UMC Large Cartridge ID help

[dignit]

the Fattest (I'm guessing) 1880's era Union Metallic Cartridge I've ever seen or found, not sure of the caliber ? Any help on the bullet shell- size is 38mm long (1 1/2" ) & diameter is approx 1/2" / 13mm base is a whopping 5/8" 16mm . Is it a 50cal & for what type of gun ? Thank you

 

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[Ant]

You need it look up rim-fire, and I notice 2 firing pin marks on the rim directly across from each other, that is a sure enough clue.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The three key ID-clues for your bullet-casing:
1- It is a rimfire casing.
2- It is "necked" (not "straight") rimfire casing.
3- Its flat base shows the rifle that fired it had a dual firing-pin (which makes two indentions, exactly 180-degrees opposite from each other).

There were only three rifles used in America which had a dual firing-pin... the civil war .44 Henry, the .44 Remington Model-1866 "Yellowboy," and the 1870s Swiss .41 Vetterli Rifle. The only one of those which used a "necked" rimfire casing was the .41 Vetterli. So, the three ID-clues prove your find is a .41 Vetterli casing.

The photos below show .41 Vetterli cartridges with the "U" headstamp of the Union Metallic Cartridge Company, and (later) the REM-UMC Company, which is visible at the center of your casing's base.

 

[dignit]

Wow, thank you Thecannonballguy !!! Never heard of that rifle before- It was found in Delaware County NY

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Rare now but Sears & Roebuck as well as a huge NY distributor "Bannermans" used to sell the .41 Swiss (Vetterli) mail order. You got the rifle and a case of ammo for a relatively low price.

The Swiss Vetterli | Guns Magazine