#42 • Winchester 10 Gauge "Nublack" Aerial Practice Bomb Spotter Shell

Part of Antique Ammunition Online Auction (timed auction by Linkous Auction Group)

High bid $55.00

Status: Sold

Rare Winchester 10 gauge Aerial Practice Bomb Spotter cartridge, a specialized military training round used during World War II era aerial bombing exercises to mark the impact point of practice bomb drops with a visible smoke or flash signal on the ground. Standing approximately 6 inches tall, it is constructed with a long brown kraft paper tube body crimped at the top mouth and seated into a large solid brass "Nublack" head stamped base, with "WINCHESTER No. 10 NUBLACK MADE IN U.S.A." clearly stamped around the primer. The Nublack designation refers to Winchester's black powder primed shotshell line, and the 10 gauge platform was chosen for its large bore capacity to hold the signaling compound needed to produce a visible spotter effect. These rounds are exceptionally scarce survivors of wartime training programs and represent a highly unusual intersection of commercial shotshell manufacturing and military aviation training logistics. Shell measurements are OAL 6.01in MW .80in