TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
I have been very fortunate recently to add a good number of rounds to my collection of British military and contract rounds. Many were "gap fillers", including several of the early .303 numbered manufacturers, e.g. "8 C IV", "5 C II" etc., but there were some significant new items that I thought some might like to see.
First picture, l. to r,
.55/.303 Boys, headstamp simply "K 37". I already have a similar round but made from a necked down experimental armour piercing case with the drawing number in the headstamp "K37 7416A W."
.450 Gardner, headstamp "G G" at nine andn three o'clock.
.450 Drawn case Mark I made by Grenfell & Accles, headstamp "G & A I". This will go well with my .303 Powder Mark II and .455 Mark I made by G & A.
11.35mm Madsen drill, headstamp "K 1938 11.35mm"
8mm Siamese drill, headstamp "K 34 8mmS"
Second picture, l. to r.
.30-06. In 1918 contracts were placed on behalf of the American government with Kynoch and Greenwood & Batley for .30-06 ball ammunition to be used in the Spring offensive planned for 1919. The end of the war in November 1918 meant these contracts were cancelled but pre-production examples had been made. I have four headstamps, "K 18", "K 1918", "GB 18" and "GB 1918". There are two different primer sizes in these.
.303 Rimless headstamped "R/|\L 21". This is the RL 29339A desi9gn.
7.92mm Proof Q Mark I headstamp "K 41 Q.I" with yellow annulus, very few of these were manufactured.
.276 Pederson blank headstamped "K 30 .276".
7 x 64mm headstamped "ELEY 7M/M". This is believed to be for a BSA experimental automatic rifle from the 1912 era trials.
.276 Pederson headstamped "GB 30. 0.276". Normally the GB manufactured Pederson rounds are headstamped "B 30 0.276".
Third picture l. to r.
.276 Enfield made by Kings Norton Metal Co. headstamped "KN 13 I" (bullet not fully seated). This is a rare headstamp, but even better it has the wire bound bullet designed to reduce metal fouling. Unusually for a .276 the envelope is cupro-nickel and the wire is steel. See the separate picture for the bullet.
.276 Blank headstamped "R/|\L"
.276 dummy headstamped "R/|\L". It has an empty cap chamber with anvil but no fire holes. My only concern is that I think it was originally tinned and has been polished. I have a tinned example.
Fourth picture l. to r.
.303 Aluminium case Mark VI made by British Aluminium Co. in WWI period. This example has the three slit crimp neck securement, but I have another with a plain neck.
.303 Cordite Blank Mark III with no headstamp. These extended neck blanks have always been hard to find.
.303 Powder Mark II headstamped "2 II". Although not in good condition it is a rare headstamp.
.303 Inspectors Mark IV headstamped "R/|\L 15 IV". These are normally tinned not chromed but I have seen others similar. I always suspect the hand of the Royal Navy when I see chromed drill or Inspectors rounds.
.303 Greener Multiball headstamped "K - 18 VII Z".
Fifth picture.
Close up of Kings Norton .276 wire bound bullet.
Sixth picture.
.450 Mars Long used in the 1904 period automatic pistol trials.
Regards
TonyE
First picture, l. to r,
.55/.303 Boys, headstamp simply "K 37". I already have a similar round but made from a necked down experimental armour piercing case with the drawing number in the headstamp "K37 7416A W."
.450 Gardner, headstamp "G G" at nine andn three o'clock.
.450 Drawn case Mark I made by Grenfell & Accles, headstamp "G & A I". This will go well with my .303 Powder Mark II and .455 Mark I made by G & A.
11.35mm Madsen drill, headstamp "K 1938 11.35mm"
8mm Siamese drill, headstamp "K 34 8mmS"
Second picture, l. to r.
.30-06. In 1918 contracts were placed on behalf of the American government with Kynoch and Greenwood & Batley for .30-06 ball ammunition to be used in the Spring offensive planned for 1919. The end of the war in November 1918 meant these contracts were cancelled but pre-production examples had been made. I have four headstamps, "K 18", "K 1918", "GB 18" and "GB 1918". There are two different primer sizes in these.
.303 Rimless headstamped "R/|\L 21". This is the RL 29339A desi9gn.
7.92mm Proof Q Mark I headstamp "K 41 Q.I" with yellow annulus, very few of these were manufactured.
.276 Pederson blank headstamped "K 30 .276".
7 x 64mm headstamped "ELEY 7M/M". This is believed to be for a BSA experimental automatic rifle from the 1912 era trials.
.276 Pederson headstamped "GB 30. 0.276". Normally the GB manufactured Pederson rounds are headstamped "B 30 0.276".
Third picture l. to r.
.276 Enfield made by Kings Norton Metal Co. headstamped "KN 13 I" (bullet not fully seated). This is a rare headstamp, but even better it has the wire bound bullet designed to reduce metal fouling. Unusually for a .276 the envelope is cupro-nickel and the wire is steel. See the separate picture for the bullet.
.276 Blank headstamped "R/|\L"
.276 dummy headstamped "R/|\L". It has an empty cap chamber with anvil but no fire holes. My only concern is that I think it was originally tinned and has been polished. I have a tinned example.
Fourth picture l. to r.
.303 Aluminium case Mark VI made by British Aluminium Co. in WWI period. This example has the three slit crimp neck securement, but I have another with a plain neck.
.303 Cordite Blank Mark III with no headstamp. These extended neck blanks have always been hard to find.
.303 Powder Mark II headstamped "2 II". Although not in good condition it is a rare headstamp.
.303 Inspectors Mark IV headstamped "R/|\L 15 IV". These are normally tinned not chromed but I have seen others similar. I always suspect the hand of the Royal Navy when I see chromed drill or Inspectors rounds.
.303 Greener Multiball headstamped "K - 18 VII Z".
Fifth picture.
Close up of Kings Norton .276 wire bound bullet.
Sixth picture.
.450 Mars Long used in the 1904 period automatic pistol trials.
Regards
TonyE
