Gun Collectors Dream Auction #86 Collector Auction
Lot 1351:
Description
This lot comprises 192 rounds of vintage Winchester Leader .22 Long Rifle ammunition, distributed across four original two-piece style cardboard boxes. Each box originally contained 50 rimfire cartridges featuring lead lubricated projectiles and Staynless priming. The packaging displays a distinctive red, yellow, and white graphic design with Winchester Leader 22 Long Rifle prominently featured on the front, alongside 50 Rim Fire Cartridges, Staynless, Lead Lubricated, and Made in U.S.A. Manufacturer information on the bottom panels varies across the lot, indicating a production transition; three boxes are marked Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Division of Olin Industries, Inc. New Haven, Conn., U.S.A. while the fourth box bears the mark Winchester-Western Division, Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, New Haven, Conn., East Alton, Ill. One end flap is stamped with the code K 2388 R. The individual cartridges are constructed with brass cases and feature a recessed H headstamp, a historical tribute to B. Tyler Henry. The lead-round nose projectiles are finished with a lubricant coating. These boxes represent the mid-20th century era of Winchester production under the Olin corporate structure.
Condition report:
The four cardboard boxes exhibit moderate to heavy shelf wear consistent with age, including corner fraying, edge scuffing, and localized tearing, particularly on one top panel corner. All boxes show light staining and surface discoloration. The ammunition shows significant signs of age; the lead projectiles have developed a visible white oxidation known as lead bloom, and the brass cases display a dark, mottled patina. While the cartridges appear to be physically intact and live, they are sold strictly as vintage collectibles and their functionality is not guaranteed.
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