I have 18 45-70 cartridges of which six are carbine rounds and twelve are rifle rounds. There is quite a variation in the Frankford Arsenal head stamps. If the head stamp consists of two letters and two numbers, that head stamp was used until the transition from 405 to 500 grain lead bullets since both cartridges looked the same. After the use of 500 grain bullets in rifle cartridges, then the carbine and rifle rounds were easily identified and the head stamps changed to one letter and two numbers. The code is as follows for all the cartridges: F- Franford Arsenal, C - Carbine, R - Rifle, Left Digit, Month of manufacture, Right Digit, Year of manufacture.
Here is the variety of stamps:
TOP ROW, Left To Right:
F/1/93, F/6/98, F/6/95, F/4/87, R/6/81/F, F/2/90, F/6/92, F/6/97, F/2/90
BOTTOM ROW, Left to Right::
C/3/86/F, F/11/92, F/3/92, R/4/84/F, R/10/83/F, F/4/92, F/5/92, F/4/89, F/2/90

$60 + $10S/H since they go by UPS.

Contact Al at afrasca@erinet.com

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