Phil,

I have measured the following shells:

UMC 10B Berdan Primed- Head 0..816"; Mouth 0.811" 2.98" long
UMC 11B Small Primer - Head 0.824"; 3.06" long

Although the head diameter of 0.824" is a god match for the chambers of my 11-ga#3561, they are both too long to fit in the 2.5" chambers.


I have never seen a 10B or a 10A brass or an 11Paper or 11Abrass shell with a Parker headstamp. Has anyone????

These beasts must be rarer than Unicorns. ---if they ever existed.

Yours,

Richard

10A Brass, measures 2 9/16 long

Robert,

Great. This discussion forum is wonderful!! Thanks for the rapid post and beautiful pic. Have you had the chance to measure the OD at the head and mouth of this shell? If so, please post the numbers---I am guessing that they are the same as the UMC Berdan primed 10A but would like to know for sure.

Richard
Now has anyone got a Parker or UMC 11A or an Eley #11 Paper shell? I have only seen one paper 11 and it was Salmon Color and with no head stamp.

Head measures .850, mouth .840
Several of the paper 10ga hulls I have measure .846-.850 at the head

Richard I have a UMC Bridgeport,CT marked 10A brass shell. It measures .855 large end and .843 open end.2.615 long.

As a comparison I have a Draper patent two piece 10 gauge brass shell that is unmarked. It measures .848 large end and .838 open end. 2.378 long

Dave,

The Draper patent two piece shell is short enough for these chambers, but the diameter is too large. Have you ever sen one with a head diameter arount ..820 to .825" that would fit these chambers. I am not familiar with the two piece Draper configuration. How did that shell work and can you post a photo of it? I am still hoping someone can find a shell stamped "11A" or "11".

Richard, Here are a few pictures of the Draper Patent 2 piece shell. I believe it was primed with a Berdan primer or a percussion cap. The headstamp reads Patent Nov.29th 1864 F D and Co.

Dave,

Thanks a bunch. That is one super neat shell. The nipple is similar to that of Parker #06 and is for a percussion cap. This is the W. H. Wills of Boston and it is patent No. 45,292 dated Nov, 29, 1864. Wills describes it as being useful because of the "objection to that class of firearms in which a metallic cartridge is employed arises from the difficulty in obtaining these cartridges in wild and unsettled portions of the country." He also remarks that these metallic cartridges are quite expensive and "on account oh their weight and bulk, are inconvenieNt to transport from place to place." The sportsman then needs only carry to cartridges and his supply of powder, shot and percussion caps.

If you wish, I can digitize the patent and send the two images to you. It is only one pg of drawings and 1 pg. of text. Perhaps you could then post it if you think there are others that might be interested. I do not yet know what I must do to upload pictures to this site.

Yours,

Richard

Richard you can send the patent to me at ctdoubles@aol and I will post it here.

Here ya go..