#47 • Antique Red Brass .50-70 Musket Cartridge

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

High bid $9.00

Status: Sold

Single antique .50-70 Musket cartridge constructed from red brass with no headstamp, one of the earliest successful centerfire metallic cartridges adopted by the U.S. military following the Civil War. The .50-70 Government was officially adopted in 1866 for use in the Springfield Model 1866 trapdoor musket, representing the Army's transition from muzzleloading to breechloading arms. The long red brass case has a noticeably warmer reddish copper tone compared to standard yellow brass, bearing a plain not headstamped base with a raised centerfire primer, and is topped with a large flat nosed lead bullet displaying substantial surface oxidation and age crazing consistent with its 150 plus years of existence. Cartridge measurements are OAL 2.20in CL 1.78in MW .51in