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Winchester Wood shotgun shell boxes

taperloc
I have many old empty Winchester, Remington and Western wood shotgun shell boxes. Some of the Winchester 12 ga. boxes are marked 2 5/8".
When did the ammo companies stop making the 2 5/8" shells? These boxes came out of an old hardware store that went out of business about 1968.
Thank you,
Taperloc
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello Taperloc...

    The last Winchester shotgun that was exclusively factory chambered for a 2 5/8" 12 gauge shell was the Model 1893 Slide-action. When Winchester introduced the Model 1897 (to replace the 1893), it was the first American made shotgun chambered for 2 3/4" shells. I looked through some of my old (original) Winchester catalogs, and as of January 3rd, 1928 (Catalog No. 83), Winchester was still making 2 5/8" paper and brass 12 gauge shotshells. I do not have anything newer than the 1928 catalog.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    taperloc: Actually both Winchester and Western were still making the "short" shells well into the 50's, (paper hulled) you can still see them under collectable ammo here on GB. 10 ga. was 2&7/8, 12ga. was 2&5/8s, 16 ga. was 2&9/16, and 20 ga. was 2&1/2 inches. the only reason they stopped making them is because sales fell off so dramatically. There are a few current manufactures who still make short shells, and they are expensive. some gunmakers hadn't swithed to 2&3/4 in chambers well into the 1930's. I know Winchester didn't change the Md 12's in 16 and 20 ga. until 1927, (ref. Riffle book) and the 97 in 16 ga. wasn't change until 1931, (ref. Stadts book).

    Here's another one for you, when Winchester/Western started making 28ga. shells, they were 2&7/8 in. They changed it to 2&3/4 after WWII. The original 410ga. shelss were 2 in. and 2&1/2in. It wasn't until 1933 when Winchester came out with the Md.42 pump did they start making 3 in. shells. The Winchester Md 20, single shot that they came out with in 1920 had a 2&1/2 chamber. But winchester kept producing these guns into the 30's for export and the late ones had 3 in. chambers.

    So in a nut shell, the major manufactures, (Winchester, Western, Peters, and Remington) stopped producing short shells in the 50's. Yet today I believe Fiocci, (sp) is the only "major" manufacterer producing short shells, along with a few small companies. Regards Dave
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  • Bert H.
    Hello Dave...

    Great follow-up information, thank you very much[:)]

    Here is an interesting question for you to ponder... When & which Winchester Model was first chambered for a 3" 20 gauge shell? For anyone else who knows (or thinks they may know), please chime in[8D]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    Hello Bert! By the way I looked all over the Reno show for you and Bill! Nobody at table 63 knew who I was talking about. LOL
    anyway, I know the 1954 catelog listed the Md 21 20ga. Mag. Also I would have to say the Winchester Md 50 20ga. gun to be chambered for 3 in. (Note this was done by Simmons gun specialties, and meant for Paper hulls only) I saw one about 10 years ago, should have bought it. As far as I know these are the only 2, pre-64 production guns available to the public. I'm not sure if the Md 37 line throwing gun used 3in or not. Regards Dave
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  • only winchesters
    Well Bert what was it? By the way winchester also made a MD21 in 16ga that was 3 in. however no shells were ever made.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by only winchesters
    Well Bert what was it? By the way winchester also made a MD21 in 16ga that was 3 in. however no shells were ever made.


    Dave... Bill and I were at table 63 in the small room all weekend... don't know how you could have missed us.

    The answer to the question is...

    The Winchester Model 1885 Single-shot (high-wall) shotgun. It was introduced in 1913, but only about 600 of this variant were made before it was discontinued in 1918. I have one of these interesting little shotguns in my collection of 1885 single-shots that was made in 1914. They were available in solid frame or Takedown (most seem to be Takedowns), and all of them were made with a 26" nickel steel full choke barrel. They weigh in at just over 5 lbs. If you have never seen one, let me know, and I will send you a few pictures.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    I should have known, Mr. Single shot was a clue and I didn't look far enough back. LOL Stadt does a nice write up on the 1885 in his book, and has some great photos.
    Winchester didn't have much unity in there guns.
    Md 1885 3in chamber in 20 ga.
    Md 20 2&1/2 in. 410ga. went to 3in after production stop for US sales, and only made them for export.
    Md 37 all 2&3/4 except for the 410
    Md 12 originally 2&1/2 in 20 ga. 2&9/16 for 16ga. and 2&7/8 in 28ga., 12ga, were all 2&3/4 until the "Duck" gun was introduced.
    Md 97 16ga. 2&9/16 until 1931
    Md 21 16ga with 3in chambers

    It's no wonder the shell manufactures were going crazy. I know a lot of pre 1930 SxS have short chambers.

    I wonder in there was something that came about in the 1930's to make them all change to 2&3/4 or 3in. Or maybe it was a ploy by the manufacturers to sell more guns?

    Regards Dave
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by only winchesters
    I should have known, Mr. Single shot was a clue and I didn't look far enough back. LOL Stadt does a nice write up on the 1885 in his book, and has some great photos.
    Winchester didn't have much unity in there guns.
    Md 1885 3in chamber in 20 ga.
    Md 20 2&1/2 in. 410ga. went to 3in after production stop for US sales, and only made them for export.
    Md 37 all 2&3/4 except for the 410
    Md 12 originally 2&1/2 in 20 ga. 2&9/16 for 16ga. and 2&7/8 in 28ga., 12ga, were all 2&3/4 until the "Duck" gun was introduced.
    Md 97 16ga. 2&9/16 until 1931
    Md 21 16ga with 3in chambers

    It's no wonder the shell manufactures were going crazy. I know a lot of pre 1930 SxS have short chambers.

    I wonder in there was something that came about in the 1930's to make them all change to 2&3/4 or 3in. Or maybe it was a ploy by the manufacturers to sell more guns?

    Regards Dave


    It was about time you got up! I was begining to wonder about you[:D]

    Yes, your first clue should have been my favored shooting iron. I did not realize that Stadt had mentioned them in his book.

    As for why the shift in the 1930s to the longer shells... people in this country have always wanted something "bigger, badder, and more powerful", but it could have been for the reason you suggest... a ploy to gain new sales.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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