✅ SOLVED Wild West Rifle Casing

[Old Pueblo]

Found this on an Arizona ranch that goes back to the 1860s/1870s. Can anyone identify it? There is no headstamp and no primer cup, or whatever that thing in the middle is. Its all solid, with a small dent in the center from the firing pin.

 

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[Old Pueblo]

Just realized this casing appears to be about the same as this .45-70 casing from 1882, except the .45-70 does a primer cup and headstamp.



Its difficult to tell by the photo, but the casing in question has a small seam or whatever about 1/4 of an inch above the base of the casing, where as the 1882 .45-70 casing does not have one.

 

[T.C.]

BENET-PRIMED - A common style of inside-primed car-tridge developed by Col. S.V Benet commander of Frankford Arsenal in the late 1860s. It was used extensively in early U.S. military ammunition. A copper or iron cup was secured inside the head of the case by characteristic crimps. This cup served as an anvil to enable the firing pin to activate the priming mixture and also to reinforce the head of the case.



The one on the left is a 45-70 and the one on the right is a 50-70. They are both benet-primed cartridges.

 

[T.C.]

I was told that the benet-primed cartridges were reloaded. A round piece of steel was inserted in the empty shell and then the dimple from the firing pin on the outside was pounded out. Another primer was inserted, crimped and reloaded....ready to go.

 

[Old Pueblo]

Great work, guys. Thank you. That was fast. So what you're saying, just to be clear, is that this is a .45-70 benet-primed casing? And if so, what weapon(s) did this thing fit into? If its 45-70, I Imagine it'd work for the 1873 Trapdoor, right?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

For more information, including many photos and time-dating, about your no-headstamp Benet-primer .45-70 "Government" Model-1873 Rifle cartridge (and many other very-antique pistol and rifle metallic cartridges), go here:
THE CARTRIDGE COLLECTOR

 

[Old Pueblo]

Thank you

 

[Old Pueblo]

According to that thing you showed me, this one dates between January 1874 and March 1875. It measured about 2.8 between the two lines. Ive had this thing sitting around for a long time, not knowing how old it was. Now its one of my best find. So thank you.