UMC/Remington Timeline
Chasing the Folded Head Cases of UMC
I am unsure about some dates so this page is under construction
MUCH INFORMATION FROM John Moss & https://cartridgecollectors.org
I have started to slightly dig into the early black powder years for UMC/REM. I added a few just for flavor and most are smokeless powder loads. However, the following first few are in order based on what is believed to be based on patent dates. I do not know who owns these boxes but Ray Giles and Guy Hildebrand have forwarded much forethought and information to me through books, emails and messages. Much of this information would not be here without their help.
What came first, the primers or the primer patent dates?
1871, Oct 24th, Pat. 120,196 - Orcutt's Primer Patent, under Alfred C Hobbs and Jerome Orcutt (noticed on 45 Colt box labels)
1873, April 2 - S.W. Wood's Patent
1874, March 10th, Pat. 148,366 - Alfred C Hobbs patent
1876, Oct 31, Pat. 183,295 - A.C. Hobbs' Patent
Mar 1878 - #1 Wesson primers
1882, April 18th, Pat 256,684 - Alfred James Hobbs
Oct 1882 - Hobbs Primers ?
Dec 1883 - The Ledger indicates that UMC transitioned to Solid Head Cases by this time.
To help in dating early 45 Colt civilian boxes, Guy Hildebrand shares this Orcutt primer tin. It is reported that while the tin label only lists the Hobbs/Orcutt October 24th, 1871 patent, the primers have the improved octagonal disks that were covered by the Hobbs March 10, 1874 patent. ~Guy Hildebrand
Here’s a UMC Wesson primer tin with a few of the primers. The patent date on the label is October, 31, 1876; this patent was issued to A C Hobbs. According to the UMC company loading records, the Orcutt primers were replaced by the Wesson primers in March of 1878. Seems like a long delay before beginning to use this improved primer. ~Guy Hildebrand
Early 1874
Guy Hildebrand Collection
1874 - Believed to be the first production box art, notice the word "New" Model of 1873 and the locations of the call-outs and lack of patent dates. Possibly a folded head case due to the Orcutt primer.
Guy Hildebrand has provided a cartridge sample from the box above. It shows the early Orcutt primer with a patent date of March 10, 1874 patent issued to Alfred C Hobbs
If this is the pocket needed to fit the Orcutt primer, there is a very good chance that these early UMC cases were certainly of the folded head design. This can also be compared to the MIlbank primed sketch to the far right possibly used by Winchester until 1874 when Winchester patented their own boxer primer. It has been said that Winchester delayed the delivery of the Winchester 73' rifles until this new boxer primer was ready to be used...another indication that Winchester probably did not use folded head cases.
1877 - More than likely the second UMC box. Note the omittance of the word "New" in the phrase "Model of 1873", later 1876 primer patent date far left bottom, and more than likely Solid Head cases by this time or at least by March 1878 when they were documented be replaced by the Wesson primers. Also note the call-out for the Colt SA Revolver which would be no sooner than 1877.
This "cartridge Art" more resembles Winchester's box art and UMC's 1880's box art, with the lack of patent dates, this could date to the late 1870's. Also note, however, the lack of mentioning the revolvers.
December 1883
"Solid Head" Call-Out
1880ish - This "Dog Logo" box also fails to offer patent dates but the over-all box design dates to the early 1880's. The Ledger indicates that UMC completed the transition to Solid Head cases by this time.
1887ish
1887ish
The Rifle photo box from UMC is seen as early as 1866-1867 with the 44 Henry ammunition back when UMC was also a "Cap" Co..."Union Metallic Cartridge and Cap Co." Shortly after UMC dropped the "CAP" part of the name, they introduced their "Dog Logo" as well as the "plaid" box design which was also seen until after WWI.
I am looking for more dates for these offerings for the 44-40.
?????
The design seems to go hand in hand with the revolvers as well, minus the dog logo.
Winchester's 44-40 for Colt's revolver, estimated to be 1891-1892
Smokeless Powder Years
Union Metallic Cartridge Company began dating their boxes by 1909 with the letter "A" and 1910 with the letter "B" and on down the trail with variations. The details are too numerous to list here...visit the following link for details: UMC Dates or visit Ward's Collectibles for additional sources. I have added some of their items to help simplify the translations below.
Below- The earliest I can find is this A 29 D or O stamp which should translate to 1909, 29 Sept or July. Close up looks like an over stamp but I don't know which was first.
1910
Unable to find dated 44-40 boxes, I elected to show examples from other cartridges of the era. This box is stamped with a "B1R" code which should translate to B=1910, 1=1st and R=Nov. The top label is green and is what we see most of for the 44-40 cartridges. I have seen plenty, just non that show a stamp code. Keep in mind that many of these round corner green labels are pre-1909 dated black powder loads as well.
This 45 Colt box shows off the plaid colors on this "B2R" square corner, box. The code should translate as follows... B=1910, 2=2nd, and R=Nov...in this "L##L" (letter/number/number/letter) format.
UMC stamped their code pretty much anywhere they could on these boxes but typically on the bottom label. I have seen them on the top, side, bottom and I have even seen one on the inside under the lid.
BOXES TYPE: 2 PIECE WITH ROUNDED CORNERS
BOX COLORS: RED, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, BLACK WITH YELLOW MARBLEING, BLUE PLAID ON YELLOW
LABEL COLORS: RED PRINT ON YELLOW, BLUE PRINT ON YELLOW BLACK PRINT ON GREEN; BLACK PRINT ON GRAY
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: (USUALLY IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE TOP LABEL) CONSIST OF 2 OR 3 DIGITS SOMETIMES FOLLOWED BY 1 OR 2 LETTERS. EXAMPLES: 81 or 110 or 248A
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO. AMMUNITION & FIREARMS UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE WORKS BRIDGEPORT, CONN. U.S.A.
RIGHT TOP - I am uncertain as to the time frame of this box. Seems to fit right in here somewhere. Very much the same graphics as the 45 Colt box above but with what should be the later rounded corners.
BOXES TYPE: 2 PIECE WITH ROUNDED CORNERS
BOX COLORS: RED, YELLOW, GREEN, BLACK WITH YELLOW MARBLEING, BLUE PLAID ON YELLOW
LABEL COLORS: RED PRINT ON YELLOW, BLUE PRINT ON YELLOW
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: (USUALLY IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE TOP LABEL) CONSIST OF 2 OR 3 DIGITS SOMETIMES FOLLOWED BY 1 OR 2 LETTERS. EXAMPLES: 81 or 110 or 248A
COMPANY NAME: THE REMINGTON ARMS UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY INCORPORATED AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS UMC BRIDGEPORT WORKS BRIDGEPORT, CONN. U.S.A
Another round corner box shows a "G9D" which should translate to 1915 9 Sept
BOXES TYPE: (EARLY) 2 PIECE WITH ROUNDED CORNERS (LATE) 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS, THUMB CUTS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: RED, YELLOW, BLUE
LABEL COLORS: RED PRINT ON YELLOW, BLUE PRINT ON YELLOW BLACK PRINT ON BLUE
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: (USUALLY IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE TOP LABEL) CONSIST OF 2 OR 3 DIGITS SOMETIMES FOLLOWED BY 1 OR 2 LETTERS. EXAMPLES: 81 or 110 or 248A
COMPANY NAME: THE REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, Inc. AMMUNITION AND FIRE ARMS UMC BRIDGEPORT WORKS NEW YORK BRIDGEPORT, CONN. U.S.A. LONDON OR THE REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, Inc. SUCCESSOR TO THE REMINGTON ARMS UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY MANUFACTURES OF Ammunition and Fire Arms UMC BRIDGEPORT WORKS NEW YORK BRIDGEPORT, CONN. U.S.A. LONDON
01PS = 01 June 1925
Early example of a round corner plaid box has an L2L date code which should translate to 1920, 2 January
1926-1929 1: BOXES TYPE:
PIECE WITH END FLAPS, THUMB CUTS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN WITH RED “KLEANBORE”
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: (USUALLY IN LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE TOP) CONSIST OF 2 OR 3 DIGITS SOMETIMES FOLLOWED BY 1 OR 2 LETTERS. EXAMPLES: 81 or 110 or 248A 4: COMPANY NAME: THE REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, Inc. AMMUNITION AND FIRE ARMS NEW YORK BRIDGEPORT, CONN. U.S.A. LONDON
S Y30B = 1929, 30 Jan
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS, THUMB CUTS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN WITH RED “KLEANBORE”; OLIVE GREEN; TAN; RED
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: VERTICAL ON LOWER RIGHT CORNER STYLE “Rxxx”. EXAMPLES: R81 or R151
COMPANY NAME: THE REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, Inc. AMMUNITION AND FIRE ARMS NEW YORK BRIDGEPORT, CONN. U.S.A. LONDON
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS, THUMB CUTS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND RED. “KLEANBORE” WITH “REMINGTON” IN A RED CIRCLE & “DuPONT” IN AN OVAL
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: VERTICAL ON LOWER RIGHT CORNER STYLE “Rxxx”. EXAMPLES: R81 or R151 4: COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS, THUMB CUTS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND RED. “KLEANBORE” WITH “REMINGTON” IN A RED CIRCLE & “DuPONT” IN AN OVAL
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: VERTICAL ON LOWER RIGHT CORNER STYLE “XXXX”. EXAMPLES: 5138 or 6645 FIRST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE LOAD TYPE LAST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE CALIBER
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
5744
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND WHITE. “REMINGTON” IN A RED BANNER AND A LARGE WHITE “R” NO “WARNING-KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “XXXX”. EXAMPLES: 5138 or 6645 FIRST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE LOAD TYPE LAST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE CALIBER 4: COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc.
Early 5944 Old style
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND WHITE. “REMINGTON” IN A RED BANNER AND A LARGE WHITE “R” “WARNING-KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN” BOXED ON UPPER LEFT HAND TOP CORNER
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “XXXX”. EXAMPLES: 5138 or 6645 FIRST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE LOAD TYPE LAST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE CALIBER
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. BRIDGEPORT, CONN
PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND WHITE. “REMINGTON” IN A RED BANNER AND A LARGE WHITE “R” “WARNING-KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN” BOXED ON UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OR ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PANEL
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “XXXX”. EXAMPLES: 5138 or 6645 FIRST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE LOAD TYPE LAST TWO NUMBERS ARE THE CALIBER
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. BRIDGEPORT, CONN
There is no stamp code anywhere on this box
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND YELLOW. WHITE “REMINGTON” AND “HIGH VELOCITY” ON THE FRONT “DuPONT” ON SIDE PANEL
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “RxxxxW1”. EXAMPLES: R308W1 or R375M2 “R” FOR REMINGTON FOLLOWED BY THE CALIBER THE LETTER IS THE FIRST LETTER OF WORD OLLOWING THE CALIBER IN THE NAME: W=WINCHESTER, M=MAGNUM; SV=SAVAGE. THE LAST NUMBER IS THE BULLET TYPE
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. BRIDGEPORT, CONN 06602
T17H = T should be 1982. However, neither T nor H represents a month in the date listing. H as a year could be 1982 and still fits the years of the box graphics design.
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND YELLOW. WHITE “REMINGTON” AND “HIGH VELOCITY” ON THE FRONT “DuPONT” ON SIDE PANEL
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “RxxxxW1”. EXAMPLES: R308W1 or R375M2 “R” FOR REMINGTON FOLLOWED BY THE CALIBER THE LETTER IS THE FIST LETTER OF WORD FOLLOWING THE CALIBER IN THE NAME: W=WINCHESTER, M=MAGNUM; SV=SAVAGE. THE LAST NUMBER IS THE BULLET TYPE
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. LONOKE, ARKANSAS 72086
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: GREEN AND YELLOW. WHITE “REMINGTON” AND “HIGH VELOCITY” ON THE FRONT NO “DuPONT” ON SIDE PANEL (DuPONT SOLD REMINGTON))
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “RxxxxW1”. EXAMPLES: R308W1 or R375M2 “R” FOR REMINGTON FOLLOWED BY THE CALIBER THE LETTER IS THE FIST LETTER OF WORD FOLLOWING THE CALIBER IN THE NAME: W=WINCHESTER, M=MAGNUM; SV=SAVAGE. THE LAST NUMBER IS THE BULLET TYPE
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. LONOKE, ARKANSAS 72086
BOXES TYPE: 1 PIECE WITH END FLAPS AND SLIDE OUT TRAY
BOX COLORS: VARIOUS--SEE PICTURES
LOAD INDEX NUMBERS: LOCATED ON END FLAP STYLE “RxxxxW1”. EXAMPLES: R308W1 or R375M2 “R” FOR REMINGTON FOLLOWED BY THE CALIBER THE LETTER IS THE FIST LETTER OF WORD FOLLOWING THE CALIBER IN THE NAME: W=WINCHESTER, M=MAGNUM; SV=SAVAGE. THE LAST NUMBER IS THE BULLET TYPE
COMPANY NAME: REMINGTON ARMS CO., Inc. LONOKE, ARKANSAS 72086
It has been said that Remington stopped offering the 44-40 in 1998, however it can be found mentioned in catalogs through 2007.