Winchester Primers

d'Artagnan  over on the Maryland Shooter's forum, same person I got my box dating information from, has detailed information about dating early Winchester primers. Much of the below information is taken directly from his research. I am going to share some of this information for use with the 44-40 cartridges. Please support his work by visiting the link provided for more details.

Pat'd May 31, 1870

Pat. No. 103,641

Isaac M. Milbank

1873-1873

Milbank, Dimpled
Black Powder

I have been dealing with gathering information on this primer for quite some time. Like with many, to include my own, we can only learn from what information we can find. Sometimes the information we find is incorrect, misleading or not all true. Same with this primer, so this is the best I can offer!

On 9-24-1962, W.M. Bellemore wrote about the Milbank Primer. He tells us that it was patented (Pat. #103,641) on May, 31, 1870. During the early development of the Winchester 73' cartridge, the Milbank primer design was used. It appears that this primer design was flawed and troublesome due to the tapered design. Troubles reported mainly from loose primers by they why they were inserted into the primer pocket. The primer (cone shaped/tapered) was developed with a dimple in it and it much resembled a spent cartridge when in fact they were not fired. Both design flaws had reliability issues

The Winchester 73' did not appear in Winchester's 1873 catalog but Bellemore claims that Winchester reported the MIlbank primer being mentioned in the 1873 catalog and stated; [although I can not find it] "Our Center Fire cartridges are made with solid heads and are primed with the Milbank primer, the best yet introduced."  Maybe he meant the 1875 catalog of which I have yet to check. Bellemore also states that there were no records found that indicated the dates the Milbank primer was first used, or when they changed to another primer. Bellemore confirms my findings that the only hint we have of this first offering is in Winchester's 1875 catalog when they used the new primer patented July 14th, 1874.

Although the Milbank primer was not an experimental primer, it had certainly been experimented with in the 73's cartridge. I posted such information in the opening page of this website with a brief history. Winchester experienced so many problems with this primer that it has been reported to have been the reason for the shipping delays.  Apparently Oliver Winchester sent a letter to Colt dated January 1874 of the problems. Only a few Model 73's were assembled in 1873 (some reporting sn# up to 126) and others believe only between 7 to18 were shipped out by December 1873. Some report that sn#127 - sn#11,824 were produced before 1876, leaving quite a few possibilities for the early Custer Indian Wars previously mentioned in the History pages.

Not only is the Winchester 73' listed in the1875 catalog, it is also filled with no less than 62 testimonials from all kinds of hunters, sportsman and mountain men.

Pat'd July 14, 1874

Pat. No. 152,936
Oliver F. Winchester

1874-1878

Copper

No. 1

Black Powder

By July 14, 1874 (Gardner's Pat. 208,589), Winchester patented and began using their own new primer. Of course, the Milbank primer was dumped. This is probably the exact reason the 73' was not mentioned in Winchester's 1873 catalog. The Winchester 66' was praised in the 1873 catalog and the primer problems were more than likely the reason why the 73' was not in it at all.

Sometime by the end of 1873, it was reported that there was a four-page advertising brochure on the New Model of 1873 published 4-10-1874 and distributed by Winchester. There apparently was no 1874 catalog, so the first catalog for the "Model Of 1873" would be the 1875 catalog. Thus I believe the delay for publications on the 73' was in fact due to the Milbank primed cartridges.

Bellemore describes the new primer with the anvil design is much more reliable for the loose [floating] firing pins. Another indication that the dimples Milbank primer was inferior.

Pat. Oct 1st, 1878

Pat. No. 208,589
John Gardner, assigned to Winchester

This patent number noted on boxes at least up to 1926

1878-1906

No. 1 

Copper Primer 

Black Powder

This new patent has the conical/coned anvil. This new and improved folded type primer was first announced in Winchester's 1878 catalog. 

Two catalogs mention No. 1 "Winchester Improved Primers", 1891 and 1895, but the later still shows the round tin. Also noted is that the early square boxes still use only the "No. 1" call-out. 

The following boxes now show the "Improved" call-out on the box label but still show the Oct 1st, 1878 patent.

1906-1938

Copper

No.1 Improved

Black Powder

2nd Style, 1st Variation

 block letter WINCHESTER, and WINCHESTER with serifs 

prior to dated labels, "Licensed for repriming only", 

3rd Style or 2nd Style, 2nd Variation

 "WINCHESTER" in small quotes

prior to dated labels, "Licensed for repriming only", 

4th Style

block letters or with serifs

"Licensed for repriming only", dated labels 8-6 to 10-9 observed lower right, 4 digit index numbers lower left, first punched dots lot numbers on labels dated 10-9, W printed on ends whether primers for smokeless powder or black powder,

Jan 1911

Actually a 2nd style (block letter WINCHESTER, pre-dated label) box. However,  the back is over-labeled with a "Licensed" label dated 1-11.   Winchester seemed to make it a point not to waste material but why such a date gap?

5th Style

WINCHESTER

(1914-1927)

Some boxes show the "K"-prefix 4-digit index numbers -- different from the old four-digit index numbers -- on box ends, W printed on ends, "MADE IN U.S.A." or "MADE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA", Labels dated 1-20, 3-23, and 6-26 with "K" number K1101P. The primers in the 6-26 box are not impressed with a W.  Last of the copper primers until recent years.

6th Style

 Post 1927

Last of the Copper Primers

after dated labels, K-prefix 4-digit index numbers, punched dots lot numbers, no W on box ends, SOLD FOR REPRIMING ONLY, no mention of non-mercuric or non-corrosive.

For more photos and information, check out the 44-40 cartridge doc. here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Jy0pGqWPRx2HOQqufbcnEM1lv6tCWBJsCOB8vLIDOIg/edit#gid=1905899731