Antique Cartridge Works

Orders are placed directly via the Buy Now button on each product page — no prior correspondence is required. Select your quantity, proceed through the checkout, and complete payment via GunTab or USPS money order as described below. Inventory is updated in real time as items are produced and sold; the quantity displayed on each product page reflects actual current availability.

We accept payment via GunTab and USPS money order. GunTab processes both credit card and bank transfer payments and is our preferred method for its security and buyer protection. We do not accept PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Square, or any other general payment platform — those services prohibit transactions in this category and we will not expose our customers or our operation to the risks that come with processors who may arbitrarily freeze funds or close accounts.

GunTab is an escrow-based payment service built specifically for firearm-related transactions. When you complete a purchase, GunTab holds your payment securely until you confirm receipt and satisfaction with your order — protecting you against non-delivery and protecting us against chargebacks. You may pay by credit card or bank account transfer. Opening a GunTab account is free.

One step that may be unfamiliar: GunTab requires the buyer to categorize the items being purchased as part of the checkout process. For our products, the appropriate category is antique firearms accessories or ammunition — these cartridges and components are produced exclusively for pre-1899 antique firearms and are not subject to the same regulatory framework as modern ammunition. If you are uncertain how to categorize your order, contact us before completing checkout and we will assist. Full instructions are available at guntab.com.

USPS money orders are accepted for buyers who prefer them. Complete your order via the Buy Now button — this will reserve your item and adjust available inventory. Your order confirmation will include mailing instructions. Money orders must be received within five business days of the order date; if payment is not received within that period the item will be returned to available inventory. Make money orders payable to Antique Cartridge Works.

Shipments containing finished black powder cartridges are shipped via UPS Ground only. Orders containing only components — cast bullets, paper, patches, formed envelopes, implements, and similar items — ship via USPS. An adult signature is required upon delivery for UPS shipments. We do not ship to PO boxes — a physical address is required for all orders. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or any address outside the continental United States.

Black powder cartridges at the quantities in which we ship fall under Limited Quantity rules and do not incur the hazmat surcharges applicable to larger shipments. Shipping is charged at a flat rate covering all handling and delivery costs within our shipping territory. The flat rate is displayed at checkout.

Due to differing state and local regulations we do not ship to the following jurisdictions: California  ·  New York  ·  New Jersey  ·  Massachusetts  ·  Illinois  ·  Rhode Island  ·  Connecticut  ·  Hawaii  ·  Washington D.C. If your state does not appear on this list you may order without restriction. This list is subject to revision as state laws change. Buyers are responsible for confirming that receipt of these goods is lawful in their jurisdiction before ordering.

Packaging is purpose-built for fragile period cartridges. Appropriate quantities are shipped in wooden boxes; smaller quantities are packed in period paper pouches within a reinforced inner carton, itself boxed within an outer carton. Packaging meets UPS requirements for the contents shipped.

Each product line is developed against primary period documentation. The Chassepot cartridge specifications derive directly from original French military drawings and a period construction manual. The .44 and .36 combustible skin cartridges draw on General John Pitman's detailed drawings of D.C. Sage combustible cartridges, period auction house images of original labels and packaging, measurements of surviving historical examples, and period powder charge documentation. Bullet profiles for the cap-and-ball lines are cast from period-accurate moulds sourced from Eras Gone, whose historical research into original dimensions underpins those designs.

Yes. All standard production cartridges are fully functional and intended to be fired in serviceable antique or period-replica firearms. Non-functional display versions can be commissioned via the contact page for collectors who require inert examples for display or collection purposes.

Each product listing specifies the firearms the cartridge is designed for. The cap-and-ball skin cartridges are compatible with both original antique revolvers in serviceable condition and modern Italian reproductions by manufacturers such as Uberti and Pietta. The Chassepot paper cartridge is designed for original Chassepot needle-fire rifles. Compatibility with any specific firearm depends on that firearm's condition and correct bore dimensions — if in doubt, consult a qualified gunsmith before firing.

These are historical copies rather than precise replicas in every detail. The governing principle is fidelity to period specifications where documentation exists and materials permit. Where modern constraints require minor departures — a bullet profile from a contemporary accurate mould rather than a precisely period-matched nose, or a box label reproduced from a period image using close font approximations — those departures are minimised and noted. What is not done here is substitution that alters the functional or material character of the cartridge. Period materials are used throughout: sumac-tanned gut, tallow-beeswax lubricant, shellac sealer, appropriate powder charges. Modern shortcuts such as synthetic tube substitutes or grooved cast bullets in place of paper-patched projectiles where the historical record calls for them are not employed.

Yes, for unusual or undocumented firearms or specific period variants not covered by the standard product line. Enquiries regarding custom commissions should be directed via the contact page.

All purchasers must affirm at the time of ordering that they are 21 years of age or older and that receipt of these goods is lawful in their jurisdiction. This affirmation is a required step in the ordering process.

The regulatory basis for the commercial production and sale of functional historical cartridges designed exclusively for pre-1899 antique firearms is set out in full in our published regulatory statement, linked at the foot of every page on this site. Buyers remain responsible for knowing and complying with the laws of their own state and locality. If you have doubt about the legality of a purchase in your jurisdiction, consult qualified legal counsel before ordering.

By completing a purchase you affirm that you are of lawful age, that receipt of these goods is permitted under the laws of your state and locality, and that you will comply with all applicable regulations governing the possession and use of black powder cartridges. Antique Cartridge Works makes no representation regarding the laws of any specific jurisdiction beyond those listed in our shipping restrictions above.

All cartridges are inspected before shipment and packed to protect against transit damage. These are handmade products fabricated to period specifications — minor cosmetic variation between individual examples is inherent to the manufacturing process and reflects authentic hand production rather than defect. Buyers who require machine-made uniformity should be aware that this is not the nature of period-authentic manufacture.

Damage in transit should be reported within GunTab's three-day inspection period. Photograph the packaging and contents before handling further and contact us via the contact page. Verified transit damage will be addressed by replacement or refund at our discretion. We handle all UPS claims — you are not required to initiate a claim yourself.

We do not accept returns of functional cartridges under any circumstances. This policy exists for straightforward safety reasons — live black powder cartridges that have left our hands and passed through unknown conditions cannot be accepted back. Disputes regarding transit damage or material error on our part are handled through GunTab's dispute process and resolved proactively. We have no interest in leaving a legitimate problem unresolved.

GunTab holds payment in escrow until the buyer confirms receipt and satisfaction, or the three-day inspection period expires without dispute. If you have a legitimate concern about your order, file a dispute within that three-day window. GunTab acts as arbitrator for unresolved disputes. This escrow structure protects both parties — buyers have a defined window for recourse, and sellers are protected against chargebacks after that window closes.

Each product listing specifies the firearms the cartridge is designed for and the historical context of its development. The cap-and-ball skin cartridges are designed for Colt Army and Navy revolvers and their period equivalents. The Chassepot paper cartridge is designed for the French Chassepot needle-fire rifle as used in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71. Additional product lines covering the Martini-Henry, pinfire revolvers, and other transitional-era arms are in preparation.

The cap-and-ball cartridges are compatible with quality modern reproductions chambered for the appropriate calibre, including Italian reproductions by Uberti, Pietta, and similar manufacturers — with an important qualification. Most current Italian-made replicas were manufactured to slightly different dimensions in the loading port area, reflecting a production geometry optimised for round ball loading rather than paper cartridges. Original Colt revolvers and Colt second-generation production accept combustible cartridges without modification; most modern Italian replicas require a minor modification to the loading port contour before paper or skin cartridges will seat cleanly without crushing or deforming during loading.

This modification is straightforward — a Dremel tool is used to open the loading port contour to the correct profile, and the finish can be restored with cold bluing. A demonstration of the process as applied to a modern replica 1860 Army revolver is available here: Loading Port Modification — YouTube. The same modification applies to .36 calibre Navy replicas. If you own a modern Italian replica and are unsure whether it has been modified for paper cartridge use, confirm this before ordering.

Any antique firearm should be inspected and approved for firing by a qualified gunsmith before any ammunition is used. This is not a suggestion — it is the minimum responsible standard for shooting arms that may be 150 years old. Antique Cartridge Works accepts no liability for damage to firearms or injury to persons resulting from the use of these cartridges in firearms that have not been properly inspected and approved for firing.

Black powder cartridges require appropriate storage away from heat, open flame, and ignition sources, and must be handled in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Buyers are responsible for complying with all regulations governing the possession, storage, and use of black powder products in their jurisdiction.

The pre-metallic and transitional era of ammunition development — roughly 1840 to 1880 — represents one of the most consequential and least-documented chapters in the history of small arms. The cartridge forms produced by Antique Cartridge Works span the full arc of that transition, from combustible skin cartridges that predated reliable metallic cases to the needle-fire and foil cartridge systems that preceded the modern centrefire standard. Each product line is accompanied by historical notes on its development, military and commercial use, and place in the broader evolution of ammunition technology.