If I may.............

[Bob Wright]

While I'm convalescing my wife won't let me do anything meaningful.  So, if y'all will indulge my posts here abouts, a few cartridges:

These are some variations of old .45 caliber rounds, all commercial:

 

 

The notes below are the headstamps of the rounds.  The nickeled case round is from one of the first boxes of ammunition I bought many years ago for my Colt New Service.

 

Some .44s:

 

 

The .44 Remington is unmarked, but the case is Remington, but I believe the round is a reproduction.

 

And, sort of the progression from .44 R.F. to .44 Magnum:

 

 

I believe the .44 S&W is in reality just a centerfire Henry.  The first Smith & Wesson No.3 submitted to the Army was rimfire, and the Army returned it wanting a centerfire.  According to what I have read, it the gun was simply changed to centerfire without changing the chamber dimensions.

Early cartridges loaded for the US Army:

 

 

Thanks for looking.

 

Bob Wright

[Smokin45]

Very nice Bob. 

[KaNuckles]

This is very interesting. Excuse my ignorance, but, what is the purpose of the crimp at the bottom of the .44 Colt and the .50 Rem. in the last pic?

[joe4vol]

47 minutes ago, KaNuckles said:

This is very interesting. Excuse my ignorance, but, what is the purpose of the crimp at the bottom of the .44 Colt and the .50 Rem. in the last pic?

It is from the construction of the Benet primer. 

[MP5_Rizzo]

1 hour ago, KaNuckles said:

This is very interesting. Excuse my ignorance, but, what is the purpose of the crimp at the bottom of the .44 Colt and the .50 Rem. in the last pic?

I was not  familiar with this priming method either and had to do some research.  I hope this helps.

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.

[KaNuckles]

21 minutes ago, MP5_Rizzo said:

I was not  familiar with this priming method either and had to do some research.  I hope this helps.

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.

Very interesting. So the cup had to be dropped in through the neck. It's cool to see a little firearm history.

[MP5_Rizzo]

26 minutes ago, KaNuckles said:

Very interesting. So the cup had to be dropped in through the neck. It's cool to see a little firearm history.

If you liked that, here is where I found it with even more to read about.

A Cartridge Collectors Glossary

[Bob Wright]

Both the Martin and Benet primers were inserted through the neck of the empty case prior to charging and seating the bullet.  This allowed a seamless cartridge, which the Army deemed more waterproof.  However, at times the primer cup or anvil would be blown out into the bore, causing a bore obstruction.  The Army finally went to a Boxer primer, but required a lacquer seal.  The fit of the external primer cup in the primer pocket had proven to be sufficiently waterproof.

 

Bob Wright

[KaNuckles]

Well I just got myself a nice education this morning. Thanks, guys, for sharing the info.