I have an ammo can in the back of my closet that has random old stuff in it. Hadn't looked in it for years.

Checked it out today and found this old beat up box of 30.06.

Looks damn old, but I doubt it could be too old due to the price being 10 cents a round. Still pretty cool.

Anyone have a clue how old it is?

Full patch???

...essentially are lead rounds that are 'jacketed' with paper to match the groove diameter needed.

Those look very old to me. The description of the 'pointed bullet' seems to be a giveaway. Maybe 1950s or older?

Here, it looks like they are using 'fully patched' as 'fully jacketed'.

I just saw a collectors item similar to this that would put those earlier in the century. It says in the descriptor, "metal patched bullets" so it looks like that may be right.

They made boxes similar to this way back in the 1800s, but since it is 30-06 It may be pre-WWI.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

That looks like a 5 peeking out from under the price tag and the Winchester 54 was made from 1925 to 1936 if I read correctly.

Again IIReadC a Springfield Model 1906 was an '03 that that had the M-1904 sight corrected for 30-06 ballistics.

Since it's Winchester I wonder why they didn't include the Model 1895?

I hope they cleaned the rifle after they fired those two. That is definitely corrosive ammo.

I love questions that lead to other questions.

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On the whistle draw and fire 6

Notice the box label in the first picture. "Adapted to .... and Winchester Rifle Model 54". The model 54 started production in 1925, so the cartridges are no older than mid-twenties. Production ceased in 1936. So I would assume that since the ammo in question was "Adapted to...", it would have been during the manufacturing period of the model 54. I would also assume it would have been earlier rather than later during the production of the 54.

So my guess, given my assume's are correct, would be mid to late 1920's.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Thanks y'all.

Sure wish I'd kept the 2 boxes of 25 rimfire that was in that ammo can a few years ago.

Now I got the rifle and no ammo. Had no clue then it was so hard to find.

"Full patch" means the same as full metal jacket. The term has not seen widespread usage in decades. This ammo definitely does not have paper patched lead bullets. The photo of the single cartridge clearly shows that.

I'm not a cartridge collector, but would guess that stuff is from the 1920s.

Cincinnati?


"Rollman & Sons

The Rollman & Sons Co. began as a mercantile company in 1867 by Isaac Rollman and his sons. Billed as “Cincinnati’s most progressive store,” they constantly expanded their space on Fifth Street, west of Vine.

The 12-story Rollman’s building on the corner opened in 1923, and expanded into the Havlin Hotel next door in 1947. Allied Stores Corp. purchased both Rollman’s and Mabley & Carew, and in 1962 moved Mabley & Carew into the Rollman’s space."

From what I can find Winchester started changing their head stamp from W.R.A. Co. to WRA beginning in 1929 but not sure how long it took as it didn't happen all at once. Wonder if the numbers on the price tag could be a store inventory date, 8/20/30?

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BCCI Life Member #2068

I was wondering about the store name. Makes since, my dad had to of gave me that box of ammo. I lived in Cincinnati from the day I was born... 1957 till I moved to FL. in 2001.

I recently bought an early Model 54 Winchester from Cowan's Auction in Cincinnati. I would love to own that box of shells to go with my new gun. They look pretty expensive. Let me know. [email protected] Thanks, Bill Murphy in MD.

There were some two-piece Winchester cartridge boxes still being used in the early 1930s, probably older boxes in inventory. But the switchover to one piece boxes began in the later 1920s. I think the fact that the Model 54 was referenced (ca. 1924-36) and not the Model 70 (1937 and later) indicates that the 1924-36 period must be correct. I have a much better condition Winchester .30-'06 two-piece box with a different label which does not mention either the Model 54 or the Model 70. I believe it to be from around 1930 but I can't be positive. I'd say the evidence suggests that your box is likely to be from the early part of that 1924-36 period during which the Model 54 was in production. Giles' and Shuey's book on Winchester cartridge boxes does not include a picture of your .30-'06 box among a dozen or so other .30-'06 boxes shown from that same general period. That is a little surprising.

"From what I can find Winchester started changing their head stamp from W.R.A. Co. to WRA beginning in 1929 but not sure how long it took as it didn't happen all at once."

That is correct, ammo manufacturers usually kept using the same headstamp bunters until they were worn out. They were expensive items, not likely to be discarded so long as they were not damaged and remained useful.

Full metal jacket, "full patch", "ball" -- all same-same.

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Pisgah

You guys get the Detective Prize, Who would have thought that an old box of ammo would turn into a history lesson? Dang. I feel 'connected' to the early part of the 20th century.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Winchester introduced "STAYNLESS" primers in 1928 or 1929 and your box does not include the term. Ergo after 1925 (introduce Win. M-52) and pre 1928-29 (introduce Staynless).

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/783098966 shows M-1906 & M-54 and Staynless.

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On the whistle draw and fire 6

From all the evidence on the box I agree that ammo probably comes from at least the very early 1930's. Although, the above post from ExRanger714 make a a good case for 1925 to 1927. In any event I highly doubt the 1940's and 1950's guesses can be correct.

Even if you're not a collector I would not shoot it. Keep it because it's old and probably valuable to someone.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

That reminds me of something else I hadn't thought of before. The box shown in the Gunbroker auction has a K-index number on its label. The OP's box has no index number. Winchester didn't start using the K-index number until around the mid-1920s. I'll now state that the OP's box is probably from 1924-26.