UMC .32 S&W

[franzas]

Hey ammophiles,

I found this old box at a gun show today. I bought it out of curiosity, as I'm not an ammo collector by any means. Can anyone tell me how old it is or what it might be worth? Sorry about the weird lines in the pics. My camera's kinda broken. Thanks

Franz

 

[franzas]

4 more pics:

 

[DWalt]

Well, it's certainly pre-1911 when Remington and UMC combined into Remington-UMC. How much earlier I can't say, but I would think maybe no earlier than 1900. I would have to pull out some references to make a better guess. If it's just the box and a few loose cartridges, it won't be worth much. Were it full, sealed, and in better condition, maybe $100 or more. My guess would be $10-$20 as a decorator item. .32 S&W is a very common caliber. Boxes in unusual calibers are in much higher collector demand, say something like .35 S&W Auto.
-----------------------------------
I did some checking and couldn't find any definite information, other than that the general style of your box began use by UMC in the late 1890s. So my original guess of 1900-1911 will probably be as valid as anyone else's.

 

[franzas]

Thanks DWalt

 

[DWalt]

Note also that it is a black powder loading. That really doesn't help dating as both smokeless powder and black powder loads co-existed at that time. UMC offered smokeless powder handgun loads as early as 1894, and some calibers remained available as black powder loadings well into the 1930s.

 

[glowe]

I am going to guess it could be from the late 1800s up to 1912 when Remington UMC brand replaced UMC. With the advent of smokeless powder, black powder ammo boxes started to print Black Powder on the box, since there was both smokeless and BP boxes out there. That continued well into the Twentieth Century. You box appears to list the grains of BP on the label and no mention of black powder.

 

[DWalt]

One other clue - the note saying that size 0 primers should be used for reloading. The last UMC catalog listing the use of 0 (copper) primers was 1900. Thereafter, the size 1 primer (brass) was specified.

 

[franzas]

Note also that it is a black powder loading. That really doesn't help dating as both smokeless powder and black powder loads co-existed at that time. UMC offered smokeless powder handgun loads as early as 1894, and some calibers remained available as black powder loadings well into the 1930s.

I don't think 10 grains of smokeless pistol powder would be safe lol