Gun Collectors Dream Auction #86 Collector Auction
Lot 1429:
Description
This lot consists of a total of 60 rounds of vintage .22 caliber rimfire ammunition manufactured by the United States Cartridge Co. of New York, N.Y. The collection contains two separate cardboard boxes: one of .22 Short cartridges and one of .22 Long Rifle Hollow Point cartridges, both marketed under the US Copperheads brand name. The packaging features a distinctive orange and blue color scheme with a graphic of a copperhead snake and the circular US company logo. The cartridges are constructed with copper-plated cases and lead bullets, with each case rim featuring a stamped US headstamp. Verbatim markings on the boxes include SELF-CLEANING (NON-CORROSIVE) .22 SHORT and SELF-CLEANING (NON-CORROSIVE) .22 LONG RIFLE, H.P. along with the manufacturer name United States Cartridge Co. and the location New York, N.Y. The back panels include instructional text for cleaning rifle barrels with boiling water before use. One box contains a full or near-full quantity of .22 Short cartridges, while the .22 Long Rifle box contains a partial count stabilized with white cloth packing material. Based on the non-corrosive primer marketing, these items are consistent with production from the late 1920s or early 1930s.
Condition report:
The cardboard boxes show significant age-related wear, including frayed edges, corner loss, surface tears, and general soiling. The .22 Long Rifle box has a partially detached flap. The ammunition displays varying degrees of oxidation and darkening on the copper-plated cases and lead bullets, though the US headstamps remain clearly legible. The cartridges appear to be live, but they are sold as collectible items only; we have not function-tested this ammunition.
Share this lot:
