Aluminum Shot Shells. (interesting)

[Mike Stahle]

In the mid-1950’s John Olin became married to the idea of producing a cheaper shotshell case made out of aluminum. He had his engineers working on the project for years with marginal success and finally did get some 14 Gauge (so marked... but they were actually 20 Gauge) rounds into the field for market testing. He also got a small contract from the government for .410’s for Air Force survival guns. These two sizes are what we sometimes encounter in collections. Now, almost 50 years later, from an old employee has come evidence of experimentation in 12 Gauge. This shotgun shell has a dull finished case with an unusual exposed 6 lobe folded petal crimp and is nicely marked on the side WINCHESTER RESEARCH EXPERIMENTAL. The head stamp is "1 2 7", these individual reference numbers being located at various places about the base.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/di...2212&oh=216543

[Roundsworth]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=197167528
Here is one on Gunbroker at a real nice price. Hurry, as I think it is expiring soon!

[Roundsworth]

The Auctionarms specimen is much nicer, and the bids reflect it.