LC Headstamps - late 40's?

[USGI]

I think I've brought this subject up before, but couldn't find it using the search feature. I have a couple of LC brass cases that look like they are stamped '48 or '49. I've done some research and found that the LC plant was shut down for a 5 year period after WWII. These cases (lower left in the pictures) are probably '43, but if so they are a third variation of the LC 43 stamping in just the few cases that I have. The pictures show two other variations with differing sizes in the letters. To me, it looks like the spacing and shape of the numbers making up the second digit in the dates, are different on the two cases on the lower left. I didn't spend much time with these pictures, just hand held the camera and tried a couple of different settings. What do you guys think? Thanks! - Bob

Attachment 34117Attachment 34118Attachment 34119Attachment 34120Attachment 34116

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Mikey51]

I have some boxes of WW2 Lake City stuff out in the garage Bob, 42, 43 and 44 from memory, but none of the post war. I'll go and have a look tomorrow and see if I can find anything that can help. I have been keeping an eye on Lot Numbers, I find that helps. Maybe we can eventually relate year, lot number and font .... is my initial thought. Cheers. Mike.Attachment 34137Attachment 34136

[Mikey51]

Bob, I found three variations of 42 markings and two of 43 markings. I don't know the lot numbers of these ones. I also found two 4 only. Of these, the standard round is from Lot 12757 which is in a box tapered from bottom to top, not square, and I don't know the year. The second 4 only, has a dot before the L and is the crimped or blank round. I have no Lot Number or year for that one. Hope this is of some help. Mike. Attachment 34149Attachment 34150Attachment 34151Attachment 34152

[Reload]

In the 2000 cases I recently sorted, there was a definite gap between '45 and '51. One thing I noticed was that the 'font' was not identical on all of the WWII era cases even within the same manufacturer, and a closer look was necessary. I used a desktop magnifier that is 3X with an 8X inset.

I did run across a few cases that looked like yours. A close inspection revealed them to be 1943.

I downoaded one of your pics and zoomed in as far as I could. Looking at the second digit, there is a definite gap on the left side and it is centered. An 8 would have no gap, and a 9 would have a gap on the lower half but not the upper. The case setting next to the '51 is very definitely a '43 to my eyes, and the one on the far left appears to be too, although not as well defined.

YMMV, but I think they're both '43's.

[Reload]

BTW, someone on another forum asked if I would research these, find every known headstamp, and add them to the list I posted. Short answer, no. It'd take too much time.

However, I would be happy to update and maintain the list with input from others. In order to do that, I'd want to see a pic of the cartridge like USGI posted. In other words, no heresay. I wouldn't list anything that wasn't proven. The list would have a column for username/forum of the submitter. If anyone is interested in adding to the list, let me know. Here's my most recent update:

[USGI]

I did some searching this morning and found the post I made last December about these headstamps. At that time, I thought they were '46 and '48.

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=35103&page=1

I'm convinced now that they are both '43, and with a different font than the other two examples that I pictured. The difference (to me) is in the shape of the upper part of the (3) in the two pictures at the lower left in the original post. The curvature of the upper part is more rounded - where on the other variation it's flatter. I think the gap in production was '46 through '50 and that is a 5 year period. I did find some of my LC 5 cases and have a picture below. Notice that the 5 is offset to the left, as if they ground the 4 off of the '54 die and didn't adjust it to be centered below the LC. All this is probably trivial, but I still find it interesting. Forum member Silverplate has posted a few times about carbine ammo, and you can use the advanced search feature to find his posts. He has done quite a bit of research regarding lot numbers, and even manufactures repro ammo boxes for re-enactors. - Bob

Attachment 34155

[USGI]

I didn't notice this until I had posted, but I think you can see a shadow of a 4 on a couple of the LC 5 cases I just pictured. Check out the fourth from the left, which looks to be stamped a little deeper. If so, that definitely proves the theory about grinding down the dies to save on expenses. - Bob