Rare .46 O.F. Winchester Patented Centerfire Cartridge - 1867
Z9331 Rare .46 O.F. Winchester Patented Centerfire Cartridge - 1867
Description: Nice example of the rare .46 O.F. Winchester centerfire cartridge. This experimental two-piece design is covered under U.S. Patent No. 60,814, awarded to Oliver F. Winchester of New Haven, Connecticut, on January 1, 1867. The patent described an innovative method of strengthening the cartridge head and improving safety in tubular magazine rifles—both pressing concerns for early centerfire ammunition development.
Winchester’s 1867 design consisted of two copper components: an inner case and an outer reinforcing cup fitted over the base, with a thin elastic disk or cushion of rubber or felt between them. This cushion acted as both a safety buffer and a gas seal. When struck by the firing pin, the outer cup’s recessed base drove inward against the fulminate contained in the inner case, igniting the charge. The soft intermediate disk prevented accidental ignition from handling or magazine pressure while simultaneously cushioning the breechblock from the explosive shock—an innovative approach for its time.
This particular example aligns closely with that patented construction. It features a flat-nose lead bullet with two exposed grease grooves or cannelures, crimped into the distinctive two-piece copper case. The bullet shows light oxidation and retains traces of its original lubricant on one side. The copper case remains free of dents, showing only minor spotting from age and handling. The head exhibits three to four small tooling or "tic” marks typical of early Winchester production methods.
As one of the earliest experimental centerfire cartridges developed by Winchester Repeating Arms, the .46 O.F. Winchester represents a key transitional step between rimfire and modern centerfire technology. Intended for use in tubular magazine rifles, this design helped address issues of safety and reliability that plagued earlier metallic cartridges. A fine and historically significant example, it would make a superb addition to any advanced collection of early Winchester or experimental 19th-century ammunition.
Headstamp: None
Measures: OAL 1.967” CL 1.399” RD .629” HD .535” CM .462” BDaCM .463”
Reference: "The History of Rimfire Cartridges in America 1852-2022” Behling, Vol. II, Pg. 124, Plate 231, No. 8
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American Civil War Relics &
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