Any ideas of date?

[Mark K]

I've been packing these around for 30 or so years, decided to open a box. Headstamp seems a little odd… .45 AC, and the center crimp is a little different from what I'm use to seeing. My first thought is 1986??

Thanks for any insight,
Mark

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[Moeca]

Found this not sure its correct but maybe give you a idea. I'm questioning it because of the lettering being AC not CA. Following it looks like yours would be January of 1949, 1969 or 1989.


1.1 Years

To repeat every 20 years using our 26-letter alphabet, six letters were skipped: A, I, J, O, Q, and Z.

B 1928 1948 1968 1988 2008
C 1929 1949 1969 1989 2009
D 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010
E 1931 1951 1971 1991 2011
F 1932 1952 1972 1992 2012
G 1933 1953 1973 1993 2013
H 1934 1954 1974 1994 2014
K 1935 1955 1975 1995 (2015)
L 1936 1956 1976 1996 (2016)
M 1937 1957 1977 1997 (2017)
N 1938 1958 1978 1998 (2018)
P 1939 1959 1979 1999 (2019)
R 1940 1960 1980 2000
S 1941 1961 1981 2001
T 1942 1962 1982 2002
U 1943 1963 1983 2003
V 1944 1964 1984 2004
W 1945 1965 1985 2005
X 1946 1966 1986 2006
Y 1947 1967 1987 2007

1.2 Months

A - January G - July
B - February H - August (I and J skipped)
C - March K - September
D - April L - October
E - May M - November
F - June N - December

 

[Yarome]

Just looking at the packaging type and the above chart, if accurate... I would tend to go with the 1969 date.

Easy enough though... shoot winchester an email with the lot number and ask.

 

[CLT65]

I believe that chart is something completely different, and has nothing to do with that ammo. The 45 A.C. headstamp means ".45 Automatic Colt".

I think that ammo is a lot older than the 1960's, more like the 1930's. The only 45 acp ammo I recall seeing in that style of box is WWI era.

 

[Yarome]

I think that ammo is a lot older than the 1960's, more like the 1930's. The only 45 acp ammo I recall seeing in that style of box is WWI era.

I agree it could be older. The packing type is consistent with military contract ammo throughout the war years.... and commonly seen like that through the vietnam era, but even then it could have easily been surplus stores with a much earlier mfg date.

The packaging changed dramatically post vietnam when mfg was geared more toward the civilian consumer market. I think an inquiry on the lot number is likely the best option if you really want to try and nail down a mfg date.

It looks to be in great shape though and I wouldn't hesitate to shoot it off.... if that's your concern.

 

[Mark K]

Thanks for the input! Doing a little more research, I'm thinking they may be of an older vintage, possibly pre dating WWII…. Kinda cool if that's the case. I think the idea of reaching out to Winchester is next. Thanks for the idea guys

Maybe I'll hold off on taking them to the range;]

 

[CLT65]

I've seen a lot of WWII and Vietnam-era 45acp in 50 round cardboard boxes, but the 20 round boxes like that, that I've seen, have always been pre-WWII.

I'm not an expert or a serious collector, but I've handled and seen a fair amount over the years. I have seen the "45 A.C." headstamp a few times but they're not very common. It's an early headstamp. Most of what I've seen in the long 20-round boxes have military headstamps with the year. They've all been WWI to 1930's, and they all had the same "Disposal of empty cartridge cases must be made according to army regulations..." on the back.

I have a half dozen or so similar boxes, but for some reason can't remember where I put them right now. That's embarrassing. I'm too young to be forgetting everything, I think...

 

[Mark K]

I've seen a lot of WWII and Vietnam-era 45acp in 50 round cardboard boxes, but the 20 round boxes like that, that I've seen, have always been pre-WWII.

I'm not an expert or a serious collector, but I've handled and seen a fair amount over the years. I have seen the "45 A.C." headstamp a few times but they're not very common. It's an early headstamp. Most of what I've seen in the long 20-round boxes have military headstamps with the year. They've all been WWI to 1930's, and they all had the same "Disposal of empty cartridge cases must be made according to army regulations..." on the back.

I have a half dozen or so similar boxes, but for some reason can't remember where I put them right now. That's embarrassing. I'm too young to be forgetting everything, I think...

Does the center crimp strike you as being different, or is that of the period also?

 

[Knobgoblin]

When did sealed primers start?

 

[Yarome]

I've seen a lot of WWII and Vietnam-era 45acp in 50 round cardboard boxes, but the 20 round boxes like that, that I've seen, have always been pre-WWII.

That's a very good point. I didn't take notice of the round per box factor and would agree the 20rd boxes are much earlier mfg. and more in line with WWI era.

 

[saxon]

49 going by box and primer

 

[Yarome]

When did sealed primers start?

I'm not entirely sure, but I know the sealant color standardization was established in the mid 1920's... so well before then at least.

 

[CLT65]

Does the center crimp strike you as being different, or is that of the period also?

Common for early ammo. Here is some of my loose WWI 45 ammo; most is 1918 or earlier. The earliest is 1912. All the WWI or earlier that I've seen has the tin-stained bullet jackets. Those are not lead bullets; they are regular copper jackets with a tin wash to prevent corrosion. Notice the sealed primer on the 1912 dated round.

Yours don't have the tin wash. I think they did away with that in the 1920's, so I'm still going to go with a guess of 1920's or 1930's.

 

[Yarome]

Looking a bit closer... I guess another clue is the primer itself. Winchester didn't switch to flat stainless primers until '31.

 

[41mag]

I had a similar but badly deteriorating couple 20 round boxes from a buddy who said his grandpa passed them to him circa WW1. No way to confirm my long gone treasure.

 

[Knobgoblin]

I am sincerely impressed by the depth of knowledge here. Thank you.

 

[ma96782]

Well.......there is always that experiment. Rrrrrright......to fire them. So then, if it corrodes your barrel without a cleaning (say w/in 24 hours, with my weather conditions)......yeah, now you know it's generally pre 50s ammo. BUT, But, but.....why ruin/destroy the barrel?

There are "other ways". But, where is the FUN in that?

Aloha, Mark

 

[Val1884]

That's pre WW2 ammo. 1930s stuff.

 

[CLT65]

It's bugging me that I can't find them. I just found this ratty old box, ammo inside dated 1937.

I also found a couple identical to yours, same headstamp. It was in a bag with mixed '20s and '30s rounds. 1930's is a pretty sure bet.

 

[Yarome]

I am sincerely impressed by the depth of knowledge here. Thank you.

Well now.... that's a very nice way of saying... "Crap! You guys are old as dirt!"

Thanks(?)