.38 S&W Blank Cartridges

[A10]

I was helping clean up at my dad's place this weekend and came across a full box of Winchester .38 S&W blanks, product code W38BLP. They were manufactured by Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, and are headstamped WPA .38 S
&W. Anyone else seen any of these before? Any idea when they may have been manufactured?

 

[rck281]

I have a partial box that I purchased about 30 years ago. I also have some Alcan 45 Colt blanks that have a plastic case.

 

[A10]

They just seem a little strange to me, particularly blanks for an obsolete cartridge. I could understand the .45 Colt, or .45 ACP, .44 Special, etc., for re-enactors or just for scaring predators. Are yours in a red and yellow box as well?

 

[lebomm]

These were the standard load for the Harrington & Richardson starter pistols in .38. You also find them occasionally in .32 for use with .32 S&W Blanks. I think if you look closer, you'll find the headstamp says "WRA .38 S&W". Probably mfd in the 60s.

Larry

 

[A10]

Makes sense now. Thanks! Now all I need is a starter pistol!

 

[lebomm]

BTW, they are also perfectly safe for use in any revolver chambered to .38 S&W - Webleys, Terriers, S&W Topbreaks, Iver Johnson Topbreaks, and the like.

Larry

 

[A10]

BTW, they are also perfectly safe for use in any revolver chambered to .38 S&W - Webleys, Terriers, S&W Topbreaks, Iver Johnson Topbreaks, and the like.

Larry

None of which I have at the current time. Reason enough to start shopping for an old top break, though!

 

[longaction]

Blanks are great fun, and very loud. Some, if not all, are loaded with a corrosive type of powder that will rust the heck out of your cylinder chamber throats if you don't scrub them out with soap 'n water. Standard solvents didn't work for me. I always learn the hard way. Blank primers are not corrosive though.

 

[mike p]

i got a dillion blank die for making blanks ot of 38 s&w cases