+1tony56, As I said in my post on the other thread, Ron Graham says the B and E are thought to mean Boxer and Eley. But, he doesn't say where he got that info. I'm sure it's because most of these guns were sent to England, the calibers are British, and the initials fit.
Hey Rick, you are spot on.that should just about settle,the B discussion.Headstamps on the .450 rounds I have left.
Eley Bros.
Rem-UMC
Guerre Mod .73
Kynoch 450
Fiocchi 450
Fiocchi still makes 450 rounds
Moore says in his book, "Colt...and the London agency." " There was only one British Gov't .450 bore cartridge. Some have referred to this cartridge as the .450 Eley (Ely for short) after the name of the manufacturer and others call it the .450 Boxer after the name of the designer.."
Cochran says B is for British.
No 450 Boxer stamped cartridge boxes but Eley Bros made 450 cartridges and boxed them with " 450-13-225" stamped on the side. This is the standard loading for the "Boxer' cartridge. ( 45 cal 13 grain b.p. 225 bullet weight)
"L" for london, well we are all learing something new hear.Thanks for that.In his book COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS and the LONDON AGENCY Kenneth Moore states that the shipment of July 31, 1876 was cancelled because the barrels were stamped merely with the "London" address. A shipment of October 26, 1876 made up for it. (Colt had been advised some years earlier that they could only sell the "London" marked pistols if they were actually made in London. Some pistols were then marked with the American address on top of the barrel and the '14 Pall Mall' agency address on the side). The shipping notation for this order also says these were "short" revolvers, meaning a 5½" barrel.
With reference to 'Boxer' or 'Eley', Boxer was the designer of the cartridge and Eley the manufacturer.
I recall some years ago seeing an 1862 Police revolver with steel straps - the English did not like brass -that was made for the English market and that had the letter 'L' (for London?) stamped after the serial number on the various parts rather than on the trigger guard.
Rio
tony, loading not my forte. I leave that advice to the more experienced members here.Hey Rick, you are spot on.that should just about settle,the B discussion.
Rick, id like to put a couple through the old girl.the mechanic's and lock up are super good. with refference to the black powder,would you use FFF. or FFFF. and primer's?
tony
Gday Rio, i dont have ,moore's book but is on the way, my colt was one of the july31 1976 batch to england.does he go on to say what happened next with those guns or barrels, mine has the US address only, no "paul mall." so was it held over till october ? wonder why the letter has the july ship, and not oct.?In his book COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS and the LONDON AGENCY Kenneth Moore states that the shipment of July 31, 1876 was cancelled because the barrels were stamped merely with the "London" address. A shipment of October 26, 1876 made up for it. (Colt had been advised some years earlier that they could only sell the "London" marked pistols if they were actually made in London. Some pistols were then marked with the American address on top of the barrel and the '14 Pall Mall' agency address on the side). The shipping notation for this order also says these were "short" revolvers, meaning a 5½" barrel.
With reference to 'Boxer' or 'Eley', Boxer was the designer of the cartridge and Eley the manufacturer.
I recall some years ago seeing an 1862 Police revolver with steel straps - the English did not like brass -that was made for the English market and that had the letter 'L' (for London?) stamped after the serial number on the various parts rather than on the trigger guard.
Rio
Hey Rick, you are spot on.that should just about settle,the B discussion.
Rick, id like to put a couple through the old girl.the mechanic's and lock up are super good. with refference to the black powder,would you use FFF. or FFFF. and primer's?
tony
Thanks mate,I am not Rick of course, but...
It would be "FFF" ( "FFFF" was and is reserved for use in the Flash Pans of Flintlock Arms, or, maybe some kinds or elements of Fireworks ).
Present Day 'Swiss' Powder, in it's 3F equivalent Granule designation, would be the optimum choice and likely closest to what was used then.
"SARCO' I think? Sells a 230 Grain, 453-ish Wadcutter ( flat bottom, raised circular 'nub' on top, and, they can be loaded Backwards for a full flat front Wadcutter effect ) which might be just delightful in any old .450/.455 and their likes...one could bump it out a little using a .455 Bullet Sizing Die, on an Anvil, with a co-responding counter-Bored Flat Nose Punch ( one could make out of anything ), to have a .455-ish version.
Some other Companys offer 454-ish DE Wadcutters also, but I can never remember who they are...maybe someone else knows?
I Love Wadcutters in 45 Calibre...( as my Avitar may suggest! )
Just found this one -
SAECO 2 Cavity Bullet Mold no. 455 - 45 Colt/230 Grain W/Handles | eBay
I am on an austerity binge right now, so I will have to pass.
An update on this reo, i had Paul at colt check on this shipment 31st july 1876 in regards to moore's book. my gun definately left the factory on july 31st. he checked the october shipment which moore stated, and the serial numbers were different to the july shipment,and my sn# was not in the october shipment. As colt used j.p.moore;s new york as transfer agents mabe thats where they were held up. but as for my sn# mine never was cancelled and was never returned as per records. interresting stuffIn his book COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS and the LONDON AGENCY Kenneth Moore states that the shipment of July 31, 1876 was cancelled because the barrels were stamped merely with the "London" address. A shipment of October 26, 1876 made up for it. (Colt had been advised some years earlier that they could only sell the "London" marked pistols if they were actually made in London. Some pistols were then marked with the American address on top of the barrel and the '14 Pall Mall' agency address on the side). The shipping notation for this order also says these were "short" revolvers, meaning a 5½" barrel.
With reference to 'Boxer' or 'Eley', Boxer was the designer of the cartridge and Eley the manufacturer.
I recall some years ago seeing an 1862 Police revolver with steel straps - the English did not like brass -that was made for the English market and that had the letter 'L' (for London?) stamped after the serial number on the various parts rather than on the trigger guard.
Rio
