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Est. in the Tradition of the Original Makers

Antique Cartridge Works

Manufacturers of Period-Authentic Pre-Metallic & Transitional Era Cartridges
All Materials & Methods Documented to the Historical Record
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I.   Cartridges
Finished cartridges produced from period materials by documented methods — combustible skin, nitrated paper envelope, needle-fire, and foil patterns. Each lot accompanied by historical notes on the pattern reproduced.
Skin & Paper Cartridges — Combustible Gut Skin and Nitrated Hemp Paper
.36 Calibre Skin Cartridge — D.C. Sage label
Colt Navy pattern. Combustible gut skin, tallow-beeswax lubricant, shellac overcoat. Packet of 6.
Full Description & Historical Notes →
.44 Calibre Skin Cartridge — D.C. Sage label
Johnston & Dow pattern. Combustible gut skin, tallow-beeswax lubricant, shellac overcoat. Packet of 6.
Full Description & Historical Notes →
.36 Calibre Envelope Cartridge — Colt's Cartridge Works label
Colt Navy pattern. Combustible nitrated hemp paper envelope, collodion sealed. Packet of 6.
Full Description & Historical Notes →
.44 Calibre Envelope Cartridge — Colt's Cartridge Works label
Johnston & Dow pattern. Combustible nitrated hemp paper envelope, collodion sealed. Packet of 6.
Full Description & Historical Notes →
Chassepot Needle-Fire Cartridge
Modèle 1866 pattern. Paper tube body with silk gauze reinforcement, internal needle-fire primer, cast lead bullet. Sold in period-correct boxes of nine or trial lot of three.
Full Description & Historical Notes →
Martini-Henry Foil Cartridge — original specimen
.577/450 pattern. Tinfoil body, drawn brass head. Cast lead bullet from X-Ring 45-505XR mold. Original War Office construction. For collectors and display. Packet of 5.
Full Description & Historical Notes →

II.   Components
Cast bullets, prepared papers, and sub-assemblies for those who load their own. All components produced to the same standards as finished cartridges.
Formed Combustible Envelopes — Nitrated Hemp Paper
.36 Calibre Formed Combustible Envelopes
Colt Navy pattern. Hand-rolled nitrated hemp paper, collodion sealed. Ready to load with powder and bullet. Per dozen.
Construction Details & Compatibility Notes →
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.44 Calibre Formed Combustible Envelopes
Colt Army pattern. Hand-rolled nitrated hemp paper, collodion sealed. For Colt Army and Remington New Model Army. Per dozen.
Construction Details & Compatibility Notes →
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Cast Bullets
.36 Colt Cartridge Works Cast Bullets
Heel-base conical, Colt Cartridge Works pattern. Pure lead, unlubricated. Per 50.
Specifications & Historical Notes →
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.44 Johnston & Dow Cast Bullets
Heel-base conical, Johnston & Dow pattern, c. 1861–1865. Pure lead, unlubricated. Per 50.
Specifications & Historical Notes →
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.36 Cal. Cast Bullet — Colt Navy
Round ball and conical variants for the Colt Model 1851 and 1861 Navy revolvers. In preparation.
.44 British Kerr bullet — original specimen
.44 Cal. Cast Bullet — British Kerr
Kerr patent revolver pattern. Pure lead conical for the London Armoury Company Kerr revolver. In preparation.
.44 Colt Dragoon bullets — excavated specimens
.44 Cal. Cast Bullet — Colt Dragoon
Walker and Dragoon pattern. Oversized heel-base conical for the Colt Walker, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Dragoon revolvers. In preparation.
.31 Colt Baby Dragoon bullet — mould drawing
.31 Cal. Cast Bullet — Colt Baby Dragoon
Heel-base conical for the Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon and Model 1849 Pocket revolver. In preparation.
Chassepot Cast Bullets
Accurate Molds No. 46-365C. Pure lead, 25g (386 gr.). Base-ring obturation, paper patch bullet. As cast. Per 25.
Mould & Specification Details →
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Martini-Henry Cast Bullets
X-Ring Services No. 45-505XR. 12:1 lead/tin alloy, 505 gr. Smooth-sided paper-patch bullet. As cast, unpatched. Per 25.
Mould & Specification Details →
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Martini-Henry Patched Bullets
X-Ring 45-505XR, 12:1 lead/tin. Cotton fibre paper patch applied and dried. Untrimmed, unlubricated. Per 25.
Construction & Specification Details →
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Papers, Patches & Assembly Components
Nitrated Hemp Paper
100% hemp fibre, handmade. Nitrated with potassium nitrate — completely combustible upon firing. Per 10 sheets (127×178mm). Yields approx. 180 cartridge papers for .36 Navy; minimum 90 for .44 calibres.
Paper Specification & Yield by Calibre →
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Martini-Henry Paper Patches
Southworth Parchment Deed 100% cotton fibre. Cut to X-Ring 45-505XR brass template. Per 25.
Material & Application Notes →
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Chassepot powder tubes
Paper and silk gauze case, primed with percussion capsule centered in resin-printed base disc. Unfilled, ready to charge and close. Per 25.
Construction Details →
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Chassepot Paper Cones
Curvilinear trapezoid blank, rolled on bronze mandrel and trimmed to height per the Manuel de pyrotechnie. Bullet not included. Per 25.
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III.   Implements
Forming tools and assembly fixtures produced in resin to exact dimensional specifications. Each implement is designed for the cartridge pattern it serves and tested in production use.
Resin forming fixture for assembling combustible skin cartridges. Holds tube upright during heel insertion and compression. Available in .36 and .44 Army.
Dimensions & Use →
Complete set of resin forming tools for Chassepot cartridge production: paper body mandrel, cone former, and bullet seating die. Designed to Modèle 1866 service cartridge dimensions.
Set Contents & Dimensions →
Note on Implements Additional forming tools and fixtures are in preparation as production of new cartridge patterns is developed. All implements listed are the same tools used in-house for finished cartridge production — dimensions are confirmed against original specimen measurements where available, not nominal approximations.
Payment & Ordering Orders are processed via GunTab — a secure payment platform purpose-built for firearms-related transactions — or by USPS Money Order made payable to Antique Cartridge Works. Add items to your order above, then proceed to cart to complete payment. All items ship USPS. Shipping on cartridge orders via UPS Ground at a flat rate. Questions prior to ordering may be directed to the contact page.

Current Order

Flat Rate Shipping Orders containing finished cartridges ship UPS Ground at a flat rate of $35.00 — order any quantity and pay the same rate. Orders containing components only (bullets, paper, patches, cones, implements) ship USPS at a flat rate of $9.00. Continental U.S. only; contact us for Alaska and Hawaii.
Secure Checkout via GunTab You will be directed to GunTab to complete payment. GunTab is a purpose-built secure escrow platform for firearms-related transactions. Payment by credit card, bank transfer, or wire. Alternatively, USPS Money Order payable to Antique Cartridge Works — contact us for address.