TOPIC:

I have a 577.450 martini casing, and have wondered around what time it was produced. It has a uniform dark brown "patina", and it was made by Kynoch. It is stamped with the roman numeral for 2. Does this stand for the fact that it was made with drawn brass rather than rolled foil? Or does it stand for a cordite load (which I believe is unlikely).

I have added a diagram of the headstamp as I don't currently have a photo of it.

Thank you:
J.I.W




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J.I.W.
Known during its service life as "Cartridge S.A. Ball Rifle Martini Henry Mark II Solid case" (or these days as .45" Martini Henry Solid Case Mk.11), the rounds with the headstamp you illustrated were made by Kynoch, Ltd, Birmingham on contract commencing 1885 and until1902; when Cordite rounds for the military were introduced in that calibre. Charge of the Mk.II .45 MHR round was 85 grains of black powder, it featured a 485 grain lead bullet with a white paper patch and had a muzzle velocity of about 1350 fps. While specified for Rifles, it could also be used in the .45" Maxim MG. BTW, Cordite loaded rounds had the letter "C" in the headstamp as an ID.
Such rounds would have been widely distributed throughout the old Empire before the ABW - and probably later as well.
Regards
IL..