Most people understand cartridges based upon modern headstamps. For example civilian headstamps usually have caliber and maker, such as 30-06, REM-UMC. Military ammunition may have a stamp like DEN-43 which shows date and arsenal. Early ammunition of this period is much more mysterious and confusing.

     Early U.S. metallic cartridges for military use were RIMFIRE or looked like rimfire. Modern primers of the boxer and berdan types had not been introduced. Some had maker or arsenal marks. The rimfire look-alikes were center fire but had the primers inside the case. Examples range from early 50-70 and 45-70 to revolver cartridges such as the 45 Colt. Fired examples will have a dent in the center of the base where modern cartridges would have a primer. These are distinguished from RIMFIRE types, which were struck on the edge of the case.

     INSIDE PRIMED ammunition typically has crimping marks in opposition, just above the base of the cartridge. These crimps held a striking plate inside the case, against which the impacted base could crush and detonate the priming mixture. Some names associated with these in U.S. military ammunition are BAR ANVIL and BENET. A very scarce form called MARTIN PRIMED appeared to be center fire but was not. From the end of the Civil War to end of he black powder era there is incredible diversity in cartridge and priming types. Early cartridge heads had no marking whatsoever.

     Eventually dates and arsenal information were provided. Ammunition problems were part of the Custer debacle and the military took only a few years to address. A set of markings with date and arsenal information actually preceeded the center fire ammunition and continues to the present.

      Cartridges by Herschel Logan is helpful but out of print. Cartridge collecting sites which I cannot link (per eBay) give helpful information. My book not issued yet. I should live so long. I will provide illustrations and internet search key words when I can return to this guide. The words in caps may provide some help for search.