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UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. AMMUNITION BOXES –
PISTOL & RIFLE CARTRIDGES – SELECTION OF SOME NICE
SPECIMENS FRESH FROM AN OLD COLLECTION: Found
as a group in an old, well established cartridge
collection, this is a very nice offering of late 1800’s
and early 1900’s Union Metallic Cartridge Company full,
partial and empty cartridge boxes for pistol and rifle
calibers.
In order to differentiate between packets of ammunition
produced by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company and
Remington-UMC, a little history is helpful. In 1860,
Marcellus Hartley founded the Schuyler, Hartley & Graham
(SH&G) Sporting Goods Company, which would later become
one of the largest sporting goods companies in the
world. In an effort to diversify their holdings, SH&G
purchased two small New England cartridge companies,
moved the combined holdings of equipment to Bridgeport,
Connecticut, and founded the Union Metallic Cartridge
Company in August of 1867. In March of 1888, Hartley
and a party of investors purchased E. Remington & Sons,
the famous arms company in Ilion, New York.
Marcellus Hartley Dodge, the
grandson of Marcellus Hartley of SH&G, merged the
Remington and UMC for marketing purposes in 1912,
creating Remington-UMC. The name was changed to
Remington-UMC, Inc. ca. 1920, and eventually shortened
to Remington Arms Company, Inc. in the late 1950's.
Therefore, these packets that bear the Union Metallic
Cartridge Company logo, at the very least, predate that
first merger in 1911.
Ranging from rare, to scarce, to some that are
relatively common, these are all solid specimens that
while showing various degrees of wear and age are
remarkable in that they have survived at all, and they
will be a nice addition to your collection to display
with your firearm.
Each box is individually described below and accompanied
by detailed photographs.
NOTE: The boxes are not listed in
any particular chronological order or with respect to
the caliber, so you will be best served by scrolling
through the entire list.
NOTE:
For individual cartridges in these
calibers and by these civilian manufacturers, click on
this link for available offerings:
INDIVIDUAL CIVILIAN CARTRIDGES
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NO.
1
UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY YELLOW
“CREEDMORE” LABEL BOX OF .40 -3 ¼ INCH CALIBER
CARTRIDGES FOR THE REMINGTON RIFLE – 5 ROUND BOX IN
EXCELLENT CONDITION: Also known as the .40-90
Sharps Straight as introduced in 1885, this is a very
collectable .40-3 ¼ caliber cartridge box bears what
some refer to as the “Creedmore” Union Metallic
Cartridge company yellow label. The label features a
highlighted banner call out indicating this loading is
specifically for the Remington Rolling Block Rifles
popular with the target shooters and sportsmen of the
late 1800’s.
The box is in excellent condition with a full, legible
cover label as can be seen in the photographs below.
The box is full form and like the label, is in excellent
condition showing little evidence of the normal wear and
tear to which these early boxes were subjected. The
seams of both the lid and the body are intact and the
box holds its full form.
The box contains one original cartridge – a full,
complete load, holding the classic 370 grain paper
patched bullet and having the proper UMC Solid Head “SH”
headstamp.
This is a very nice specimen of a five round box with
the fairly scarce yellow label with the Remington
reference. One that does not appear on the collector
market very often, this box will make a nice addition to
display with your rifle. (0327) $275
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NO. 2
UMC “CARTRIDGE PICTURE” LABELED BOX - .32-40-165
CENTER FIRE CARTRIDGES “FOR BALLARD AND MARLIN RIFLES” –
VERY NICE FULL BOX:
This box bears the UMC
green label, with the printed legend on the top and
front panels, and the front label features the
“cartridge picture” for the .32-40-165 Cartridge.
Initially introduced in 1884 as a match rifle cartridge
for the single shot Ballard Union Hill Rifles, Models 8
and 9, this cartridge established a reputation for fine
accuracy, and beginning in 1886 Winchester and Marlin
added the caliber to their lines of lever action
rifles.
This box, containing all twenty of the original and
properly headstamped cartridges, has been opened,
however it was carefully done and the top, front, and
rear labels are fully intact with very minimal handling
wear. The colors are bright, and all of the printing is
legible. The one small tan end label is still present
and though showing wear, is still mostly legible. The
box is very solid and retains its shape with sharp
edges.
This box is an attractive specimen of a very popular
loading in its day, and it is one which will display
well with various rifles in your collection.
(0242) $275
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NO. 3
UMC “CARTRIDGE PICTURE” LABELED BOX -
.22-15-60 CENTER FIRE CARTRIDGES “FOR STEVENS RIFLES” –
VERY NICE FULL BOX: This box bears a
relatively simple green label, with the printed legend
on the top and front panels, and the front label
features the “cartridge picture” for the .22-15-60
Stevens Cartridge. This cartridge was introduced
by Stevens in 1896 for the Stevens Models 44 and 44 ½
Rifles.
This box, containing all twenty of the original and
properly headstamped cartridges, has been opened,
however it was carefully done and the top, front, and
rear labels are fully intact with very minimal handling
wear. The colors are bright, and all of the
printing is legible. The two small red end labels
are still present, one being complete and the other
showing some wear. The box is very solid and
retains its shape with sharp edges.
This box is an attractive specimen of a fairly scarce
loading which had a very limited market life, and it is
one which will display well with your Stevens rifle.
(0243) $275
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NO. 4
UMC “CARTRIDGE PICTURE” LABELED BOX -
.32 SMITH & WESSON CENTRAL FIRE
CARTRIDGES – VERY NICE ca. 1890’s BLACK POWDER:
This box bears the very collectable “Cartridge Picture”
label, which features an image of the cartridge with the
legend “.32 S&W” superimposed on the cartridge.
The box has been opened,
however the exterior wrapper is still mostly intact.
The top label is complete and legible, showing very
minor wear and still retaining the bright label
coloring. The side and end labels of the wrapper are
intact on both sides and one end panel, the other end
panel having suffered some loss. The printed
information on the both side panels and the one end is
complete and legible, as is the U.M.C. guarantee on the
bottom of the box and the reloading information panel on
the inside of the top lid. The box is very solid and
retains its shape with sharp edges.
The box contains 27 of the
original 50 cartridges and they appear to be original to
this box.
A nice box to display with an
early .32 S&W pistol of the late 19th
Century. (0628) $65
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NO. 5
UMC “CARTRIDGE PICTURE” LABELED BOX - .45-70 CENTER FIRE
CARTRIDGES “FOR U.S. SPRINGFIELD CARBINE” – VERY NICE
ca. 1890’s BLACK POWDER:
This box bears a relatively simple green label, with the
printed legend on the top and front panels only – what I
believe to be one of the black powder loadings for the
.45-70.
The box has been opened,
however it was carefully done and the wrap-over label is
98% intact, the color is bright, and all of the printing
is legible. There are two UMC headstamped cartridges
present which are correct for the period of the box.
The box is very solid and retains its shape with sharp
edges. An attractive box that would display well with
a late Trapdoor Carbine or a civilian sporting rifle.
(0758) $75
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NO. 6
UMC “CARTRIDGE PICTURE” LABELED BOX - .32 SMITH & WESSON
CENTRAL FIRE CARTRIDGES – VERY NICE ca. 1890’s BLACK
POWDER:
This box bears the very collectable “Cartridge Picture”
label, which features an image of the cartridge with the
legend “.32 S&W” superimposed on the cartridge.
The box has been opened and
is empty, however the exterior wrapper is still mostly
intact. The top label is complete and legible, showing
very minor wear and still retaining the bright label
coloring. The side and end labels of the wrapper are
intact on both sides and one end panel, the other end
panel having suffered some loss. The printed
information on the both side panels and the one end is
complete and legible, as is the U.M.C. guarantee on the
bottom of the box and the reloading information panel on
the inside of the top lid. The box is very solid and
retains its shape with sharp edges.
This is a nice box to
display with an early .32 S&W pistol of the late 19th
Century and with little effort could be filled.
(0757) $20
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NO. 7
UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY FACTORY SHOP
FUNCTION CARTRIDGE – .30 REMINGTON: This UMC
factory shop function cartridge is headstamped .30
Remington, dating the production of this piece between
the introduction of this caliber in 1906 and the merger
of the UMC and Remington Arms in 1912. Likely far
scarcer than the Winchester Shop Function Rounds, this
UMC piece is in excellent condition, retaining the
original factory applied nickel plating, the factory
loaded bullet, and a clear legible headstamp. This is a
very nice example of the shop function cartridges in use
in factories and gunsmith shops at the turn of the 20th
Century. (0765) $15
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