How to Collect Old Brass Shotgun Shell Casings

Responsible metal detector use is a first step for shotgun shell collecting.

Brass shotgun shell casings were invented in the 1860's. Early attempts at paper casings were unsatisfactory; plastic casings were still 100 years in the future. Shells are classified by size, or gauge. The gauge refers to the number of shells in a pound --- e.g. twelve 12-gauge shells weigh 1 pound. It is possible to collect entirely by buying from dealers. Most people begin by finding some casings with a metal detector, then become hooked. Becoming informed through researching your own finds equips you to make wiser purchases.

Things You'll Need

• Metal detector
• Trowel
• Plastic bags
• Magnifying glass
• Notebook and pen
• Identification chart or book

Instructions

Searching

1. Select a likely site --- perhaps a popular hunting location or known battleground. Obtain the land owner's permission to go metal detecting. Carry spare detector batteries and plastic bags to hold finds.

2. Turn on the metal detector. Walk slowly across the site with the detector head close to the ground. Pass back and forth over the area so that nothing is missed.

3. Listen for the beep indicating a find. Dig carefully with the trowel --- finds are small and sometimes fragile.

Responsible Collecting

1. Fill in any holes you dig and replace the sod. Avoid damaging any archaeological features, e.g. earthworks on battlefields.

2. Log finds in your notebook --- archaeologists are gaining respect for detectorists and will appreciate your record keeping if you make a significant find. Maintaining the cooperation of these experts relies on responsible metal detecting practices. Keeping careful notes will also help you with identification, dating and in pinpointing sites worth a return visit.

3. Respect any other metal artifacts found incidental to your hunt for shotgun shells -- they may be of interest to collectors of other items, to the landowner or even to museums. Dispose of trash finds responsibly -- do not leave sharp or rusty metal littering the site.

Identification )

1. Wipe dirt from outside of shell. Do not wash out the inside immediately. Any residual content can help identification --- black powder is a sign of an early shell.

2. Check the base of the shell case for brand identification -- Winchester, Alcan, Browning are some examples. Look for a number on the base, identifying the gauge. Some early shells came in gauges that later went out of production.

3. Consult the headstamp identification list at http://members.shaw.ca/cartridge-corner/shotgun.htm. Use this to date your finds.

Self-education and Selection

1. Join a metal detectorist or ammunition collectors' club -- local or online -- to ask questions of the experts. Take finds to your local museum for a curator's opinion. Join the International Ammunition Associationand attend its collectors' shows. Attend collecting group meetings and auctions.

2. Read extensively about old shotgun casings. Use the IAA Journal archive; buy books at collectors meets or on-line--several are out of print, but they are available --- see the resource list.

3. Choose a production date after which cartridges are insufficiently old to interest you; indiscriminate collecting leads to clutter. Specialize in a particular era or brand. Be selective in the finds you save. Swapping finds with other collectors can help streamline your collection. Collecting by country of origin or purpose (police, military or sport) are other options, especially if you intend purchasing your collection.

References

• Shotshell Cartridge History; Ronald B. Standler; 2006
• Cartridge Corner: Shot Shell Headstamp Identification
• International Ammunition Association: An Introduction to Collecting Shot Shells
• My Treasure Metal Detector: Bounty Hunter Treasure Metal Detecting Tips
• The Portable Antiquities Scheme: Code of Practice for Responsible Metal Detecting
• BBC: Archaeology and Metal Detecting

Resources

• Cartridge Corner
• The Shotshell in the United States; Richard J. Iverson; 1989
• Cartridges of the British Isles; Ken Rutterford; 2006
• Cartridge Drawings Now and Then from the Pen of Ken; Ken Rutterford; 2007
• Metal Detecting Forum: Older Shotgun Brass Collection
• My Treasure Metal Detector: Collecting Civil War Relics