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Thx for the kind words and the pix of your box, much appreciated!
First, your ctdgs are indeed Full Patch, not lead. (They?re sometimes difficult to differentiate, I agree). Second, note that your cartridges are headstamped ?WRACo .32 A.C? rather than the much rarer ?Wraco .32 C.A.?. Also, the box has label dates of 7-7 and 1-9 and a (post-1906) Trade Mark line that reads ?Registered in U.S. Patent Office? rather than the earlier (1902-1906) ?Registered in U.S.A.? as the box in the book (page 18) which is thought to be Winchester?s first in that caliber.
Still, it does have that anomalous red Full Patch label (for which I still cannot account!), but is the headstamp on the cartridge pic on your label the rare ?WRACo 32 C.A.?? Or is it ?A.C?. I can?t make it out.
Of such arcane differentiations are rarities so often made (and overlooked) among collectors of all interests. I?m glad you took the time to check this one out and very much appreciate your being in touch.
Yours,
Ray
Ray T. Giles
RTG Sporting Collectibles, LLC
To: Ray T. Giles
RE: Colt .32 Auto. red label box
Re: Win. Colt .32 Auto red label box as shown on Page 18 of your book
Ray,
As a long-term student/collector of Winchester and a thankful user of your magnificent book on Winchester cartridges, I believe I have stumbled across a rare box with full ammo in an obscure auction last month. I spent hours dissecting the auction's poor photos and saw enough to make me suspicious of the item when I compared it to the example in your book.
The label is correct for sure, but there is no over-label of a red on top of an orange label. The bullets are lead, not patched. And...there is a full box of 50 clean cartridges marked: "WRACo 32 CA" and a "W" on the primer. I did not open the box. It was already open when I received it today.
I have attempted to take scans and photos to aid in the identification of this box and ammo. I would appreciate any comments or advice on this addition to my collection since you allude to it being a 5 on the rarity scale and ? for a value. I don't care about the value, but I thought if it is as rare as you indicate in the book it might be of scholarly interest to you, so I am sharing.
Regards,
Bottom-line, this is not the more rare box on page 18, but is rare all the same, just not 'ultra rare' as I thought. M. |
