looking at Daves picture the G and B are opposite each other. Am i right in thinking that the Greenwood and Batley GB markings would be next to each other. Cheers Mick.
 
Exactly right. In the Bolivian rounds the "G" and the "B" are at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions.

For Greenwood & Batley the "GB" are together and are always found with other markings such as the date and load, e.g. "GB 1943 VII".

Regards
TonyE
 
Top